466 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Sp. 285. MIMETA PLAVOCINCTA. 



Crescent-marked Oriole. 



Mimetes flavo-cinctus, King, Survey of Intertropical Coasts of Austra- 

 lia, vol. ii. p. 419. 

 Mimeta flavo-cincta, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 327. 



Oriolus flavocinctus, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. iv. pi. 14. 



This species was discovered on the north coast of Australia 

 by Captain Philip Parker King, R.N., and described by 

 him in his " Survey of the Intertropical Coasts of Australia," 

 referred to above ; Gilbert procured two specimens at Port 

 Essington, and Commander Ince, R.N., subsequently obtained 

 an additional example in the same locality. All the informa- 

 tion that has reached me respecting its habits and economy 

 is contained in a short note sent to me by Gilbert, which 

 merely states that his specimens were obtained in the forests 

 of mangroves bordering the coast. 



The Mimeta Jlavocincta is the largest and by far the most 

 gaily coloured species of the genus yet discovered in Australia. 

 In the islands to the northward of that country there are 

 other species of still larger size, but none of them are so 

 richly coloured. 



The male has the head, neck, and all the upper surface dull 

 greenish yellow, with a stripe of black, broad at the base and 

 tapering to a point, down the centre of each feather ; under 

 surface greenish yellow, passing into pure yellow on the under 

 tail-coverts ; wings black, all the feathers margined with 

 greenish yellow and broadly tipped with pale yellow ; tail black, 

 washed on the margins with greenish yellow, and largely 

 tipped, except the two middle feathers, with brightyellow, 

 which increases in extent as the feathers recede from the centre; 

 irides reddish orange ; bill dull red ; feet lead-colour. 



The female differs in being of smaller size, in having the 

 under surface striated with black, and the markings of the 

 whigs straw- white instead of yellow. 



