THE WHITE-PINIONED HONEY-EATER. 157 



meolianical skill, dogged perseverance, and true artistic taste that has been employed in their 

 luaniifacture. 



The mantles are made with the greatest care, the precious feathers being so judiciously- 

 disposed that none are wasted, while, at the same time, they cannot be discomposed by any 

 movement of the wearer so as to betray the groundwork on which they are woven. Their 

 colors, too, are arranged with great artistic feeling, and produce a very brilliant effect without 

 offending the eye, or appearing to be needlessly gaudy. The helmets, which are in like man- 

 ner decorated with the glowing feathers of these beautiful birds, are even more wonderful than 

 the mantles, as they are not only skilfully constructed, but their form is absolutely classic in 

 its graceful simplicity, and recalls to the spectator the best efforts of Greek art. 



These mantles are so extremely beautiful in the soft flowing grace of theii- folds, are so 

 light to the wearer, and so exquisitely brilliant in color, that they would soon be iu great 

 request in the world of fashion, were they once introduced by one of the leading votaries of 

 that capricious deity. The feather head-dress, too, would be so soft, light, and brilliant, that 

 it would soon vanquish all other costumes, and reign supreme. 



The birds of this genus are very gregarious, delighting to associate in large flocks, and 

 haunting the flower-bearing plants for the purpose of feeding upon the sweet juices and tiny 

 insects which are found within the blossoms. In feeding they thrust their long bill and 

 tongue to the very bottom of the flowers, and greatly resemble the bees in that respect. The 

 natives take advantage of their flower-loving and gregarious habits, and by setting snares in the 

 spot which they love best to haunt, contrive to immolate them in consideraliln numbers. As 

 the Scarlet Drepanis is but a small bird, being hardly larger than the Ciereba, andas neither 

 the tail nor wing appear to be employed in the structure of the mantles and helmets, it is 

 evident that a vast number of these beautiful little creatures must perish before one chief can 

 be gratifled with the completion of a single mantle or the adorning of a single helmet. 



HONEY-EATERS. 



The true Honey-eaters form a very numerous group of birds, all of which are graceful 

 in their forms and pleasing in the color of their plumage, while in some instances the hues 

 with which they are decorated are so bright as to afford ground for classing them among the 

 really beautiful birds. They all feed on similar substances, which, as indicated by their name, 

 consist chiefly of honey and the sweet juices of flowers, although they also vary their diet 

 by insects and other small living beings. 



The New Holland Honey-eater is a remarkably pretty bird, the whole of its body 

 being covered with black, white, and yellow markings, which stand ont in bold contrast to 

 each other. The top of the head is black, and a number of little white feathers are gathered 

 on the forehead. The sides of the head and neck are marked very conspicuously with three 

 streaks of pure white, one of which is drawn over each eye, as if it were intended to stand in 

 the place of an eyebrow, another passes from the nostrils towards the back of the neck, like a 

 moustache, and the third is seen on the side of the neck, so that its whole aspect presents a 

 sufficiently curious appearance. The body and upper part of the wings are deep browm-black, 

 diversified with a narrow line of pale yellow upon the outer edge of each quill-feather, and a 

 slight edging of white around their extremities. Tlie tail is of the same brown-black as the 

 body, edged with yellow, and tipped with white on the under surface. The lower parts 

 and abdomen are grayish-white, profusely covered with dashes of black. 



The White-pinioneb Honey-eater is found, according to Mr. Gould, upon the north 

 coast of Australia, and is very plentiful, especially near the settlement at Port Essington. 



