THE SEARCHERS. . ii 



degree with that of the foliage it frequents, it is somewhat difficult of detection. When engaged 

 in searching for food, it frequently expands its wings and tail, creeps and climbs among the branches 

 in a variety of beautiful attitudes, and often suspends itself to the extreme ends of the outermost 

 twigs. It occasionally perches on the branches of trees, but is mostly to be met with in dense 

 thickets. It flies in an undulating manner, like a Woodpecker, but this power is rarely exercised. Its 

 note is a full, loud, powerful, and melodious call. The stomach is muscular, but of ver)' small size, and 

 the food consists of bees, wasps, and other hymenoptera, also of coleoptera of various kinds, and the 

 pollen of flowers. It is a very early breeder, as is proved by my finding a nest containing two young 

 birds covered with down, and about two days old, on the 27th of September. The nest, which is 

 generally placed in a low bush, differs considerably from those of all other Honey-eaters with which I 

 am acquainted, particularly in the character of the material forming the lining. It is the largest and 

 warmest of all, and is usually formed of ribbons of stringy bark, mixed with grass, and the cocoons of 

 spiders; towards the cavity it is more neatly built, and is lined internally with opossum's or kangaroo's 

 fur. In some instances the hair-like material from the base of the large leaf-stalks of the tree-fern is 

 employed for the lining, and in others there is merely a flooring of wiry grasses or fine twigs. The 

 eggs, which are either two or three in number, are of the most delicate fleshy buff, rather strongly but 

 sparsely spotted with small prominent roundish dots of chestnut-red, intermingled with which are a 

 few indistinct spots of purplish grey. The average length of the egg is eleven lines, and the breadth 

 eight lines." ' 



The BRUSH WATTLE BIRDS {MeUchcsrd) are recognisable by their powerful body, -strong 

 and slightly curved beak, comparatively short foot, short rounded wing, and long, wedge-shaped, 

 tapering tail. 



THE TRUE BRUSH WATTLE BIRD. 



The True Brush Wattle Bird {Melichara mellivord) is deep brownish grey on the back, each 

 feather having a white stripe in the centre. The feathers on the throat and breast are brown, tipped 

 with white ; the rest of the under side appears lighter than the back, omng to the greater size of the 

 white shaft-stripe. The upper quills are chestnut-brown on the inner web, and the rest brown 

 tipped with white, as are the tail-feathers. The eye is grey, the beak black, and the foot brown. 

 This species is about eleven inches long ; the wing measures four inches and a quarter, and the tail 

 five inches qnd one-sixth. 



These birds inhabit all such parts of Tasmania, New South Wales, and South Australia as offer 

 them the shelter of their favourite Banksias. Everywhere they are numerous, and display the utmost 

 confidence and fearlessness towards man. In disposition they are lively, active, and so pugnacious 

 as to live in a state of constant warfare with all their feathered companions. " The Brush Wattle 

 Bird," says Gould, "is a bold and spirited species, evincing a considerable degree of pugnacity, 

 fearlessly attacking and driving away all other birds from the part of the tree on which it is feeding, 

 and there are few of the Honey-eaters whose actions are more sprightly and animated. During the 

 months of spring the male perches on some elevated branch, and screams forth its harsh and peculiar 

 notes, which have not unaptly been said to resemble a person in the act of vomiting; whence the 

 Australian name of ' Goo-gwar-ruck,' in which the natives have endea\-oured to imitate these very 

 singular sounds. While thus employed, it frequently jerks up its tail, tlirows up its head, and distends 

 its throat, as if great exertion were required to force out these harsh and guttural sounds. The 

 Banksias are in blossom during the greater portion of the year, and the early flower, as it expands, is 

 diligently examined by the Wattle Bird, which inserts its long feathery tongue into the interstices of 



