( 80 ) 



11. Zosterops pallidipes De Vis. 



Descr. origin, in Ofth-ial Report on New Guinea, Birds, No. 51. 1880. 



S ad. Uiii)erside uniform olive-green. Rectrices blackish brown, with olive- 

 greeu edges. Reiniges deep blackish browu, outwardly margined with the colour of 

 the liack, inner edges and under wing-coverts yellowish white. Ronud the eye a 

 broad ring of silvery white scaly feathers, under the eye a blackish patch. Under- 

 surface greenish yellow, chest and sides more olive greenish, throat and middle nf 

 abdomen almost pure yellow. " Iris brown, feet dark dirty yellow, bill above dark 

 brown, mandible and lower edge of upper jaw very light brown towards the tip."' 

 AVing 67, tail 49, cnlmen 18-5—19, tarsus 19-5—20 mm. ? ad. Like the adult 

 male, but a little smaller, wing only 62 mm., tail 45 mm. 



This very distinct species is evidently common on Rossel Island. 



12. Dicaeum nitidum Tristr. 



This, 1889. p. 555. Nov. Zool. 1898. p. 528. 



This species has been described from Sndest : but Meek met with it equally 

 frequent on Rossel Island. The specimens (only males) agree with those from 

 Sndest Island ; bat the wing is in some specimens as long as 60 and 62 mm., others 

 being shorter. The colour of the back varies a good deal, being more bluish iu some, 

 probably freshly moulted, specimens, more olive-green in others. 



13. Pitta meeki Rothsch. 



Descr. origin, in Bull. B. U. C. No. LVI. Oct. 1898. p. 6. 



This tine Pitta is a very remarkable discovery. It resembles superficially the 

 well-known Fi/t'i macldoti of New Guinea, from which it diflers in the absence of 

 the black spot on the throat, which is only indicated by a dusky shade, the paler and 

 nrore greyish 'brown chin and upper throat, the pale greyish brown forehead and 

 fOre-part of the crown, the light brown (^not deep rufous) hind-neck and hinder-part 

 of the crown. Round the eye and on the ear-coverts are some pale bluish grey 

 feathers. The size is considerably less. Wing 98 — 102 mm., tail 45, tarsus 40. The 

 young bird has the forehead blackish, feathers of throat and chest whitish butf with 

 ashy brown or almost blackish edges, feathers of the abdomen pale brown with 

 darker tips, under tail-coverts rosy white, black olive-brown. The adult bird has 

 the iris browu, bill black, feet light bluish slate-colouv. 



A nest, unfortunately without eggs, was found, being a huge clump of rootlets, 

 sticks, and dry, mostly half decayed leaves, with acu]) nf about 12 cm. in depth, and 

 measuring about 23 — 25 cm. across on the outside. 



14. Eurystomus crassii'ostria Scl. 

 Common enough. Young specimens were found in February. 



