Order Passeriformes, Family Melipliagidae, Genus Meliomis. 167 



Bill— Black. 



Legs and feet — Black. 



Iris- — White. 



The female resembles the male, but is slightly smaller. 



The young on leaving the nest resemble the adults. 



The chick is .hatched with the eyes closed, it is covered 

 with a scanty dark brown down, and has the gape and bill 

 bright yellow. 



Average measurement of nine skins. Total length, 163 

 m.m., wing 77 m.m., bill 17 m.m. 



Distribution — It is found in all the southern parts of S.A., 

 and in Kangaroo Island, it does not inhabit the interior. 

 Nearly allied sub-species are found in Victoria, N.S.W., 

 Tasmania, and Western Australia. 



Habits — They like country covered with small flowering 

 shrubs, especially banksias, other favourite trees, are gum 

 trees, wattle, heath (Epccris), and hakeas. They are familiar 

 birds in all suburban flower gardens, often nesting there, if 

 there be suitable cover. They are non migratory as a. rule 

 but sometimes appear for a time in a district and then leave 

 it for- a year or two. Generally they go singly or in pairs, 

 unless a good feeding tree be found, when as many as 20 or 

 30 may be present at a time. They are pugnacious, and will 

 tackle and drive off much larger birds than themselves from 

 the nest, or feeding tree. If the old bird be discovered sitting 

 on eggs, she leaves the nest silently and stealthily, but if the 

 nest contain young, she remains close to and makes a great 

 clatter. 



Flight — Swift and somewhat erratic, as a rule limited to 

 quick dashes from one feeding tree to another, but will some- 

 times chase an intruder for a long distance. 



Hong — A shrill "tweet," the alarm note is a harsh clatter. 



Food — The nectar of flowers, and small insects, the latter 

 often taken upon the wing. 



