ON AN INSULAR FORM of MELITHREPTUS 

 BREVIROSTRIS, Vigors and Horsfield. 



By Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S., C.M.B.O.U., Ornithologist. 



Melithi'fiptus nuu/nit'ostris, sp. nov. 



(Plate v., figs. 1-2.) 



Being at present engaged on the Jfeliphagidce for the next 

 [)art of " Nests and Eggs of Birds found breeding in Australia 

 and Tasmania,"^ among other species, Mr. A. Zietz, the Assistant 

 Director of the South Australian Museum, Adelaide, has kindly 

 drawn my attention to three skins of which he writes — " You 

 will notice three specimens of Jfelithreptus hrevirostris with 

 I'emarkably strong bills ; the birds were shot on the 3rd October, 

 1901, by my son Mr. F. R. Zietz out of a flock at Eastern 

 Cove, Kangai'oo Island. This might be an insular form of the 

 mainland species." 



On the head and nape these specimens, two adult males, and an 

 adult female, more closely resemble New South Wales examples 

 of Melithreptus hrevirostris. the forehead and crown being of a 

 lighter brown, and the dull buffy-white and blackish-brown bands 

 on the nape being but slightly indicated in comparison with 

 South Australian specimens ; they resemble the latter in having 

 •a dull white loral streak but which is even moi'e pronounced ; 

 the cheeks and sides of the throat of an adult male are dull 

 white, which passes into a very faint creamy buff" on the remainder 

 of the under surface, darker on the centre of the breast and 

 abdomen, the centre of the throat and the fore-neck having 

 a, greyish tinge, the flanks slightly washed with brown. The bills 

 of all three specimens are distinctly larger than in continental 

 bxamples. The adult male previously referred to measures — 

 iotal length .5-3 inches, wing 2-75, tail 2-4, tarsus 0-65, exposed 

 portion of bill from base of forehead where the feathers end to 

 tip 0'55, breadth of cutting edge at centre of nostril O'l 9, height 

 ■)f bill at centre of nostril 0"19. 



Remarks. — The outer secondaries of the type are externally 

 •fudged with olive, as is also found in some adult New South Wales 

 .specimens. The white cheek stripe of the specimen labelled a 



North — 4mtr Mu8. Spec. Cat , i. 



