566 



PASSERIFORMES 



CHAP. 



feathers, fluffy chests, rumps or sides, and lanceolate or bristly plumage 

 on the neck, cheeks, or throat. Naked blue, green, scarlet, yellow, 

 lilac, pink, or whitish areas on the head, and pendant rictal or facial 

 wattles, are frequent, especially in Mdiphaga, Ptilotis, Entomyza, 



FIG. 134. Warty-faced Honey-Eater. Meliphaga pbrygia. x^. (From Nature.) 



Philemon, Melidectes, AcanthocJiaera (Wattle-bird) and Melirrho- 

 pJietes. The bill and feet vary from black to red, yellow, blue, or green. 

 The habits are fairly uniform, though certain species are com- 

 paratively shy. Small flocks often gather together, the haunts 

 being dense forests, or open wooded country whether inland or 

 littoral ; some forms prefer the tree-tops, others low bushes and 

 shrubs. These active, pugnacious birds dart about in zigzag 

 fashion, or take powerful undulating flights, the tail meanwhile 

 being frequently thrown back or expanded ; at times they hover, 

 or fall from aloft with closed wings. Constantly seen hopping 

 among the boughs, or climbing and hanging to the twigs, in search 



