52 ZOOLOGY OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS, 



surface, and with specks and dots o£ the same tint, here and 

 there ; the markings are rather closer together on the thick end. 

 Length 0-9 x 0-67 in. 



MELIPHAaiDyE. 



19. Philemon soedidl's, Gould. PI. 3, fig. IG. 



The nest o£ this species is very similar to that of the members 

 of the genus Tropidorhynclius^ a cup-shaped structure of bark 

 and grass, slung by the rim between forks of the twigs at the end 

 of some horizontal or drooping bough. It is about half the size 

 of that of Troj)idorl\i]nclms corniculatus, and equal to that of 

 Fhilemon citreogularis of which this species is but a northern 

 variety. The eggs are two to three in number, of a rich salmon 

 red, spotted with a darker tint, some of the spots fleecy, confluent, 

 and distributed alike all over the surface of the shell, rather closer 

 near the thicker end but not forming a zone there ; in A. a few 

 are confluent on the thick end forming a blotch on the top of the 

 Qgg. In B. the spots are more scattered and obsolete markings 

 of pale lilac are dispersed here and there over the surface. Length 

 A. l-04i X 0-7 in. ; B. 1-05 x 0*75 in.— {From Mr. Barnard's Coll) 



20. My Z ANT HA FLATIGULA, GouJd. 



The nest is a neat round structure of fine twigs occasionally 

 ornamented with wool and the Qgg bags of spiders &c., giving the 

 outside a beautiful white appearance ; the inside is lined with 

 hair of different kinds and wcol, the inside diameter is three 

 inches^ the depth two and a quarter inches ; it is usually placed 

 among the branches of trees and shrubs frequently near the 

 ground. The eggs arc four to five for a sitting, of a rich salmon 

 colour with dark salmon red spot and dots all over the surface 

 of the shell, but larger and closer on the thicker end. Length 

 1-02 X 0-75 in. ; 1-02 x 0-70 in. ; 1-02 x 0-75 in. ; 1 in. x 075 in. 

 {Mus. Bohr., J. B.J 



