]. 



147 



Bill of about the same length as the rest of the head, broadened 

 at base, straight. First primary extremely short, sometimes sup- 

 pressed altogether ; second primary very long ; tip of wing formed 

 by third and fourth primaries ; secondaries three fourths, tail square 

 and two thirds, of the length of the wing. Tarsus covered with a 

 few scales in front. Pattern of colour very characteristic, as it is 

 always composed of olive and yellow as the principal colours ; under- 

 parts frequently whitish, washed with grey and fawn-colour; a 

 ring of small white feathers surrounds the eye in most species. Sexes 

 alilce in plumage. Length of wing from 1-95 to 2-8 inches. 



The genus Zosterops has been divided into several genera ; but 

 after reviewing the mass of species of which it is composed, I 

 believe that it is impossible to separate them by definite characters. 

 The most characteristic feature of a Zosterops (^uicrrrip, girdle, and 

 0,4^, eye) is no doubt the conspicuous ring of feathers round the 

 ej-e ; but there are many species, perfectly typical in other respects, 

 which want this character. The length of the bill, which is again 

 a strong feature in a certain gi-oup of Australian species, is no" an 

 absolute character for generic division, and would separate closely 

 aUied species ; nor is the uniform coloration of some of the species 

 to be reckoned as indicating more than a sectional or subgeneric 

 group. 



^ Hange. All over Africa south of the Sahara. Madagascar and the 

 Comoro Islands; entire Indian peninsula and Cej^lon; Burmese 

 countries ; the whole of China, extending into Amoor Land ; Japan ; 

 Formosa; Hainan; Malay pcninsida; all the Indo-Malayan islands; 

 Moluccas ; New Guinea and adjacent Papuan islands ; throughout 

 the islands of the Pacific Ocean (with a few exceptions) ; Australia, 

 with Tasmania, New Zealand, and the Chatham Islands. 



in adult birds, dusky yellowish in the young. Bill 0-4 inch, wing 1-75, tail 1-5 

 tarsus 0-6. (Cf. Salvadori.) ^ • , «." x ^, 



Hab. Waigiou (Bernstein). 



ZOSTEEOPS RUFILATA. 



Zost«rop3 rufilata, Hartl. J.f. 0. 1865, p. 29; Grai/, Hand-l. B. i. n 164 

 no. 2163. ^ ' 



Above pale greenish; throat, under tail-coverts, and thighs yellow breast 

 ashy ; abdomen pale brownisli ; quills and tail-feathers blackish, ed-^ed with 

 the same colour as the back ; forehead, scapulars, bend of the wm^ on the 

 inside, and inner margnis of inner secondaries conspicuously rufesceut • rins 

 'r'v'l / r?" ^'^^-^-^YV "'"^P pal"-; bill very straight and sharp and 

 JEgithaus-\i\eam\ the feet pale. Total length 4'' 3'", bilt from forehead 5'" 

 wing 2 1 ", tail 1" 7'", tarsus 8'". {Hartlaub.) 



Hab. Unknown. 



Zosterops obscura. 

 Zosterops sp.. Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 198 (1848). 

 Zosterops obscure, Hombr. ^- Jac^. Voy. Pole Sud, Ois. pi. 20. fig. 6 (1842- 



Zosterops obscurus, Jacq. <f- PucMr. Voy. Pole Sud iii p 97 (1853) 

 Zosterops obscura, Hartl. J.f. O. 1865, p. 30; Gray, Hand-l B i n 163 

 no. 2143 (1869). ' '^' ' 



From a specimen in spirit, in bad condition. Locality unknown. 



l2 



