THE IDYLL OF THE BLOSSOM-BIRDS 89 



Queensland far behind, whereas its companion of 

 the North, the Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, is never per- 

 suaded to experiment lower than New South 

 Wales. 



At all times the Rainbow and Scaly-breasted Lor- 

 rikeets are common in Queensland, where, sadly 

 enough, the pretty birds commonly known as 

 "Bluies" and "Greenies" are trapped in thousands 

 and condemned to screech unhappy lives away in 

 cages. The astonishing thing is that people who 

 can see the birds at their best, revelling in the 

 air or the trees, on almost any day, should find 

 satisfaction in having them as miserable captives. 



The queerest vagrant of all the blossom-birds is 

 not a Lorikeet, however, but the Regent Honey- 

 eater the "Coachie" of Victorian boys and the 

 "Embroidered Honey eater" of a forgotten artist 

 of 1811 a medium-sized nectar-lover, whose 

 beautiful plumage of yellow and black gives it rank 

 among the beauty-birds of Australia, and, accord- 

 ingly, the world. The species is rare in Queensland, 

 occasionally seen in New South Wales, and more 

 numerous in Victoria and South Australia. I knew 

 the bird well in Victoria, where it usually was to 

 be seen, and its melodious, flute-like calls heard, the 

 whole year through. There were odd times, how- 

 ever, when this gorgeous reveller seemed to take 

 into its collective head the idea that a change of air 

 would do it good ; whereupon a district flowing with 

 insects and honey would know the bird no more for, 

 perhaps, several years. For instance, every one of 

 the numerous Regent Honeyeaters which had long 

 been about central Victoria departed for fresh 



