BLUE-FACED HONEY-EATER. 89 
hanging with its head downwards, and even suspending 
itself by a single claw, while it secures a tempting insect. 
It is generally to be found on the eucalypti, or gum-trees, 
and is one of the stationary birds, remaining in the same 
locality throughout the year. 
The generality of the Honey-eaters are skilful architects, 
but the Batikin seems not to share the ability of its relatives, 
or, at all events, not to exercise it. Mr. Gould thinks that 
the bird can hardly depart so far from usual custom as to 
be incapable of building a nest, but he has never found 
such a nest, nor heard of one. The Batikin is one of the 
parasitic group, usurping the nest of another bird, and 
taking possession of it in a very curious fashion. 
In Australia there is a bird belonging to the genus 
Pomatorhinus, which somewhat resembles the bee-eater, 
except in plumage, which is quite dull and sober. This 
bird builds a large, domed edifice, and appears to make 
a new nest every year. The deserted nests are always 
usurped by the Batikin, which establishes herself without 
any trouble. The reader would naturally imagine that 
when the bird finds herself in possession of so large and 
warm a nest, she will pass into the interior, and hatch 
her young under the protection of the roof. This plan, 
however, she does not follow, preferring to take up her 
abode on the very top of the nest, exposed to all the ele- 
ments. She takes very little trouble about preparing her 
home, but merely works a suitable depression upon the 
soft dome, lays her eggs in it, and there hatches them. 
The reader will remember that there are several birds 
which form a supplementary nest upon the exterior of 
the original domicile, and the parasitic nest of the Batikin 
is evidently an extension of the same principle. 
In England we have many parasite birds, one of which 
M 
