124 Ross, Notes on the Rufous Bristle-Bird. [2nd"oct- 



volume than the earher notes, and blending together' so as to 

 sound almost like one long rolling sound. When one goes near 

 the nest, or a young bird, the parents will sometimes put in an 

 appearance, and then they utter an alarm call, consisting of one 

 note only. It is so keen, and sharp, and vicious that I cannot 

 describe it. unless I say that it seems to cut or stab. 



Description of a New Honey-eater, 



By F. Erasmus Wilson, R.A.O.U.. Melbourne. 

 Myzantha melanotis, sp. nov. 



The whole of the upper surface, except the lower forehead, 

 brownish-grey ; lower forehead yellowish-olive ; lores, line beneath 

 eye, and ear coverts conspicuously black ; wings and tail brown, 

 margined at the base of the external webs with wax yellow, the 

 tail terminating in faded pale brown ; chin yellow ; throat and 

 lower chest dull grey ; the feathers of the sides of the neck and 

 chest light grey, cross-barred with dusky brown lines near the 

 extremity and tipped with white ; abdomen and under tail coverts 

 white ; yellow patch of feathers on each side of neck ; bare skin 

 around eye, bill, and gape maize-yellow ; legs and feet dull brownish- 

 yellow. This description refers to an adult male. 



Measurements. — Total length, 9.25 inches : tail, 4.5 inches ; 

 tarsi, 0.75 inch ; and culmen, 0.8 inch. 



The above bird was obtained by me, in company with Mr. F. E. 

 Howe, F.Z.S., during a trip to one of the Mallee districts in North- 

 west Victoria. It much resembles the Dusky Miner of Western 

 Australia (Myzantha ohsaira), to which it is closely allied. It 

 differs from that species in having the auricular patch con- 

 spicuously black and larger, and the abdomen a clear white, and 

 also the yellow frontal patch less extensive, and an absence of 

 the lighter colouring on the rump. The cross-barring also is 

 different, and the bill and bare ocular patch have a deeper shade 

 of yellow. 



I propose the vernacular name of " Black-eared Miner" for the 

 new bird. Three skins were secured. 



Description of a New Ptilotis. 



By a. W. Milligan, R.A.O.U., Melbourne. 

 Ptilotis insularis, sp. nov. 



Adult Male. — Crown of head and all upper surface distinct 

 uniform dark brown, except the lower back, which is much deeper 

 in colour ; wings and tail margined on their external webs with 

 greenish-yellow ; lores, space around the eye, and broad line down 

 the sides of the neck black : ear coverts chrome-yellow, behind 

 which is a conspicuous s])ot of pure silky white : throat greyish- 



