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Webster 1913 Edition


Wattlebird

Wat′tle-birdˊ

,
Noun.
1.
(Zool.)
Any one of several species of honey eaters belonging to
Anthochaera
and allied genera of the family
Meliphagidae
. These birds usually have a large and conspicuous wattle of naked skin hanging down below each ear. They are natives of Australia and adjacent islands.
☞ The best-known species (
Anthochaera carunculata
) has the upper parts grayish brown, with a white stripe on each feather, and the wing and tail quills dark brown or blackish, tipped with withe. Its wattles, in life, are light blood-red. Called also
wattled crow
,
wattled bee-eater
,
wattled honey eater
. Another species (
Anthochaera inauris
) is streaked with black, gray, and white, and its long wattles are white, tipped with orange. The bush wattlebirds, belonging to the genus
Anellobia
, are closely related, but lack conspicuous wattles. The most common species (
Anthochaera mellivora
) is dark brown, finely streaked with white. Called also
goruck creeper
.
2.
(Zool.)
The Australian brush turkey.