138 FEATHERED FRIENDS. 



in an aviary, however, or a bird-room, they would, no 

 doubt, succeed better, as they certainly would show to 

 far greater advantage. 



I have seen them in flocks of from twenty to thirty 

 in number clinging to the flowering branches of the 

 .gum-trees in their native country, and a very pretty 

 sight they presented. I also saw an aboriginal hurl 

 his boomerang at some of them, but he missed his 

 aim! Whether it was that semi-civilisation had impaired 

 his power it is impossible to say, but the whole flock 

 darted off with the rapidity of a flash of lightning, 

 screaming loudly as they went, and poor " Corrinwarra " 

 picked up his weapon with a decided scowl on his not 

 over handsome face, which, however, brightened up a 

 good deal at sight of an eleemosynary sixpence, without 

 which, he informed me in very good English, he must 

 have gone supperless to bed. 



I forget now for what reason I parted with my 

 Scaly-breasts, but probably it was for want of room, 

 or suitable accommodation; at all events as soon as 

 my chief object of having them under observation for 

 a time in order to study their habits and get their 

 portraits drawn by a distinguished artist whose spe- 

 ciality is birds, I passed them on to somebody else; 

 but I have a distinct recollection of their handsome 

 presence and quiet, unobtrusive manners, so that should 

 another opportunity come in my way of acquiring 

 a second couple I shall certainly avail myself of it 



