2 4 8 Obituary Notice. [Jftjg 



the Tasma and Hooker Glaciers, and in doing so he carried an 

 old-fashioned camera, 12 x 10, which with plates and accessories 

 weighed at least half a hundredweight. Years before the present 

 dry plate process was invented he obtained some very fine 

 photographs of the glacier region, some of which may be seen 

 in the Christchurch Museum ; and others won for him a gold 

 medal at an International Exhibition in Vienna. Apart from 

 his scientific attainments, the late Mr. Sealy was of a retiring 

 disposition, a man of sterling worth, and strictly honourable in 

 all his dealings, being conscientious to a degree. Had he been 

 spared longer it was his intention to write an article for The 

 Emu on the Double-banded Dottrel (Ochthodromus bicinctus), an 

 interesting bird which he had especial advantages of observing 

 in the field, particularly during its breeding season. His not 

 having been able to do so is a distinct loss to ornithological 

 science. 



The Coloured Plate. 



Through the generosity of the contributors to the Coloured 

 Figure Fund the Council has been enabled to have executed 

 the second coloured plate (Plate XVI.), depicting two hitherto 

 unfigured Honey-eaters, an old species and a new one — 

 namely, Mclithrcptus brevirostris (Brown-headed Honey-eater) 

 and Ptilotis carteri (Carter Honey-eater). 



It is somewhat remarkable that the former, described by Vigors 

 and Horsfield, and so long known, should only now be figured. 

 With regard to Ptilotis carteri (Campbell) some ornithologists 

 may have P. Icilavalensis (North) in mind. P. carteri was first 

 publicly exhibited and described at the Field Naturalists' Club 

 of Victoria, 13th March, 1899. The first announcement of P. 

 Icilavalensis appeared in the Australian Museum Records, 17th 

 April following. Irrespective of the pros and cons as to priority, 

 some authorities entertain a doubt as to the two being identical, 

 especially as the types came from localities widely apart. P. 

 Icilavalensis in vernacular terms has been called the " Lesser 

 White-plumed Honey-eater." On oological grounds, at all events, 

 there is certainly some distinction to be drawn between this species 

 and P. carteri. The eggs of the latter are as large, if not larger, 

 than those of the ordinary White-plumed Honey-eater (P. peni- 

 cillata), therefore if carteri = Icilavalensis how can it be called the 

 Lesser White-plumed Honey-eater ? However, this is a matter 

 for the authors of the forthcoming " Check-List " to settle. 



Mr. D. Seth-Smith, F.Z.S., Addiscombe, Surrey, is again to 

 be thanked for so kindly superintending the production of the 

 plate in England. 



Walker, May and Co., Printers, Mackillop street, Melbourne. 



