GARRULOUS HONEY-EATER ,— Myzantha gdrrula. 
The Garrulous Honey-eater is a native of Australia, and derives its name 
from its noisy conduct. 
In its habits the Garrulous Honey-eater is very amusing, although it often is 
the cause of no small annoyance to the traveller or the sportsman, as will be seen 
by the following remarks made by Gould in his “ Birds of Australia/' “ The 
Garrulous Honey-eater," he says, “ is not gregarious, but moves about in small 
flocks of from five to ten in number. In disposition it is unlike any other bird I 
ever met with, for if its haunts be in the least intruded upon, it becomes the 
most restless and inquisitive creature possible, and withal so bold and noisy that 
it is regarded as a nuisance rather than an object of interest. 
No sooner does the hunter come within the precincts of its abode, than the 
whole troop assemble round him, and perform the most grotesque actions, spread- 
ing out their wings and tails, hanging from the branches in every possible variety 
of position, and sometimes suspended by one leg ; keeping up all the time one 
incessant babbling note. Were this only momentary, or for a short time, their 
droll attitudes and singular notes would be rather amusing than otherwise ; but 
when they follow you through the entire forest, leaping and flying from branch to 
branch, and almost buffeting the dogs, they become very troublesome and annoy- 
ing, awakening, as they do, the suspicions of the other animals of which you are 
in pursuit." 
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