THE BRUSH WATTLE BIRD. 



221 



Mv. Gould, the harsh cry of tlie AVattle Bird is a trusty indication to the wary settler that 

 the land on which it is lieai'd is not worth purchasing. 



The Banksia especially loves scrubby and sandy soils, and in such localities may be 

 found in the gi'eatest profusion. A celebrated example of this peculiarity Biay be found 

 in the immense belts of Banksias which border the coa.st of the delta formed by the 

 embouchure of the Great Murray 

 River, and called in consequence 

 the " Great Murray Scrub." 



It is extremely active and 

 quick of foot among the branche.s, 

 running about the boughs in any 

 position, and seeming to care 

 nothing whether its laack or head 

 be downwards or upwards. It 

 is a lively, restless creature, ever 

 on the move, tripping over the 

 branches with a quick, easy step, 

 examining every flower, and diving 

 its long tongue into its recesses and 

 flying quickly from tree to tree as 

 fancy may dictate, or whenever 

 it sees a flower which it thinks 

 likely to contain its licjuid treasure. 

 The wings being short and the 

 tail rather long, the flight is of 

 an undulating character, and is 

 said to resemble that of the 

 European magpie. 



The Wattled Honey-eater can 

 hardly be termed gregarious, 

 although many specimens may 

 be seen on a single tree, as it 

 lives in pairs, and the two may 

 be generally seen together. The 

 males are very combative in their 

 nature, and being very liable to 

 take offence, are often engaged in 

 single conflict without any appa- 

 rent reason. It seems to be rather 

 a shy bird, withdrawing itself 

 from human presence. The voice 

 is harsh, loud, rough, and scream- 

 ing, and of a nature that is not 

 easy to describe, but is said to 

 resemble the peculiar sounds pro- 

 duced by a person who is suf- 

 fering from the effects of an emetic. 

 The native name Goo-gwar-ruck is tolerably descriptive of its character. 



The nest of this species is rather large and rude of construction, and is simply laid 

 upon the fork of some horizontal branch. The materials of which it is composed are 

 mcstly slender twigs and soft dried grasses. The eggs are two or three in number, and 

 their colour is a reddish yellow with a slight brown tinge, thickly covered with deep 

 chestnut and brown spots, impinged with others of a dark grey. The breeding season is in 

 the months of September and October. 



Although not decorated with veiy brilliant plumage, the Wattled Honey-eater is a very 

 pretty bird, deriving great character from the curious appendages from which it has 



BRUSH WATTLE BIRD.— AiUhoclirera amitmiliita. 



