Australian Birds in the Collection of the Linnean Society. 311 
external mark of distinction which separates some of the more 
slender-billed species from the conterminous species of the Cin- 
nyridg. — 
In addition to the numerous species of this family which 
decidedly exhibit most of its typical characters, and which in 
their general slenderness of form coincide with the other groups 
of the Tenuirostres, there are many species, in which great 
size and strength of form is discernible, which have been 
ranked as Meliphagous in consequence of the alleged filamen- 
tous conformation of their tongue. Many of these, from their 
external characters, might be referred at once to the power- 
fully constructed groups of Corvide and Merulide, Of some of 
these species we can say with confidence that they are Meli- 
phagous, from our having examined the tongue. But we have 
much doubt as to a similar construction of tongue existing in all 
the species. We consider it, however, the most eligible plan 
to enumerate all these species att the end of the present family ; 
stating our doubts on 1 the subject, and leavir y the question to be 
decided by those naturalists who may 3r the — of 
mspecting the Sedes in their native haunts. 
Genus. MzrriPHaGa*. Lewin et Auct. 
* Cauda rotundatà, rostro longiori subgraciliori. 
1. Novæ HorranDix. Mel. nigra, subtus alba nigro-striata ; 
- superciliis maculáque aurium albis, remigibus in medio externe 
flavo- 
* The species of the family of Meliphagide appear very numerous, and every 
arrival from New Holland and the Australian islands brings an addition to their num- 
ber. At the same time the species themselves are but ill-defined; and in the present 
imperfect state of our knowledge, and while information is daily increasing, we consider 
it unadviseable to attempt more than a rude sketch of this interesting family. The 
group which we have selected above as representing the Meliphaga of Lewin and 
Authors, 
