MELIPHAGA AUSTRALASIANA: Vig. & Horsf.
J. & E. Gould del et lith. C. Hullmandel Imp.
MELIPHAGA AUSTRALASIANA, Vig. & Horsf.
Tasmanian Honey-eater.
L’Heorotaire noir et blanc, Vieill. Ois. Dor., t. ii. pl. 55, p. 89.
Certhia Australasiana, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 226.
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.
It is extremely abundant on the hills at the foot of Mount Wellington, and it may also be observed at most seasons among the thick beds of Epacris growing on the north side of the Derwent, between Kangaroo Point and Clarence Plains. I also observed it in every similar situation on the banks of the Tamar, at the other extremity of the island. The breeding-season is September and the four following months, during which period each pair of birds rear two or three broods; and it is a curious fact, that at the first laying only two eggs are found in each nest, while in the height of the summer, when insect food is far more abundant, they almost invariably lay three: the cause of which is either that the birds are more vigorous as the season advances, or that Nature has wisely ordained that the number of young should bear a relative proportion to the amount of food to be procured for their support.