MELIPHAGIDAE 



567 



of the insects which constitute so much of their diet, they occa- 

 sionally feed upon the ground — especially in the case of Ptilotis ; 

 while Meliornis and Entomophila will dart after their prey like 

 Flycatchers. Figs and Ijananas, with other fruits and hucls, are 

 also eaten ; honey is sucked from the flowers of Eucalyptus, Acacia, 

 I!2)acris,and the like, in considerable quantities, the insects it attracts 

 being perhaps the chief object ; and Pltihmon batters large insects 

 upon the branches before swallowing them. The voice is commonly 

 loud, rich, and shrill, V)ut varies from a whistle or a pipe to a chirp ; 

 some species, however, are more quiet, others give vent to slow, 

 plaintive cries, 



quickly reiterated 

 notes, or compara- 

 tively harsh sounds. 

 The Tui, or Parson- 

 bird, utters a wild 

 song, laughs, 

 coughs, sneezes, 

 and mimics gener- 

 ally ; Acrulocercns 

 gets the name of 

 0-0 from its harsh 

 double call ; Pogo- 

 nornis that of 

 Stitch^bird from 

 its clicking cry, 

 though it also 

 whistles ; while 

 PJiilemon rnrvin/- ^^^' ^'^^' — '^^'' P^'osthemadera novae zealandiae. x |. 



latus is sometimes called " Four -o'clock," "Poor Soldier," or 

 " Pimlico," from its note. Anthornis, the New Zealand " Bell- 

 bird," usually heard in chorus, has a voice like the tinkling of a 

 silver bell.^ The nest, normally a slight structure of_ tv/igs, roots, 

 bark, grass, and spiders' webs, lined with woolly materials, fur, or 

 feathers, is placed in bushes, trees, or even tall grass, and generally 

 has the rim woven over a supporting fork. A few species, how- 

 ever, including the New Zealand forms, Pogonornis, Anthornis, and 

 Prosthemadera, build a solid faljric of twiss and rough materials 



^ Oreoeca eristata (Laniidae) and Manorhina mela7i02)hrys (Melipliagidae) are the 

 Bell-birds of Australia ; Chasmorhynchus (Cotingidae) of the Neotropical Region. 



