5 
YELLOW-EAR HONEY-SUCKER. 
(Pl. V.) 
BEAK arched, stout, and almost three-sided. 
NOSTRILS long, and covered with a membrane. 
TONGUE long, and split into a number of hairy fibres at the end, brush-lilte. 
TOES formed for climbing. 
The birds of this genus feed upon the honey combined with the infinitely small insects lodged 
in most of the flowers of New South Wales, which they extract in a dexterous manner with their 
tongues, peculiarly formed for that purpose. 
LENGTH 
Eight inches; bill six-eighths and black; the corner of the mouth a pale yellow; 
through the eye a streak of black ; eye grey; lashes brown; cheek grey : behind the 
ear a pale yellow patch ; chin, throat, breast, belly, vent, greyish olive; forehead 
dark grey; crown, neck, back, shoulders, and rump, dark greyish olive; primaries 
and secondaries dark grey, edged with bright olive; tail dark grey, edged with olive, 
and a little forked; legs and claws brown. 
FEMALE 
Nearly the same, but of less bright plumage. 
INHABITS 
The neighbourhood of Paramatta and the Hawkesbury, frequenting thick bushy 
woods. 
REMARKS. 
In the winter season these birds have been seen feeding on the sweet berry of the 
white cedar in great numbers. They have a shrill and very peculiar cry, which is heard 
at a great distance. 
