THE BLUE-FACED HONEY-EATER. 289 



most reach her with your hand, and then precipitates herself to 

 the ground, feigning lameness, fluttering, trailing her wings, 

 and tumbling over, in the manner of the partridge, woodcock, 

 and many other species. Both parents unite in providing food 

 for the young.' 



In Australia there is a large group of rather pretty birds, 

 popularly called Honey-eaters, because they feed largely on 

 the sweet juices of many flowers, although the staple of their 

 diet consists of insects. They seem indeed to occupy in 

 Australia the position which is taken in America by the hum- 

 ming-birds, and by the sun birds of the old world. To this 

 group belong many familiar and interesting species, such as 

 that which produces a sound like the tinkling of a bell, and is 

 in consequence called the Bell-bird ; the different species of 

 Wattle Birds ; the odd, bald-headed Friar Birds, and the splen- 

 didly decorated Poe Birds. 



One species of it, which comes in the present section, is the 

 Blue-faced Honey-eater of New South Wales, called by the 

 natives Batikin {Entomyza cyanotis). It is a pretty bird, the 

 plumage being marked boldly with black and white, and a patch 

 of bare skin round the eyes being bright azure. This peculiarity 

 has earned for the bird the specific title of cyanotis^ or * blue- 

 eared.* 



Like all the Honey-eaters, it is a most lively and interesting 

 bird, and to the careful observer affords an endless fund of 

 amusement. It is never still, but traverses the branches with 

 astonishing celerity, skipping from one to another, probing every 

 crevice with its needle-like tongue, hanging with its head down- 

 wards, and even suspending itself by a single claw, while it 

 secures a tempting insect. It is generally to be found on the 

 eucalypti, or gum-trees, and is one of the stationary birds, 

 remaining in the same locaHty throughout the year. 



The generahty of the Honey-eaters are skilful architects, but 

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

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

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



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