CHAPTER VI. 



THE IDYLL OF THE BLOSSOM-BIRDS. 



LIFE is a gladsome proposition with the Blos- 

 som-Birds of Australia. Of course, no one 

 would be well advised to say that such is not 

 the case with every other unit of our winged wan- 

 derers, from the Jovian Eagle to the frivolous Fan- 

 tail. But (speaking of families) the nectar-lovers, 

 above all others, give evidence of keen appreciation 

 of the right strong joy of living. They are, so to 

 speak, the Bohemians of the bird world. 



In the next breath, however, it has to be con- 

 ceded that the birds are of considerably greater 

 value to their country, and vastly more attached to 

 their families, than very many members of the 

 human genus who figure in that quaint category. 

 Moreover, they are a good deal better dressed. Some 

 of Australia's Honeyeaters, in fact, are among the 

 most beautiful birds in the world, and the "tribe" 

 generally possesses almost as many vivid colors as 

 a brilliant sunset. (Yet it does not follow that the 

 apparel oft betrays the bird; there is a wonderful 

 degree of harmony between the habitat and plumage 

 of even the brightest of Nature's children.) 



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