FLOWERPECKER, OR MISTLETOE-BIRD. 
particular section, it would rapidly accumulate again as long as tlie birds 
which carry and spread the seed were allowed to exist. How easy it is for the 
seed of the mistletoe to germinate may be found out by actual experiment, 
as I proved. Procuring a few of the ripe seeds from shot specimens of the 
Mistletoe-Bird, I placed them in different positions on the limbs of plum trees 
in my garden, and waited results. The glutinous nature of the seed-covering 
makes it adhere to anything it touches, hence there was no difficulty in 
fastening the seed to the tree. In a few days the pulpy covering spread itself 
out and along the limb, fine hairs that eventually formed into rootlets 
protruded from the seed and searched for a hold on the bark and in less than 
a month nearly every seed had firmly established itself on the tree. I then 
destroyed the plants, as the experiment had gone far enough to prove how 
easy it is to spread this pest. There are about four varieties of mistletoe 
in Victoria and during the time they are in bloom the Flowerpecker (another 
name for the Mistletoe-Bird) feeds on the nectar contained in the trumpet¬ 
shaped flowers, and at this time does no harm. As soon as the seeds ripen he 
eats them, and if shot at this time the stomach will be found to contain very 
little else but the seeds. He is a very lively bird, and most erratic in his choice 
of feeding trees. He will feed for a few moments in a bunch of mistletoe, 
as if in a desperate hurry, then without a moment’s warning he will suddenly 
leave the tree, and fly off frequently half a mile before he settles again, and 
repeats his tactics. During the day, feeding in this manner, he must cover a 
large extent of country, dropping the seeds as he goes, and causing the 
destruction of many a noble tree. In the Frankston and Olinda districts 
whole trees are covered with the mistletoe, some examples of which hang 
down for a distance of 9 or 10 feet. As soon as the mistletoe plant is firmly 
established, the whole strength of the limb flies into it, and all the rest of the 
branch above the parasite withers away and dies. Some of the flowering 
bunches of mistletoe are extremely beautiful, and it is a pity they do so much 
harm.” 
To contrast with this account I cite G. F. Hill’s notes in connection with 
the Birds of the Ararat District, Victoria: “It would be interesting to know 
how the mistletoe ( Loranthus ), which is now very plentiful, was spread over 
this area, for these birds are extremely scarce now, and unless they were 
formerly far more numerous they could never have accounted for the 
distribution of so much seed.” 
Captain White wrote regarding Central Australia: “ Wherever mistletoe 
was found throughout the ranges so sure was this little bird found, their sharp 
piercing call would often be heard amongst the myall scrub; in some places 
there has hardly a myall tree that had not a large bunch of mistletoe hanging 
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