(426) 



Zosterops wester nensis ^fiaciceps, from the Fiji Islands, seems to differ con- 

 stantlr from the Australian forms of Z. tvi^sternensis by having light-colonred 

 feet and bills, thongli the rolonr of the plumage is very mnch like that of 

 Z. westerwnsis westernensis. (Cf Sharpe in Cat. B. Brit. Mus. v. IX. pp. 

 156-8.) 



14. Myzomela pectoralis J. Gould. 



I am not aware that the striking resemblance of the upperside of the female 

 to the upi>erside of Sittella striata from the same country has ever been noticed. 

 It is a perfect " mimicry " with regard to the black cap, the striped back, the white 

 rnmp and upper tail-coverts, and the black tail with white tips, only the colour 

 of the bill is different. The underside is totally different in the two birds. " Bill 

 and feet black, iris brown." 



15. Ptilotis flava J. Gould (?). 



One skin, marked S, differs from the specimens of P.Jlava in the British 

 Museum in haviug shorter wings and an indication of a defined dusky cap on the 

 crown. " Iris dark brown, feet light greenish slate, bill black." Wing 87 mm. 



1 6. Ptilotis notata J. Gould ; 



and 



IT. Ptilotis gracilis .1. Gould. 



These two species, which have generally been confounded, and which in the 

 skin hardly differ, except in size, were both found commonly at Cape York. 

 Mr. Le Souef {Ibis 1898, p. 56, pi. I.) has shown that yracilis differs from notata 

 in being much smaller, and also in its life-history. In Nov. Zool. 1898 p. 527 

 I have shown that P. notata and P. analoga are two distinct species. We have 

 thus three closely allied species, and it would seem that P. notata and P. gracilis, 

 as well as P. notata and P. analoija, are found together, the former two in New 

 Guinea, the latter two in (Queensland, while we have not yet a proof that P. analoga 

 and P. gracilis occur together. I hope to be able to publish some more details 

 about these forms before long. 



18. Poephila nigrotecta Hart. 



In Bull. B. 0. Club, June 1.S99, p. 59, this surprising little novelty is 

 described as follows : — 



" Similar to P. cincta, from which it differs in being considerably smaller, 

 and in having the upper tail-coverts black like the rnmp." In P. cincta the upper 

 tail-coverts are perfectly white, not black with wliite tips, as described in Butler's 

 " Foreign Finches," where, however, an excellent plate is given. Total length 

 about 1(10 mm., wing 59 — 60 (about 63 in P. cincta), tail 41, culmen 9-5 mm. 



There are two skins in the collection, a c? and a ? , both shot at Cape York 

 on 18. 6. 1898. " Iris reddish brown, feet red, bill black." 



