THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Mr. F. E. Howe wrote from Victoria: “ Is not a common bird in this 
district and is more often met with in the open country.” 
Mr , L. G. Chandler also sent me: “ This is a very common form in the 
open timbered country, and even hi the Melbourne Botanical Gardens they 
are to be seen in dozens. By country folk and schoolboys they are known 
generally as ‘ greenies.’ Like most Honey-eaters they consume a considerable 
number of scale and other insects. I have watched them, while feeding on 
nectar from the gum blossoms, repeatedly fly out to secure a passing insect 
and return again to the sweets. They are very dexterous at catching an 
insect that seeks to elude capture by falling to the ground. At times they 
fail to achieve their purpose, but in most cases the insect is caught even by 
the bird turning somersaults in its pursuit. All through the day while feeding 
they frequently give sharp clear calls, besides the ordinary ‘ chip, chip ’ notes 
that are kept up incessantly at the least alarm. The notes vary considerably, 
but the general call is ‘ chee-ak-wita wit-eek ’ ; occasionally a call is given 
sounding like ‘ Chu-bit-eek a-wit-eek wit-eek,’ while again the ‘ Chu-bit-eek ’ 
may be given separately. These are the notes usually heard but there are 
several others. A peculiar habit of this Honey-eater is to rise from a tree and 
ascend into the air somewhat similar to a Lark, at the same time calling 
quickly ‘ chibery-chu chibery-chu ’ several times. I think they sometimes 
have a different call when doing this, but recently I have not been able to 
co nfir m this. Having attained a certain elevation they suddenly dart into 
the tree or scrub again. Sometimes they simply fly from one tree to another. 
When disturbed a number of them will fly to a bare limb and keep up an 
incessant din of notes sounding sometimes like ‘ chip-chip,’ and often like 
‘ chep-chep.’ If the observer remains quiet they slowly cease their noise and 
disperse. In the neighbourhood of houses this peculiar trait is not often seen, 
but hi the bush when disturbed by shooting they are curious to watch. 
They are very fond of bathing in winter as well as during the summer 
months.” 
In connection with his survey of the Birds of the Pilliga Scrub, New South 
Wales, Cleland wrote: “Forty-six birds counted on the trip, uniformly distrib¬ 
uted throughout the journey, but especially found in tall eucalypts near 
water-courses. The estimated minimum population of 3,036 is probably 
considerably too low, as many birds were probably not observed in the leafy 
trees. A specimen shot had the bill black, the iris very dark brown, the pharynx 
and palate orange, and the legs greyish-brown. The liver was pale, as is so 
frequently the case in the Honey-eaters, being perhaps attributable to so much 
sugary food, though this particular species must feed chiefly on insects rather 
than nectar. No entozoa detected.” 
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