iOO KECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



The distinguishing characters in the seasonal changes of the 

 plumage of the under surface of Z. ccerulescens may be briefly 

 summarized as follows : — 



Sj^ring 'pluinage. — Throat bright olive-yellow ; cliest and breast 

 ashy-grey, passing into dull white on the abdomen ; flanks very 

 pale tawny-brown; under tail-coverts dull white, in some specimens 

 washed with yellow. 



Summer pluinage. — Similar to the spring, but the throat 

 slightly duller in colour. 



Autumn plumage. — Throat faintly washed with olive-yellow 

 or gradually passing into grey ; flanks tawny-buft'. 



Winter plumage. — Chin and sides of the throat dull olive- 

 yellow ; centre of the throat, the chest, and breast ashy ; flanks, 

 deep tawny- buft'; abdomen and under tail-coverts dull white, the 

 latter in some specimens washed with yellow. 



Transitioyi from ivinter to sirring plumage. — Throat greyish- 

 white, faintly washed with olive-yellow; flanks pale tawny-buff; 

 under tail-coverts dull white, slightly tinged with yellow. 



Ohs. — The average measurements of examples obtained during 

 winter and in summer are alike. All through the year some 

 specimens are found with the under tail-coverts tinged or washed 

 with yellow. This does not appear to be a sexual character, 

 although from the specimens examined the yellowish wash on 

 the under tail-coverts predominates among the males. As a rule, 

 however, the dull white or white under tail-coverts are found in 

 birds obtained during the winter. 



Under the synonymy of Z, ivesterne^isis, Dr. Sharpe includes Z. 

 tephropleura, of Gould, from Lord Howe Island, but the latter 

 species can be readily distinguished from the spring plumage of 

 Z. ccerulescens by its bright yellow under tail-coverts, and by its 

 larger and more robust bill. At the Macleay Museum I have 

 examined the type of Z. ranisayi, described by Mr. George Masters 

 from specimens obtained by him on one of the Palm Islands, 

 lying north of Halifax Bay, N.E. Queensland. It is a good and dis- 

 tinct species, with olive-yellow under tail-coverts, and a broad 

 zone of white feathers round the eye. Dr. Sharpe, from the des- 

 cription of this species given in the Proceedings of the Linnean 

 Society of New South Wales,* considers it proliably identical with 

 Z. tvesterne7isis ; but there is no question that the specitic character 

 pointed out by Mr. Masters, and the olive-yellow under tail-coverts 

 will prevent one when examining this species from confounding 

 it witli the spring or summer plumage of Z. coivulescens, or with any 

 other Australian member of this genus. 



* Vol. i., p. 50. 



