\ 



58 Direclor's Annual Report. 



Gexus ^OSTEROPS \'igors & Horsfield. 



a'. General color abo\e a dull >ello\vish olive, length 3.8. 

 Zostcrops scmpcri . 



a.-. General color above olive green, length 4.25. Zostciops 

 conspicillata . 



56. ^osterops semperi Hartl. & Finsch. ^osterops. 



General color above dull yellowish olive, scarcely brighter on 

 the rump and upper tail coverts ; crown like the back ; in front of 

 eye a du.sky spot, and below the eye a line of dusky. Length 3.8, 

 wing 2.2, culmen .45, tail 1.33, tarsus .7. Hab. Pelew Islands, 

 ea.st and central Carolines. Rota, according to Oustalet. 



57. ^osterops conspicillata Gray. Nossac. 



Dicffuni roHipHillalio}!. Kittl., Kupf. Vov.. 1S32, PI. 19, Fig i. 



Zostnops co)iipicillu/a. Gray. Gen. B. I.', 1848, p. 198: Gray, Cat. B. Trop. I.sl. Pacific O.. 1S59. 

 p. 16: Gadow. Cat. B. Brit. JIus., 1SS4. IX.. p. iS.^. 



The little Nossacs are one of the common species of birds on 

 Guam. They seem to be of a social nature and are usually seen in 

 flocks of from ten to twenty. Their favorite feeding grounds seem 

 to be the small Lemonceti bu.shes {Linovia trifoliata) that grow by 

 the roadside, and in fact in the wa.ste places all over the island. 

 They hop about on the branches, fir.st on one side and then on the 

 other, keenly on the lookout for insecfts, which form the principal 

 part of their food. In habits and flight they remind one very much 

 of the goldfinch, but their note, .sounded iisuall}^ as they fly, is 

 something like that of the English sparrow, bitt not so loud or un- 

 pleasant. Twelve specimens were taken, all but one of which were 

 females. One nestling and three nests and eggs were .secured. 

 The measurements of half the specimens, selected at random, are 

 given below: — 



The spread of wing is about 6.75, and the depth of the bill at 

 nostrils is about .13. The general color above is olive green vary- 

 ing to dull grayi.sh olive, as in No. 9567 ; eyes with a ring of white, 

 bordered below b}- a narrow dusky line which merges into the 

 brownish gray of the hind cheeks and ear coverts ; there is ahso a 

 line of white extending from this eye ring to the base and around 

 the upper mandible ; throat and fore neck yellowish white, becom- 

 ing a brighter yellowi.sh on the breast and bellj- ; hind cheeks, ear 

 coverts and sides of neck grayish, with a slight shade of olive 



