HONE Y-FEEDERS. 



S7 



food, are only met with in small flocks, playing gracefully among the branches 

 of their favourite trees. They are very courageous, and will attack all birds, 

 without any regard to size, that approach near their nest — which is usually 

 built in a low bush, and formed of twigs well lined with wool and fine grass. 



/^f) 

 /((/ 



Fig. 43. — The Plain Tropidorhvnchls {rioj'idorbyuclius inoruatus). 



Some members of this sub-family are only met with in New Zealand and the 

 Auckland Islands; they differ from the preceding in their flight, which is heavy 

 and noisy. They arc generally imitative, restless, and pugnacious, but sing 

 sweetly with a whistling note; their nests are built in shrubs, and are constructed 

 of twigs and moss. 



Snb-Faviily III. 



THE HONEY-FEEDERS. MELITHREPTIN/E.* 



General Characteristics. — Bill short, sub-conic, slightly curved, and the sides much 

 compressed towards the tip, which is sometimes emarginated and acute ; the wings 

 more or less long, with the fourth to the seventh quills generally the longest ; the 

 tarsi short and strong ; the toes more or less long, the lateral toes unequal, the outer 

 the longest, and united at its base ; the claws moderate, compressed, and acute. 



The Honey-Feeders constitute another group pecuHar to Aus- 

 traha, where they may be seen, in small parties, frequenting the 

 Eucalypti -AXi^ Acacias. They usually creep about the leafy and 



* /ie'Xt, meli, honey; OpiirTos, threptos, nourished. 



