TIIE WHITE-THROATED HONEY-EATER. 243 



Still keeping to the same interesting family of birds, we find 

 among the pensile builders another speeies of Honey-eater. 



The White-throated Honey-eater (Enlomophila albogularis) 

 is rather like the Painted Honey-eater, being brown above, white 

 below, and having a yellow pateh on the base of the tail. It is, 

 however, easily distinguished from its congener by the peculiarity 

 from which it derives its name — viz., a large patch of pure white 

 in the front of the throat, extending as far as the eyes. The top 

 of the head is grayish-blue, and the breast is buff. 



It is a lively, active little creature, ever on the move, and de- 

 lighting to flit from branch to branch, but not caring to make long- 

 flights. As it flies from one bough to another, it utters a musical 

 little song, much like that of the goldfinch, and continues to sing 

 for a considerable time. It detests wind, and is mostly seen in 

 the thick bush, and loves to frequent the masses of mangroves 

 which edge bays and creeks, because the air is comparatively still. 

 In these places may be found its curious nest, which is about as 

 large as a breakfast-cup, and very much of the same shape. It is 

 made of the delicate paper-like bark of the Melaleucas, and various 

 vegetable fibres, with which it is ingeniously hung to the branches. 

 The broad, thin bark causes it to be very smooth on the exterior. 

 For the lining, the bird is not indebted to any animal or bird, but 

 uses grass-blades, which are neatly laid, and form a soft resting- 

 place for the eggs. 



The nest is placed very low, being often found scarcely two feet 

 from the water, in that point resembling the nest of the African 

 weaver birds, which have already been described. It is always 

 hung near the extremity of a branch, and invariably is so placed 

 as to be under the protection of a spray of leaves, which act as a 

 roof whereby the rain is thrown off. 



In order that these singular Australian nests which have been 

 described may be compared with each other at a glance, five of 

 the most remarkable examples have been placed in the same 

 illustration, and by comparing the description with the figures, a 

 better idea will be obtained than if each had formed the subject 

 of a separate illustration. 



Before proceeding to describe another remarkable pensile 

 builder of Australia, I must draw the attention of the reader to 

 a bird of our own country, which often builds a pensile nest, in 

 some respects resembling that of the White-throated Honey-eater. 



