Gregory Mathews

“ Broadbent says he never saw it in the scrubs; it arrives in Rockingham Bay in March. It is not a plentiful bird and very shy, always keeping at the tops of the trees; it is very fond of feeding on the parasitical plants; it is a very pugnacious bird, driving all other birds that approach it. ”

“ It is a very shy and rare bird, he (Mr. Broadbent) states that he never saw two together. In its habits it is like all other Honeyeaters, its food consisting of the honey from various flowers of the scrubs."
These four paintings were sent to Gould in 1874. I also have the original of some score of John Gould's plates, of which by far the most interesting to Australians is Neophema splendida, the Scarlet-chested Grass Parrot. This appeared in December, 1847, in Part XXIX. of his Birds of Australia, to replace the plate in Part II. of a single figure, done by Mrs. Gould in 1841. ”

“ Broadbent in the scrubs of Rockingham Bay, both in the lower and mountain scrubs. It feeds on the native figs and other fruits indigenous to the scrubs of the north coast." "They are difficult," says Mr. Broadbent, "to obtain, and their presence is only to be found by the falling of the refuse of the fruit they are feeding on. They utter a weak screech when they enter and also when they leave, but make no noise while feeding." ”