18 MATHEWS— Current Obs 



crruTnnif 



The Flower-pecker or Mistletoe Bird (Austrodiceaum 

 hirundinaceum) — We kept a male of this species in captivity for 

 about three months. Its food during that period, with the ex- 

 ception of three of four days, when it was given berries of the 

 mistletoe, consisted of the berries of the introduced Pepper 

 Tree (Schinus molle) of South America. When a bunch of 

 fresh berries was placed in the cage it picked one berry, peeled 

 off the outer red skin by means of the sharp cutting edges of 

 the basal part of the bill, and swallowed the seed. These seeds 

 are surrounded by a sweet sticky substance from which nutri- 

 ment is derived, and which evidently takes the place of the 

 glutinous coating of the Mistletoe seed. When passing the 

 Pepper Tree seeds they often adhered to the feathers of the 

 vent, and to free itself of these the bird assumed a jerky 

 motion; if not successful in thus removing them it rubbed 

 them off on the perch. One morning we found it dead. 

 Although it always appeared in the best of health it was in 

 rather poor condition. (The Pepper Tree berries did not seem 

 to have supplied sufficient nutriment.) 



From G. M Mathews, F.R.S.E. 



The new birds described in the last issue of this journal, 

 and the two parrots already described, go to show that Dr. 

 MacGillivray and Mr. McLennan have done a lot to add new 

 forms to the List of Australian Birds. Too much praise can- 

 not be given to Dr. MacGillivray for his courtesy in allowing 

 me to describe these birds, and to Mr. McLennan for the energy 

 he displayed in collecting them. 



The locality from which they came is an exceedingly diffi- 

 cult one to work in, and it is only those who have been, in simi- 

 lar country who can appreciate the works of the above men. 

 Lloyd's Bay and its surroundings have turned out an excellent 

 collecting ground, and we must feel grateful to the men who 

 have worked it so well. 



