1. ZOSTEKOPS. 157 



other Australian species," I would observe that this is an uncertain 

 character in Zosterops, so much depending on the preparation of the 

 specimen. Mr. Eamsaj', however, informs me personally that he 

 believes this white eye-ring to be a character in this species. 



Z. (jriseonota from ISew Caledonia cannot, in my opinion, be kept 

 distinct from the Australian bird, which it resembles in its paler 

 under tail-coverts. The types measure as foUows : — 



kifth ^'^^en. Wing. Tail. Tarsus, 



in. in. in. in. in. 



a. S-'^vi(J.Macgillivray) 47 O-o 2-45 1-9 0-75 



b. $ . Nu (/. Mac(jillim-mj) 4-5 0-5 2-45 1-9 07 



Z. tephropJeura, from Lord Howe's Island, is a slightly larger race, 

 with brighter yellow under tail-coverts ; the paler colour of the 

 flanks is matched by many specimens from the continent of Aus- 

 tralia. The t3'pe measures : — 



a. S ad. Lord Howe's Island. Total length 4'8 inches, culmen 0-6, 

 wing 2-4, tail 1'95, tarsus 0'75. 



Two specimens from Erromango are referred to Z. tephropleura 

 by Mr. G. E. Gray. They measure : — 



a, h. (S . Erromango (J. Brenchltni) . Total length 5 inches, culmen 0"oo- 

 0-6, wing 2-55-2-6, tail 2a, tarsus 0-8. 



Though even exceeding the type of Z. tephropleura in size, they 

 are somewhat intermediate between it and the Australian specimens, 

 having the yellow under tail-coverts not so bright as in Z. tephro- 

 pleura, and yet more yellow than in the continental bird. 



Concerning the Fijian birds, Dr. Finsch writes that the only dif- 

 ference he could discover between them and examples of Z. wester- 

 nensis lay in the brighter yellow under tail-coverts. As our series 

 does not confii'm this character, I have been compelled to add Z. 

 Haviceps as a synonym of the present species. I give the description 

 of an old bird : — 



Adult male. General colour above bluish grey on the mantle and 

 upper back; the lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts olive- 

 yellow ; the lesser wing-coverts, median and greater coverts olive- 

 yellow ; bastard-wing feathers blackish ; primary-coverts and quills 

 dusky brown, externally margined with ohve-yellow, a little lighter 

 towards the ends of the primaries ; tail-feathers light brown, ex- 

 ternally edged with olive-yellow, internally with white ; crown of 

 the head, nape, and hind neck olive-yellow, with a narrow line of 

 brighter yellow above the lores ; lores blackish, as well as a streak 

 below the eye ; ring round the eye silky white ; ear-coverts dull 

 olive-yellow ; cheeks and throat brighter yellow, a little tinged with 

 olive on the lower throat ; fore neck and breast ashy grey, darker on 

 the sides of the breast ; abdomen white, tinged with yellow ; sides 

 of the body and flanks clear isabelline brown : thighs white ; under 

 tail-coverts yellow ; under wing-coverts and axillaries white, the 

 edge of the wing yellow ; quills below dusky ; inner edge of quills 

 whitish. Total length 4-5 inches, culmen 0-5, wing 2-35, tail 1-85, 

 tarsus (i*7. 



