576 BIRDS OP AUSTRALIA. 



the feathers at tlic back of the neck tipped with silvery grey ; 

 primaries dark brown margined externally with grey ; second- 

 aries dark brown on their inner webs, the outer webs grey at 

 the tip, and wax-yellow at the base ; tail greyish brown, with 

 dark hrown shafts, and all but the two centre feathers largely 

 tipped with brownish white ; chin grey, a patch of dark 

 brown down the centre ; under surface grey ; the feathers of 

 the breast with a narrow crescent-sliaped mark of brown near 

 the tip of each ; irides dark hazel ; naked space beneath the 

 eye, bill and feet yellow. 



Sp. 354. MYZANTHA OBSCURA, Gould. 



Sombre Honey-eater. 



Myzantha ohscura, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part viii. p. 159. 

 Manorhina obscura, Gray Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 127, Manorhina, 



sp. 3. 

 Bil-ija-goo-rong, Aborigines of the lowland, and 



Bil-your-ya, Aborigines of the mountain districts of "Western Aus- 

 tralia. 



Myzantha obscura, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. iv. pi. 77. 



This species inhabits Swan River and the south-western 

 portion of Australia generally, where it beautifully represents 

 the Myzantha garrula of New South Wales. In habits, 

 actions, and disposition the two birds closely assimilate. 



Gilbert's notes supply me with the following information, 

 which I give in his own words : — 



" It inhabits every variety of wooded situation, in all parts 

 of the colony, and is generally met with in small families. In 

 flying the wings are moved very rapidly, but the bird does 

 not make progress in proportion to the apparent exertion ; 

 at times, when passing from tree to tree, its flight is graceful 

 in the extreme. 



" The stomach is small but tolerably muscular ; and the 

 food, which consists of coleopterous and other insects, seeds. 



