HONEY-EATER. 173 



penicilliform at the tip ; irides hazel ; on the cheeks a narrow white 

 spot ; plumage in general olive-green, more inclining to olive be- 

 neath ; quills brown, secondaries edged with olive ; tail the same, 

 somewhat forked ; legs dark blue ; claws black, the hind ones the 

 longest. Some specimens appear to have a red crown, tinged with 

 violet, which happens from the bird thrusting its head into the 

 bosom of flowers, the farina of which adheres to the feathers, and 

 may be rubbed off with the fingers. 



Inhabits New Zealand throughout, and is called Negho-barre; 

 has an agreeable note in general, but at times so varies and modu- 

 lates the voice, as to imitate the notes of any other bird, particularly 

 the Poe, and therefore called by the English the Mocking Bird. 



20— WHITE-FRONTED HONEY-EATER. 



Certhia melanops, Ind. Orn. Sup. xxxvi. 

 Heoro-taire mellivore, Ois. dor. ii. 124. pi. 86. 

 Mellivorous Creeper, Shaw's Zool. viii. 245. 

 Black-eyed Creeper, Gen. Syn. Sup. ii. 165. 



THIS bird is seven inches or more in length ; bill one inch 

 long, curved half way from the point, and black ; tongue longer 

 than the bill, and fringed at the end ; plumage on the upper parts 

 mottled brown ; quills and tail dusky, feathers of the latter fringed 

 outwardly with yellow, and even at the end ; the forehead, lore, 

 and all the under parts white; just before the eye, between that and 

 the bill, begins a black band, which growing broader, includes 

 the eye, after which it becomes narrow again, passes on each side 

 of the breast, and there ends in a point; legs brown. 



Inhabits New South Wales ; said to be fond of honey, but will 

 also feed on flies. 



