116 MELIPHAGID.E. 



Ptilotis sonora. 



SINGING HONEY-EATER. 

 I'tUotis sonorns, Goulri, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1840, p. 160; id., Bds. Austr., fol. Vol. IV., pi. 33(1848). 

 raiotis sonora, Gould, Handl.k., Bds. Austr., Vul. L, p. 504 (1865); Gadow, Cit. Bd.s. Brit. Mus., 

 Vol. IX,, p. 234 (1884). 



Adult }.l.KLV.—<!ii„)-iil,;il,„ir((h,irr /,i;,/r„, mislinl ir'ilh ,,/! rr (Uk/ /j(i.'<.'<1 ii;/ I nfn a (jri'i/ii/i-hroirii 

 „„ Ih.' rroirii „/ th.' hr,i,l .nnl Jnnltrud : irniijs i.,;„r„. //„' i.n/.rutos/ i,/,/,rr ir', n,j-rur,-rtx ini^lwd irith 

 ,rn;-,i,'ll,„t; fh- i, liter irrhx „/ th< /,r;„i„rlrs iiurmirlii ,;hir,l, and thr s,,;,„d,trir, uiani'iind ir)lh iiflrr- 

 yd/ow; taU fnithrrs hrmrn, n,<ir,jhu'd c.cknudli/ irith i,/lrr-,,rIlo,r : h<rrs, frafh.rs urmnid tlir i',/,', 

 and extenditi;/ in n lirmid s/nid: hrliind ths eye dmrn on to tin- !<id<'x (if tlt< iirrk. Iihn-k- : iijiinr imrtinn 

 (ifrhppks jiidr ijiUnir iiiiss'iiiij int., hni/Ii/ i/rUim- i„i f/,r nir-run-rts, hiliiiid irlii.-h is a /m/rj, uf . ■<!//,■!/- 

 irliilr/nifhrrs, xiirrrrdrd h;! ,1 iiiiirli hiri,,'r (jrriiiKli-irliitr j„itrli : riini ,i iidlJinint dnU iii'lh,ins]i-irhde ; 

 rniiiiiiid.T ii/lhr iiiidrr siiy/iir. dull iiilli.insli^ijrni. ,;irh fnitlirr hiiriii.i ,1,1 dl-drfi md li,ii,/il mViiwl 

 .-.trriik nf pull- hrnini. tin /,in- m-rk heiinj innn- iristinrdi, l\n,,vd irlth ijiUmr : frntn ,,/tln nhduiin'H 

 nnd iindir tnil-coverts ivli'itij-hi-uirii, irltli iiiinmr dnrl.-rr shiifl stnid.s. Tutal lenijth in thr jlesh IS 

 inches, n-irig 3-6, tail SS, lull n-i:, tarsus tiU.',. 



Adult fkmale — Simi/ar in plnmaije to the male. 



Distribution— North-western Australia, Northern 'J'erritory of South Australia, Queensland, 

 New South Wales, Victoria, South AustraUa, Central Australia, Western Austraha. 

 /T^HIi Singing Honey-eater is found over nearly the whole of Australia. There are specimens 

 J- in the Australian Museum collection from all parts of the continent, except Eastern 

 \'ictoria, the coastal districts of New South Wales, and the extreme northern portions of the 

 Northern Territory of South Australia. In a species so generally distributed, it is not remarkable 

 that individual and climatic variation exists to a considerable extent, and yet not sufficient and 

 constant enough to merit specific distinction. One of the largest adult males in the collection, 

 and with the most distinctly streaked under surface is a specimen obtained by Mr. George 

 Masters at Port Lincoln, South Australia, in November 1865; wing 3-9 inches. The wing- 

 measurement of this specimen is equalled by an adult male procured by the late Mr. K. H. 

 Bennett, in July 1SS3, on Coombi Station. New South Wales, but on the latter example the 

 brown streaks are less distinct on the breast. ( )ther adult males obtained in New South Wales 

 have the under surface dingy-white, not pale yellowish-grey, but similarly streaked with pale 

 brown; an adult male I shot at Moree in November 1897, has the lightest coloured under surface 

 of any specimen in the collection, being a faint creamy-white, tinged with yellow on the fore neck 

 and having narrow indistinct streaks on the sides of the breast. This bird was in the moult and 

 has two new tail feathers, the others being worn and abraded ; wing 3-5 inches. Adult males from 

 the Herbert River, and the Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland, are similar to others obtained at 

 Derby North-western Australia; wing 3-3 inches. Considerable variation exists in the width of the 

 black streak on the sides of the neck, and the size of the white or greyish-white patch of 

 feathers behind, and in some instances also below the ear-coverts. The most remarkable plumaged 

 adult male is one procured near Adelaide in 1863. This specimen has the tail feathers, also some 

 of the quills conspicuously margined with reddish-olive ; wing 3-65 inches. . A number of 

 mounted specimens in the Australian Museum collection were obtained by Mr. George Masters 

 at King George's Sound, Western Australia. 



It is remarkable that in New South Wales it is strictly an inland species, while in the other 

 States, it occurs on the sea coast, as well as in the interior portions. I met with it on the Namoi 

 and Gwydir Rivers, my attention in the latter locality being directed to it by its loud notes, 



