the Birds of North Queensland. 625 



One clutch obtained on December 8th measures : A, 29x 

 21 ; E, 28-5 X 21-5 ; C, 29 x 22 mm. 



25. MlMETA FLAVICINCTA Kin":. 



Oriolus flavicinctus Sharpe, t. c. p. 206. 



Oriohis viridissimus Sharpe, t. c. p. 207. 



A considerable series of old and young birds from the 

 same localities as the preceding species. The young birds 

 agree well with the description of O. viridissimus Heine, as 

 given by Sharpe (loc. cit.), which species is evidently not 

 tenable. It is curious that in this species the young birds 

 should be so much brighter in coloration tiian the adults, 

 which is not the case in other species of Mimeta. 



Adult birds have the iris red ; feet slate ; bill brownish 

 red. Younger birds have the bill and feet black ; iris brown. 



26. ^MlMETA SAOITTATA (Lath.). 



Oriolus viridis Sharpe, t. c. p. 212. 



Six specimens from Cooktown, shot in June and September. 



" Found plentifully in forest-country either in flocks or in 

 pairs, feeding on the fruit of a species of Ficus. Iris red ; 

 feet slate; bill reddish brown ^' [Olive). 



The material at our disposal is not sufficient to settle 

 whether the form described as M. affinis (Gould) from Port 

 Essington is valid, and, if so, whether these specimens should 

 be referred to it. 



After examining Gould's types, Mr. Whitmer Stone (Proc. 

 Philad. Acad. 1891, p. 450) has stated that M. affinis is a 

 perfectly valid species. Australian ornithologists recognize 

 both forms and record them as occurring together in 

 Northern Queensland [cf. Ramsay, Tab. List Australian 

 Birds, pp. 11, 32, 1888). 



Both forms certainly appear to be represented amongst 

 thirteen specimens now before us from various parts of 

 Northern Queensland. But whether those birds which 

 assimilate most closely to M. affinis are merely immature 

 specimens of M. sagittata (as we are inclined to think) we 

 cannot at present decide. 



The name M. viridis, hitherto universally used for the 



