Order Passeriformes, Family Melipkagidae, Genus Ptilotula. 9 



This bird, familiarly known as the greenie, is very common 

 in the gardens, park lands, and suburbs of Adelaide, and is 

 represented by closely allied sub-species throughout the whole 

 of South Australia. It is a bold, familiar bird, and a keen 

 fighter, being well able to hold its own against the sparrow 

 and other introduced birds. They are quarrelsome with each 

 other, and persecute the other honey-eaters. If they discover 

 an owl sleeping in a thick clump of leaves, or a night jar asleep 

 on a horizontal limb, they gather round it chattering and 

 darting upon it till they succeed in driving it away. . When a 

 hawk or any other large bird comes in sight they gather to- 

 gether, continuously uttering the warning note, fly after it, 

 attacking it under the wings, and whichever way the bird 

 turns they in turn fly at him from behind. 



They are a great nuisance to the sportsman, following 

 him in numbers, continuously giving forth the alarm call, 

 which game, animals and birds alike, seem to understand. 



Song. — A loud, clear, rather melodious whistle, conside- 

 rably varied, like the words "Cheep a cheep, >' or sometimes. 

 "Cheep a cheep a cheep." Flight fast, and most irregular, sel- 

 dom flying more than a few yards in the same direction, hav 

 ing a quick, short wing movement. 



They are not often noticed on the wing unless in pursuit 

 of an enemy, when they appear by the dozen as if by magic. 

 The gum trees afford them excellent protection, the grey and 

 green matching their own colouring perfectly. They have a 

 habit of flying nearly vertically upwards, singing all the while, 

 and then half closing the wings glide to the top of a neigh- 

 bouring tree. 



Sometimes they collect a dozen or more on a small branch, 

 some hanging head downwards, twittering in a low tone as if 

 in conversation, then in a moment they will disperse, flying to 

 different trees. 



They are very fond of bathing if opportunity offers, often 

 washing several times in a day. In hot weather they drink 

 very frequently, and seem to feel intense heat greatly. After 

 a few hot days they may be seen collected about any surface 

 water, panting and looking nearly worn out. 



Food is most varied. The honey from flowers, which they 

 brush out with their brush tongues. If the flower is too deep 

 for them to reach the honey they split the corolla at the base. 



