^'°i9o6^'j Campbell, Birds oj Kaiig-iroo Island. I^^ 



The Tasmanian form, which was named by Gould A. di/l'ius, is of all the 

 darkest in plumage. The Kangaroo Island form, by its lighter colour and 

 duller markings, has differentiated from the parent stock in a different 

 fashion. 



ZoSTEROPS HALMATURiNA (new sub-species) (Island White-eye).— Here, 

 too, is an interesting link. Z. carulescois^ of South-eastern Australia, is 

 characterized by its grey back, chestnut flanks, and greyish throat (some- 

 times tinged with greenish-yellow) ; Z. g^ouldti, of Western Australia, by its 

 green back, greyish flanks, and yellow throat. The Kangaroo Island bird 

 has grey back, greyish flanks, and yellow upper throat, thus linking one 

 with another. The legs are of a very light horn colour, and not grey-black ; 

 the bill is heavier — .4 in. against .33 in. ; wing is 2.25 in. ; tarsus, .7 in. 

 Withal it is quite a distinct variety. 



Mklithreptus magnirostris. — This bird inhabits the sugar gums and 

 the stringybark. It has been separated from J/, brcvirostris as a new 

 species by Mr. A. J. North. It has a large bill (.57 in), but M. brcvirostris 

 reaches .5 in. The colour of bill is black, while M. brcvirostris is brownish- 

 black. Specimens from Nhill, in North-western Victoria, are, however, jet 

 black, like the Island form. As with all Mclitlirepti., the bill of the female sex 

 is always smaller by about .05 in. There is a traceable dark band below 

 the light collar which does not exist in the mainland birds, and the crown, 

 ear coverts, back, and under tail coverts are all slightly darker. In life a 

 bluish spot exists in the centre of the bare lower eyelid. This has not been 

 noted in M. brcvirostris., though it occurs with M. leucoocnys of Western 

 Australia. 



Glyciphila FULVIFRONS (Tawny-crowned Honey-eater). — On all the 

 heath-covered tracts this bird is to be found. One nest was discovered con- 

 taining four eggs, which, judging by the two types, were evidently laid by 

 different birds. One bird procured showed slight variation from the main- 

 land form. Only the back half of the crown was tawny in colour, the fore 

 head being creamy-white, like the eyebrow. 



Ptilotis leucotis (White-eared Honey-eater). — This was found only 

 in thick scrub near the river, froin which it loved to ascend the gum-tree 

 butts in- search of food. It has a bill larger by .13 in. than the mainland 

 bird, and is of a slightly darker tone. 



Ptilotis CRATITIA (Wattle-cheeked Honey-eater). — This beautiful bird 

 is the only other representative of its large genus. It inhabits the scrub- 

 covered moorlands not far from the sea, and the brush-like tea-tree that 

 grows on the river flats. But in comparison with specimens from Nhill, 

 Victoria, it is found of darker plumage, and the wings and tail are blackish 

 instead of brownish. The bill, wing, and tarsus are all slightly larger. The 

 male bird is distinguished by a blackish collar on the hind-neck and a 

 darker crown. 



Lich.mera halm.\turina (new sub-species) (Lesser Crescent Honey- 

 eater). — This was an unexpected bird upon the island, where it was common 

 in the scrub along the river. It possesses a bill . i 5 larger than the Victorian 

 specimens, and is of duller plumage. The striking wing-patch and also the 

 colour on the tail is greenish-yellow, and not bright yellow. There is less 

 white on the tail (.75 in. against .9 in.), no white centre to the chest, and the 

 upper throat is but faintly streaked. The young bird has a short bill, but 

 the sexes can be distinguished by the male, even in the browner youthful 

 plumage, having a prominent greenish-yellow wing-patch. The female is 

 throughout darker than the mainland female. Measurements are as 

 follow : 



L. nustralasiaiia, male 



female 



