STRANGE DWELLINGS. 
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dry in a short time. The grass is mingled with the hair of 
the Kangaroo and the fur of some phalangist, vulgarly called 
opossum, which serve to mat the grass together, and to make 
it impervious to the wind and rain ; and the interior is neatly 
lined with grasses and vegetable down. 
f 
There is another of these -pretty birds, called the Painted 
Honey- Eater, on account of the variety of its colouring. Its 
scientific name is Entomophila picta . The general colour of 
this handsome bird is rich brown above, with the exception of 
a yellow patch on the base of the tail, and white, slightly 
spotted, below. A characteristic mark of the species is a little 
patch of pure white just by the ears. 
This handsome species inhabits the interior of New South f 
Wales, and does not confine itself merely to a diet of sweet 
juices, but feeds much on small insects. The generic title, 1 
Entomophila, is composed of two Greek words, which signify j 
insect-lover, and is given to this bird, and several other Honey- 
Eaters, on account of their insect-eating habits. The birds are 
extremely active, and devote much of their time to the pursuit 
of insects on the wing, in which occupation they have a great 
resemblance to our well-known fly-catcher. They sit on a 
branch, keeping a careful watch, and whenever an insect passes 
near, they dart into the air, catch it, and return to their post. 
They are generally seen in pairs, and are very playful, chasing 
each other merrily, and spreading their tails so as to show the 
white colour. When on the wing, they are so like the common 
goldfinch that they might easily be mistaken for that bird, the i 
patchy distribution of the colour, and the white spot on the 
face, adding greatly to the resemblance. 
The material of which the nest of the Painted Honey- Eater 
is composed is fine fibrous roots, interwoven very artfully, but 
loosely, and being of so frail a structure, that much care is 
required to remove it without damage. It is fastened by the 
rim to the delicate twigs of the beautiful weeping acacia 
(Acacia pendula), whose long lanceolate leaves droop over and 
nearly cover it. It is a very small nest in proportion to the 
size of the bird. 
