99



as we left the place a few days afterwards, I had no time to see

further about it.


This must end my remarks about the Tanagridce. I have

tried to make them as comprehensive, but concise as possible,

and I hope it may induce some of our Members to try and

obtain some of the species I have named and study them for

themselves.


(To be Continued).



THE LUNULATED HONEY-EATER.


fMelithreptus lunulatus).


By the Rev. C. D. Farrar.


Some time ago, I one morning received a letter from a

“birdy ” friend, telling me that he was at Port Said with a big

consignment of foreign birds ; and that if I wanted any I was to

mark the list and return it at once to London, where it would

await his arrival. I gave a goodish order, and, amongst others,

I booked some Lunulated Honey-eaters. I had not the least

idea what they were like, whether big or small, pretty or plain ;

but I knew that they were rare. My friend assured me they had

never been imported into England before, and, so being like the

old Athenians, “ always greedy of some new thing,” I determined

to try my hand with Lunuated Honey-eaters.


After about a fortnight, I got word that the birds were in

the London Docks, and that I might expect them at any moment.

Excitement now ran high at Miclclefield, and when, one morning,

a porter was announced at the back door with a big box of “ live

things,” (this was the housemaid’s way of putting it) I was not

long in opening the store cage to see what it contained. I soon

found the Honey-eaters. There were two pairs of them, and

they seemed in perfect health, and very good plumage consider¬

ing the long voyage from Australia.


My friend told me that the} 7 had been fed on some soft

mixture on the voyage, but I was rather sceptical as to how long

they would have lived had it been continued.


I transferred them to a big cage to themselves, and put in

a bath. They at once took the hint with great apparent thank¬

fulness, and were soon busy making their toilet, and seemed all

the better for it, as they were rather sticky after such a long

journey.


My next care was about food. I had never had a Honey-



