MELIPHAGIDiB. 127 



Family MELIPHAGIDiE. 



Bill variable in length, but always with a prominent culraen, and 

 broadened out at base, curved, almost always with a slight notch ; 

 maxilla serrated. Nostrils basal, situated in a large unossified 

 groove, which is quite soft and membranous ; cither longitudinal 

 and with a well-developed coriaceous operculum, or oval and 

 situated in front of a coriaceous groove ; never entirely covered 

 with feathers, generally quite free. Tongue protractile, bifid, each 

 half broken up into numerous stiff horny fibres, so as to form a 

 brush*. First primary (except in Zostero^js and Entomoj^Jiila) about 

 half the length of the second, or a little shorter. "Wings varying 

 in shape. Tail varying in shape and length, never stiff". Tarsus 

 varying in length, covered with scales anteriorly, which are some- 

 times fused in old birds. Anterior toes short and much joined 

 together ; middle toe the longest : hallux the strongest ; anterior 

 claws very short. The pattern of the plumage inclines to green 

 and yellow. Blue never occurs, and red in the Myzomelince only. 

 Metallic colours (purple) confined to a gloss. Parts of the head 

 are frequently bare ; and wattles on the ears, cheeks, or the throat 

 are frequently met with. 



Key to the Subfamilies. 



A. Small birds of the size of a Sparrow. 



Bill longer than the rest of the head, 

 very slender and much curved; first 

 primary about half the length of the 

 second. Sexes mostly very diflereut 

 in coloration MYZOMELIX^H, p. 127. 



B. Bill shorter or equal to the rest of the 



head ; a peculiar ring of short whitish 

 feathers surrounds the eye ; first pri- 

 mary either completelj' absent or very 

 short (except in the brown species) ; 

 jjlumage principally green, yellow, and 

 white. Sexes alike in coloration ZOSTEEOPIN^, p. 140. 



C. The other genera of the Meliphagidce 



constitute the MELIPHAGIN^, p. 209. 



Subfamily I. MYZOMELINCE. 



Key to the Genera. 



A. Tail about two thirds the length of 



the wing 1. MYZOiiELA , p. 128. 



B. Tail about equal to the length of the 



wing 2. ACANTHORHYXCHUS, p. 144. 



* See H. Gadow, " On the Suctorial Apparatus of the TenuirosLres," Proc. 

 Zool. See. 1883, pp. 62-69. 



