106 RECOBDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES. 

 By Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S., Ornithologist. 



VIIL— DESCRIPTION of a NEW SPECIES of HONEY- 

 EATER FROM NORTH QUEENSLAND. 



Ptilotis leilavalensis, sp. nov. 



Adult. — General colour above pale ashy-brown tinged with 

 yellow, the upper tail-coverts more distinctly shaded with yellow; 

 scapulars and upper wing-coverts like the back ; quills brown, 

 strongly washed with bright olive yellow, the apical portion of 

 the outer webs of the priraai'ies and the tips of the secondaries 

 having whitish edges ; tail-feathers brown with whitish tips, the 

 two central feathers, and outer webs of the remainder washed with 

 bright olive yellovv'; lores, forehead, sides of the head, cheeks and 

 ear-coverts bright olive yellow ; behind the ear-coverts a patch of 

 silky-white feathers ; chin, throat, and fore neck pale olive-yellow 

 passing into fawn-white, tinged with yellow on the breast and 

 abdomen, lower portion of the abdomen and the under tail-cov6rts 

 pale yellow; bill black; legs and feet fleshy-brown. Total length 

 of skin 6 inches, wing 28, tail 27, bill 0-42, tarsus 0-75. 



Habitat. Eullerton River, Burke District, North Queens- 

 land. 



Tijfe. In the Australian Museum, Sydney. 



Observations. This species, which will be vernacularly known as 

 the Lesser White-plumed Honeyeater, is allied to P. penicillata and 

 P. flavescens. From the former it may be distinguished principally 

 by its smaller size, more brightly coloured head, and otherwise 

 generally paler plumage, also by the absence of the blackish line 

 which separates the silky-white patch of feathers from the ear- 

 coverts. In size, and general colour of plumage, except the ear- 

 coverts, it closely approaches P. flavescens. 



The specimen from which the above description is taken was 

 presented to the Trustees by Dr. W. Macgillivray of Hamilton, 

 Victoria. It was obtained by his brother, Mr. A. S. Macgillivray, 

 of Leilavale Station, Fullerton River, thirty miles east of Oloncurry 

 Township, North Queensland, who states that these birds are fairly 

 common in the Tea-trees along the river. The nest and eggs were 

 secured at the same time, but the latter were unfortunately broken. 



