CURIOUS HOMES AND THEIR TENANTS. 



to bush in pursuit of insect fare, often entering the 

 gardens of the settlers in southern AustraUa and Van 

 Diemen's Land which it inhabits, iacessantly uttering 

 its pleasing, piping note of two syllables, which may 

 be translated into the ■\v<jrds, What next ? what next ? 

 The crown of the head and the wings and tail are black, 

 with a round, white, brilliant spot at the tip of each 

 feather. A white strip passes above the eyes. The 

 cheeks and sides of the neck are gray, and the feath- 

 ers on the back are gray, shading into brown at their 

 roots, and edged with black at their outer ends. The 

 uppermost tail covers are vermilion red ; the throat, 

 breast, and lower tail covers bright yellow ; the belly 

 and sides are orange, the eyes deep brown, the beak 

 brownish black, and the feet brown. But to appre- 

 ciate the beauty of his apparel you should see the 

 bird make it iiash and sparkle in the sun, every 

 feather vibrating as he palpitates in his active, eager 

 flight, or dives in and out among the leaves and 

 blossoms like the play of iridescent color thrown from 

 a prism. / ,j 



Ant milking 

 aphides, "which 

 it keeps as 

 cattle. 



Parasol ant, 

 carries a leaf 

 over its head. 



