Fig. 134.–Warty-faced Honey-Eater. Meliphaga phrygia. × ½. (From Nature.)
The habits are fairly uniform, though certain species are comparatively shy. Small flocks often gather together, the haunts being dense forests, or open wooded country whether inland or littoral; some forms prefer the tree-tops, others low bushes and shrubs. These active, pugnacious birds dart about in zigzag fashion, or take powerful undulating flights, the tail meanwhile being frequently thrown back or expanded; at times they hover, or fall from aloft with closed wings.
Fig. 135.–Tui. Prosthemadera novae zealandiae. × ⅓.
Constantly seen hopping among the boughs, or climbing and hanging to the twigs, in search of the insects which constitute so much of their diet, they occasionally feed upon the ground–especially in the case of Ptilotis; while Meliornis and Entomophila will dart after their prey like Flycatchers. Figs and bananas, with other fruits and buds, are also eaten; honey is sucked from the flowers of Eucalyptus, Acacia, Epacris, and the like, in considerable quantities, the insects it attracts being perhaps the chief object; and Philemon batters large insects upon the branches before swallowing them. The voice is commonly loud, rich, and shrill, but varies from a whistle or a pipe to a chirp; some species, however, are more quiet, others give vent to slow, plaintive cries, quickly reiterated notes, or comparatively harsh sounds. The Tui, or Parson-bird, utters a wild song, laughs, coughs, sneezes, and mimics generally; Acrulocercus gets the name of O-o from its harsh double call; Pogonornis that of Stitch-bird from its clicking cry, though it also whistles; while Philemon corniculatus is sometimes called "Four-o'clock," "Poor Soldier," or Pimlico, from its note. Anthornis, the New Zealand "Bell-bird," usually heard in chorus, has a voice like the tinkling of a silver bell.[[303]] The nest, normally a slight structure of twigs, roots, bark, grass, and spiders' webs, lined with woolly materials, fur, or feathers, is placed in bushes, trees, or even tall grass, and generally has the rim woven over a supporting fork. A few species, however, including the New Zealand forms, Pogonornis, Anthornis, and Prosthemadera, build a solid fabric of twigs and rough materials among the branches. The eggs, two, three, or rarely four in number, are buffish-white, salmon-coloured or, exceptionally, olive, with spots, freckles, zones, and occasionally lines, of red-brown, rufous, bright red, blackish and grey. Two or three broods are reared annually. Entomyza cyanotis, the Blue-eye, re-lines deserted birds' nests, or utilizes the top of that of Pomatostomus; Glycyphila modesta and G. fasciata make hanging domed fabrics. The mimicry between Philemon–called Friar-bird, Monk, or Leather-head, from the bare head and ruff of some species–and Mimeta has been already noticed (p. [543]). Cloaks are fashioned from the Stitch-bird's feathers, as well as from those of the O-os (p. [564]).[[304]]
Fam. XXVII. Zosteropidae.–The "White-eyes," so denominated from the white ring usually surrounding the eye, form a single genus, Zosterops, of doubtful position. They range through parts of the Ethiopian Region, with Madagascar and the Comoros, and occupy most of the Indian and Australian Regions, whence they reach to Amur-land and Japan. The straight or slightly curved bill has the maxilla serrated and nearly always notched; the metatarsus is of medium length; the outer and middle toes are partially united; the wings are rather short with little or no exterior primary; the tail is moderate, broad and square, or even emarginated. Dr. Gadow[[305]] pronounces the protractile tongue to be forked and smooth in Z. lateralis; Mr. Beddard[[306]] finds the margins folded, and the tip frayed out in Z. simplex and Z. japonica. The sexes are alike, the coloration being principally olive and yellow, relieved by brown, grey, fawn, or white. The habits are similar to those of the Meliphagidae; the eggs, however, are pale blue. Z. caerulescens, the New Zealand "Blight-bird," destroys the "American Blight" (Schizoneura lanigera), a scale-insect.
Fam. XXVIII. Nectariniidae.–The Old World Sun-birds, recalling the non-Passerine Humming-birds by their brilliant metallic coloration, are actually given the latter name in India, whence they extend through Southern Asia to Papuasia and North Australia. They also occupy the whole Ethiopian Region, while Cinnyris osea inhabits Palestine, C. brevirostris Baluchistan and South Persia, and an undetermined species the Muskat district in Arabia. Promerops is a doubtful member of the Family.[[307]]
Fig. 136.–Splendid Sun-bird. Cinnyris splendidus. × ½.