Embroidered Bee-eater, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 167. pl. 20.
Philemon Phrygius, Vieill. Ency. Méth., Part II. p. 617.
Le Merle écaillé, Le Vaill. Ois. d’Afr., tom. iii. pl. 116.
Meliphaga Phrygia, Lewin, Birds of New Holl., p. 13. pl. 4.—G. R. Gray, Gen. of Birds, 2nd Edit., p. 20.
Anthochæra Phrygia, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 322.
Zanthomiza Phrygia, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 326.
Mock Regent Bird, Colonists of New South Wales.
This is not only one of the handsomest of the Honey-eaters, but is also one of the most beautiful birds inhabiting Australia, the strongly contrasted tints of its black and yellow plumage rendering it a most conspicuous and pleasing object, particularly during flight. It is a stationary species, and enjoys a range extending from South Australia to New South Wales; I also met with it in the interior nearly as far north as the latitude of Moreton Bay. Although it is very generally distributed, its presence appears to be dependent upon the state of the Eucalypti, upon whose blossoms it mainly depends for subsistence; it is consequently only to be found in any particular locality during the season that those trees are in full bloom. It generally resorts to the loftiest and most fully-flowered tree, where it frequently reigns supreme, buffeting and driving every other bird away from its immediate neighbourhood; it is, in fact, the most pugnacious bird I ever saw, evincing particular hostility to the smaller Meliphagidæ, and even to others of its own species that may venture to approach the trees upon which two or three have taken their station. While at Adelaide in South Australia I observed two pairs that had possessed themselves of one of the high trees that had been left standing in the middle of the city, which tree during the whole period of my stay they kept sole possession of, sallying forth and beating off every bird that came near. I met with it in great abundance among the brushes of New South Wales, and also found it breeding in the low apple-tree flats of the Upper Hunter. I have occasionally seen flocks of from fifty to a hundred in number, passing from tree to tree as if engaged in a partial migration from one part of the country to another, probably in search of a more abundant supply of food.
Its note is a peculiar loud whistle, not entirely devoid of harmony.
The nest, which is usually constructed on the overhanging branch of a Eucalyptus, is round, cup-shaped, about five inches in diameter, composed of fine grasses, and lined with a little wool and hair. The eggs are two in number, of a deep yellowish buff, marked all over with indistinct spots and irregular blotches of chestnut-red and dull purplish grey, particularly at the larger end, where they frequently form a zone; they are eleven lines long by eight lines and a half broad.