THE BLUE-FACED HONEY-EATER. 
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most reach her with your hand, and then precipitates herself to 
the ground, feigning lameness, fluttering, trailing her wings, 
and tumbling over, in the manner of the partridge, woodcock, 
and many other species. Both parents unite in providing food 
for the young/ 
In Australia there is a large group of rather pretty birds, 
popularly called Honey-eaters, because they feed largely on 
the sweet juices of many flowers, although the staple of their 
diet consists of insects. They seem indeed to occupy in 
Australia the position which is taken in America by the hum- 
ming-birds, and by the sun birds of the old world. To this 
group belong many familiar and interesting species, such as 
that which produces a sound like the tinkling of a bell, and is 
in consequence called the Bell-bird ; the different species of 
Wattle Birds; the odd, bald-headed Friar Birds, and the splen- 
didly decorated Poe Birds. 
One species of it, which comes in the present section, is the 
Blue-faced Honey-eater of New South Wales, called by the 
natives Batikin ( Entomyza cyanotis ). It is a pretty bird, the 
plumage being marked boldly with black and white, and a patch 
of bare skin round the eyes being bright azure. This peculiarity 
has earned for the bird the specific title of cyanotis, or 4 blue- 
eared/ 
Like all the Honey-eaters, it is a most lively and interesting 
bird, and to the careful observer affords an endless fund of 
amusement. It is never still, but traverses the branches with 
astonishing celerity, skipping from one to another, probing every 
crevice with its needle-like tongue, hanging with its head down- 
wards, 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 
