_Meliphaga Australasiana_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 313.—Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 326. _White-browed Honey-eater?_ Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 172. _Meliphaga inornata_, Gould, in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part. V. 1837, p. 152.—Ibid., Syn. of Birds of Australia, Part IV. female. This little Honey-eater is abundantly dispersed over every part of Van Diemen’s Land, to which country, in all probability, the species is restricted, though there is another in South Australia and New South Wales so nearly resembling it, as to render this supposition doubtful, and a further acquaintance with the continental bird is necessary to determine whether it is a mere variety or a distinct species. The chief difference consists in its being smaller in size, and less brilliantly marked on the wing. The _Meliphaga Australasiana_ is one of the few species that enlivens with their presence the almost impenetrable forests that cover a great portion of Van Diemen’s Land, giving preference to such parts as are clothed with a thick brush of dwarf shrubby trees growing beneath the more lofty gums. The extreme silence of these solitudes is agreeably broken by the loud shrill and liquid notes which are poured forth in quick succession by numbers of this bird in various parts of the wood. It also resorts to the thick beds of the _Epacris impressa_, whose red and white heath-like flowers bespangle the sides of the more open hills: the blossoms of this beautiful plant afford it an abundant supply of food, which it seeks so intently as to admit of a sufficiently close approach to enable one to observe its actions without disturbing it; while thus occupied it may be seen clinging to the stems in every possible attitude, inserting its slender brush-like tongue up the tube of every floret with amazing rapidity. Independently of honey it feeds on insects of various kinds, particularly those of the orders _Diptera_ and _Hymenoptera_. When disturbed it flits off with a quick darting flight, settling again at the distance of a few yards among the thickest tufts of the _Epacris_, or shrouds itself from observation among the foliage of the sapling gums.