MUNIA MELyENA. 

 THE DUKE-OF-YORK ISLAND MUNIA, 



PLATE VIII. (Fig. 1). 



Mania melcena, Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1880, p. 66, pi. vii. fig. 2. 

 Munia hemimelo'na (err. ?), Sclater, Proo. Zool. Soc. 1880, p. QQ. 

 Munia melmia, Reichnw. et Schal., Jonrn. fiir Ornith. 1880, p. 322. 

 Munia melama, Salvadori, Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. xvi. 1880, p. 192. 

 Munia melcena, Salvadori, Omit. Papuasia, p. 439 (1881). 



Figure. Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1880, pi. vii. fig. 2. 



Habitat. New Britain. Duke of York Island {Brown). 



"Nigra; nropygio, caudfe tectricibus superioribus et rectricum margini- 

 bus externis castaneis ; cauda acuminata, rectricibus duabus mediis 

 quam cajteraj longioribus ; ventre medio rufo, hypochondriis nigro 

 variegatis, crisso nigro ; alls extus et dorso postico fuscescenti- 

 nigris, subalaribus rufescentibus ; rostro crasso et pedibus nigris. 

 Long, tota 4*3, alaj 2, caudie 1*3 " (P. L. Sclater). 



Male. Head and back dull black ; rump and upper tail-coverts glistening ferruginous ; 

 centre tail-feathers and outer edges of the rest glistening pale ferruginous ; primaries 

 and secondaries dull blackish-brown ; chin, sides of head, breast, sides, flanks, latter 

 part of abdomen, and under tail-coverts black ; side feathers irregularly barred with 

 pale rufous like the belly ; axillaries and under wing-coverts pale fulvous ; iris blackish ; 

 bill and feet slaty-black : " length 4-3, wing 2-0, tail 1-3 " {P. L. Sclater). 



Female. Similar, but not so black, rump and upper tail-coverts paler glistening ferru- 

 ginous ; abdomen pale fulvous; bill and feet slaty-black : length 3'85, wing 2], tail 

 1 \, tarsus 0'65, culmen O'G. 



E-11 



