106 MELIPHAGIDiE. 



Godwin-Austen, J. A. S. Benq. xxxviii. p. 109 (1870) ; Holdszo. 

 P. Z. S. 1872, p. 458 ; Hume, Nests ^- Eggs Ind. B. p. 397 (1873) ; 

 Cock Sf Marsh. Str. F. 1873, p. 3-56; Adam, t. c. p. 384; Hayes 

 Lloyd, Ibis, 1873, p. 412 ; Leqge, Ibis, 1874, p. 22 ; Walden, t. c. 

 p. 143 ; Ball, Str. F. 1874, p. 417 ; Hume, Str. F. 1875, p. 143 ; 

 BrooJcs, t. c. p. 252 ; Hume, t. c. p. 491 ; Butler, t. c. p. 491 ; Blytli 

 cV Wald. B. Burm. -p. 110 (1875); Fairb. Str. F. 1870, p. 2G0; 

 Hume, f. c. p. 403 ; Fairb. S. F. 1877, p. 407 ; Dnrids. c^- Wcnden, 

 S. F. 1878, p. 84; Ball,t. c. p. 202 ; Anders. Zool. F.vped. Yvmtan, 

 p. 031 (1878) ; Butler, Cat. B. Sind ^-c. p. 42 (1879) ; Lcgqe, B. 

 Cei/lon, p. 582 (1879) ; Hume, Str. F. 1870, p. 104 ; Scull'i/, t. c. 

 p. 322 ; Vidal, Str. F. 1880, p. 69 ; Bittler, t. c. p. 413 ; Hume, t. c. 

 p. 605 ; Butler, Cat. B. Sotith. Bomb. Pres. p. 57 (1880). 



Zosterops japonicus (nee T. Sf S.), Stvinh. Ibis, 1861, p. 35. 



Zosterops "simplex, Sivinh. Ibis, 1861, p. 331, 1863, p. 294 ; Ilartl. J. 

 f. O. 1865, p. 13; .Swinh. Ibis, 1866, p. 121 ; Gray, Hand-l. B. i. 

 p. 163, no. 2151 (18G9) ; Sicinh. Ibis, 1870, p. 348 ; Gould, B. Asia, 

 part xxiii. (1871) ; Sunnh. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 349 ; David ^ Oustalet, 

 Ois. Chine, p. 85 (1877) ; Hume, Str. F. 1878, vol. ii. p. 403 ; id. 

 Str. F. 1879, p. 104. 



Zosterops nicobariensis, Hume, Str. F. 1874, p. 242, 1879, p. 104. 



Zosterops palpebrosa nicobariensis, Htime, Str. F. 1876, p. 291. 



Adult. General colour above olive-yellow, a little brighter on the 

 ramp and upper tail-coverts ; wing-coverts like the back ; bastard- 

 Aving feathers dusky ; primary-coverts and quills dusky, edged with 

 olive-yellow, a little brighter on the primaries ; tail-feathers light 

 dusky brown with olive-yellow margins, inner webs narrowly fringed 

 with whitish ; crown of head slightly richer olive-yellow than the 

 back ; lores and base of forehead golden yellow : ring of feathers 

 round the eye sillcy white ; in front of the eye a black spot, extending 

 in a narrow line below the eye ; ear-coverts olive-yellow ; cheeks and 

 throat golden yellow ; fore neck and breast pale ashy ; abdomen a 

 little whiter, and slightly washed with yellow ; sides of body and 

 flanks also pale ashy ; thighs yellow, white at base ; under tail- 

 coverts golden yellow ; under wing-coverts and axillaries white, 

 washed with yellow ; quills below dusky brown ; inner edge of quills 

 whitish ; " bill black, base of lower mandible bluish grey ; feet dark 

 plumbeous, claws brownish horny; iris yellowish hazel" (Sculli/). 

 Total length 4 inches, culmen 0-45, wing 2-15, tail 1'6, tarsus 0'6. 



Obs. The birds from the Eastern Himalaya seem slightly larger 

 and greener in colour above, as well as rather darker ashy below. 



The Nicobar bird docs not seem to be really different, as some of 

 the Himalayan specimens have bills quite as large as the Mcobar ones. 



As regards the Chinese bird (Z. simplex of 8winhoe), I cannot say 

 more than that it appears to be a permanently greener form than 

 the Indian bird ; but it can, however, be matched by specimens from 

 different parts of India. 



Hah. AU over India from the Himalayas to Ceylon, with the 

 Laccadives; Burmese countries eastwards into South China; Andaman 

 Islands and Nicobars. 



