THE BLUE-FACED HONEY-EATER. 



491 



Honey-eater in Nest. 



with its needle-like tongue, hanging with its head downward, and 

 even suspending itself by a single claw while it secures a tempt- 

 ing insect. It is generally to be found on the eucalypti, or gum- 

 trees, and is one of the stationary birds, remaining in the same 

 locality throughout the year. 



The generality of the Honey-eaters are skillful architects, but 

 the Batikin seems not to share the nbility of its relatives, or, at 

 all events, not to exercise it. Mr. Gould thinks that the bird 

 can hardly depart so far from usual custom as to be incapable of 

 building a nest, but he has never found such a nest, nor heard 

 of one. The Batikin is one of the parasitic group, usurping the 

 nest of another bird, and taking possession of it in a very curious 

 fashion. 



In Australia there is a bird belonging to the genus Pomatorhi- 

 nus, which somewhat resembles the bee-eater except in plumage, 

 which is quite dull and sober. This bird builds a large, domed 

 edifice, and appears to make a new nest every year. The desert- 

 ed nests are always usurped by the Batikin, which establishes 

 herself without any trouble. The reader would naturally imag- 

 ine that when the bird finds herself in possession of so large and 



