119 



around tke .,., and e.t.n.Ung in a broad streak h^kind tie ey. do.n on to tKe sides of the neck hlack ; 

 urver portion of ckeeks pale yellor., passing into bright yellow" on the ear-coverts, belnnd M ^s a 

 patck of silkg-,rhi>e feathers, foUo,.ed by a ,nuch larger greyisk-nMte patch; all the nnder surface 

 yellou,, paler on the chin and upper throat, brrgkter on the Jore neck, all the feathers .Uh a d.t^nct 

 longitudinal streak of bro..n; vent and under taU-corerts faint yello^.i^h.^hite u,ith narron. bro^n 

 shaft-streaks: "bill black; legs and feet dark grey; iris bror.r." (S.ith), Total length 7;.. u.ches, 

 n-ing i'l, tail S-H, bill 0-7, tarsus Vl. 



Adult FEMALE-.S'imi^.r in phoaage to the male, but sUghtly s.naller. Wing .iS inches. 

 Distribution-Co.si.\ districts of Northern Queensland, Islands of Torres Strait, South 

 Coast of New Guinea and contiguous islands. 



^T^HE present species which inhabits the coastal districts of Northern Queensland and the 

 T: adjacent islands, also similar situations in the south of New Guinea, was described by 

 Gould in 1842.-^ from a single specimen contained in a collection from the northern porUon of 

 t sttlia It is beautifully figured by him in his folio edition of the "Birds of Australia I and 

 ih re e remarks:-'It is one of the finest species yet discovered of the genus to which rt 

 be n' and is at present so rare, that my own specimen is probably the only one brought to 

 Europe'' During the ''N'oyageof the Rattlesnake," Mr. John MacGilhvray obtained this species 

 on the iist May 1S4S, on Dunk Island, and Mr. M. Elsey also procured it on Albany Island in 

 SepteX 55. Many specimens were obtained in tSys during the "Voyage of the Chevert,' 

 fi ted out by the late Sir WilUam Macleay. Mr. George Masters records: four males and four 

 females obtained at Cape Grenville, one female Barro.v Island, one male and one female Long 

 Island three males and one female Dungeness. In the Australian Museum collection, this 

 pecie is represented by specimens obtained at Salt-water Creek near Cardwell m May, 14 

 and October, .877, an adult male and female procured by Mr. A. F Smith on one of the 

 Frankland Islands, on the 16th October, 1904, and others from the -th coast of New C,uinea 

 Samarai and Dinner Islands procured in 18SS by Dr. MacKinlay ot H.M.S. 'Swinge 1 Mr 

 Ir^nirHislop Informs me that he has noted this species on the Hope Islands, lying off the coast 

 of North-eastern Queensland. 



The Varied Honey-eater is closely allied to Pt,lotis sonora, Gould, and from which it may be 

 chiefly distinguished by its larger size, and richer coloured plumage, the general character of 

 he markings of the two species being nearly alike. There is the same variation to be found in 

 d pth of colour and the extent of the white or greyish-white patch on the sides of the neck as 

 Tp. sonora Typically specimens from Cardwell are of a slightly richer yellow on the under parts 

 than examples from the south coast of New Guinea and the adjacent islands. 



\nion- a small collection of bird skins sent me for examination, made by Mr. A. F. Smith 

 principally^near Cairns, North-eastern Queensland, and the neighbourhood, was a specimen of 

 ^tl vLolor, Gould, collected by him on one of the Frankland Islands, on the i6th October, 

 igo4. Subsequently I received a second specimen from him, shot in company with the other, 

 also their nest and a set of two eggs taken at the same time. 



The nest figured is a cup-shaped and somewhat scanty structure, daylight being visible 

 throuc^h the greater portion of the sides. E.xternally itisformed of fibrous rootlets, held together 

 wi^ ;iant down and spider webs, with which are intermingled a few egg-bags of spiders and 

 Their green silky covermg, the mside being sparmgly lined with fine pale bro^vn^x>otlet^d 



* Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1S42, p. 13G. 



t Gould. Bds. Austr., fol. ed., Vol. IV., pi- 34. UH^)- 



I Pro:. Linn. Soc. N,S Wa'es, Vol. I., p. 55 i'Sye). 



