Van Diemen’s Land, and all parts of the colonies of New South Wales and South Australia, are alike inhabited by this well-known bird. It has never yet been observed in northern or western Australia, its place being supplied in those parts of the country by other nearly allied species. On comparing examples from Van Diemen’s Land with others killed on the continent of Australia, a difference is found to exist in their relative admeasurements, the Van Diemen’s Land birds being more robust and larger in every respect; still as not the slightest difference is observable in the markings of their plumage, I consider them to be merely local varieties and not distinct species. The natural habits of this bird lead it to frequent the thinly timbered forests of _Eucalypti_ clothing the plains and low hills, rather than the dense brushes, and so local is it and so exclusively does it confine itself to such situations that the edge of a river frequently forms the boundary of its habitat: for instance, it is very abundant on the northern side of the Derwent near Hobart Town, yet never did I meet with it on the opposite shore during the whole of my stay in Van Diemen’s Land excepting many miles up the river, where the trees and land on both sides appear equally suitable to its habits. The Garrulous Honey-eater is not truly gregarious, but moves about in small flocks of from four to ten in number. In disposition it is unlike any other bird I ever met with, for if its haunts be in the least intruded upon it becomes the most restless and inquisitive creature possible, and withal so bold and noisy that it is regarded as a troublesome nuisance rather than an object of interest; no sooner does the hunter come within the precincts of its abode than the whole troop assemble round him and perform the most grotesque actions, spreading out their wings and tail, hanging from the branches in every possible variety of position, and sometimes suspended by one leg, keeping up all the time one incessant babbling note: were this only momentary or for a short time, their droll attitudes and singular note would be rather amusing than otherwise; but when they follow you through the entire forest, leaping and flying from branch to branch, and almost buffeting the dogs, they become very troublesome and annoying, awakening as they do the suspicions of the other animals of which you are in pursuit.