Cassell's book of birds; vol. 3Brehm, Alfred Edmund
Science
Cassell's book of birds; vol. 3
Brehm, Alfred Edmund
Birds
This magnificent little bird frequents the groves and groups of
almond-trees that abound in the northern parts of Australia, and enlivens
its favourite haunts as much by the briskness and activity of its
movements as by the brightness of its plumage. Its voice is sharp and
twittering. We are entirely without particulars of the manner in which
incubation is carried on.
* * * * *
The TUFTED HONEY-EATERS (_Ptilotis_) are remarkable for the unusual
development of the feathers in the region of the ear. Their body is
elongate, their wings short, and tail long. The strong, slightly-curved
beak is short, and the foot of moderate size.
THE YELLOW-THROATED TUFTED HONEY-EATER.
The YELLOW-THROATED TUFTED HONEY-EATER (_Ptilotis flavigula_) is yellowish
green on the back, wings, and tail. The dark grey under side glistens
with a silver sheen; the belly and sides are pale olive, the top of the
head dark grey, and the throat bright yellow. The feathers that compose
the ear-tufts are tipped with yellow, and the outer web of the quills is
deep brown. The eye is brown, the beak black, and the foot lead-grey; the
gullet and tongue are of a brilliant orange-red. The length of this bird
is eight inches; the wing measures four inches and a half, and the tail
four inches and a quarter.
"This fine and conspicuous species," says Gould, "is abundant in all the
ravines around Hobart Town, and is very generally spread over the whole
of Van Dieman's Land, to which island I believe it to be exclusively
confined. It is very animated and sprightly, extremely quick in its
actions, elegant in its form, and graceful in all its movements; but
as its colouring assimilates in a remarkable degree with that of the
foliage it frequents, it is somewhat difficult of detection. When engaged
in searching for food, it frequently expands its wings and tail, creeps
and climbs among the branches in a variety of beautiful attitudes,
and often suspends itself to the extreme ends of the outermost twigs.
It occasionally perches on the branches of trees, but is mostly to be
met with in dense thickets. It flies in an undulating manner, like a
Woodpecker, but this power is rarely exercised. Its note is a full, loud,
powerful, and melodious call. The stomach is muscular, but of very small
size, and the food consists of bees, wasps, and other hymenoptera, also of
coleoptera of various kinds, and the pollen of flowers. It is a very early
breeder, as is proved by my finding a nest containing two young birds
covered with down, and about two days old, on the 27th of September. The
nest, which is generally placed in a low bush, differs considerably from
those of all other Honey-eaters with which I am acquainted, particularly
in the character of the material forming the lining. It is the largest
and warmest of all, and is usually formed of ribbons of stringy bark,
mixed with grass, and the cocoons of spiders; towards the cavity it is
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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