340 HUMMING-BIRDS. 



individuals are brought over to Sydney, where, according to Dr. Ben- 

 nett, they are kept in cages, and are very amusing in their habits, be- 

 ing easily domesticated and becoming very familiar with those who 

 belong to the household. Independently of its handsome and rather 

 peculiar color, which makes it very effective in a room, it possesses 

 several other qualifications which render it a very desirable inhabitant 

 'of an aviary. Its native notes are very fine, the bird being considered 

 a remarkably fine songster, and it also possesses the power of mimicking 

 in a degree surpassing that of the common magpie or raven, and hard- 

 ly yielding to even the famous mocking-bird himself. It learns to speak 

 with great accuracy and fluency, and readily imitates any sound that 

 may reach its ear, being especially successful in its reproduction of the 

 song of other birds. 



While at liberty in its native land it is remarkable for its quick, 

 restless activity, as it flits rapidly about the branches, pecking here 

 and there at a stray insect, diving into the recesses of a newly-opened 

 flower, and continually uttering its shrill, sharp whistle. Although 

 one of the large group of Meliphagidse, or Honey-eaters, the Poe Bird 

 feeds less upon honey than upon insects, which it discovers with great 

 sharpness of vision and catches in a particularly adroit manner. It 

 will also feed upon worms, and sometimes varies its diet by fruits. 



In New Zealand it is often killed for the sake of its flesh, which is 

 said to be very delicate and well flavored. 



The general color of the Poe Bird is a very deep metallic green, be- 

 coming black in certain lights, and having a decided bronze reflection 

 in others. The back is deep brown, also with a bronze reflection, and 

 upon the shoulders there is a patch of pure white. On the back of 

 the neck the feathers are long and lancet-shaped, each feather having 

 a very narrow white streak along its centre. From each side of the 

 neck depends a tuft of snowy curling downy feathers, spreading in fan- 

 like fashion from their bases. This creature is called the Parson Bird 

 because these white tufts are thought to bear some resemblance to 

 the absurd parallelograms of white lawn that are denominated 

 " bauds." 



HUMMING-BIRDS, OR TROCHILID^. 



" Bright Humming-bird of gem-like plumeletage, 

 By western Indians ' Living Sun-beam ' named."— Bailey, Myotic. 



The wonderful little Humming-birds are found only in America and 

 the adjacent islands, where they take the place of the' sun-birds of the 

 Old World. It is rather remarkable that as yet no Humming-birds 

 have been discovered in Australia. 



These little winged gems are most capricious in their choice of lo- 



