VIL MELIPHAGIDAE 565 
connected ; the wings are variable in length, MZelithreptes possess- 
ing comparatively small secondaries, Anthornis an abruptly 
narrowed second primary. The tail also varies in size; it is much 
rounded in Melidectes and Meliphaga, square in Acanthorhynehus, 
emarginated in Anthornis, and particularly long and graduated 
with pointed rectrices in Acrulocercus and Chaetoptila—A. nobilis 
having the median pair produced and spirally twisted, 4. apicalis 
the ends upturned. Pogonornis has strong rictal bristles. 
The Myzomelinae are usually habited in scarlet and black, as 
in the Soldier-bird of Australia (Myzomela sanguinolenta), with or 
without white or yellowish below; some, however, are chiefly or 
entirely olive or greyish-brown, while the females generally differ 
from the males, and the former occasionally shew red when the 
latter do not. A second genus, Acanthorhynchus, or Cobbler’s Awl, 
is brown, chestnut, buff, black, and white. In the Meliphaginae 
the sexes are commonly alike, and exhibit a mixture of brown, 
olive, yellow, black, white, grey, rufous, and buff; the under parts 
frequently, and the upper rarely, being streaked or spotted. 
Metallic hues are rare, but Anthornis has a purplish gloss on 
the head. Leptornis, Entomyza, Philemon, Melitograis, and Pyeno- 
pygius are instances of dusky or olive coloration with lighter 
lower surface ; Prosthemadera and Certhionyx leucomelas are black 
and white ; Plectrorhynchus is brown and white; Meliphaga is 
yellow and black, spotted and barred below. The Hawaiian 
Acrulocercus is black or brownish, with a little white on the wings 
or tail,and possesses yellow axillary tufts and under tail-coverts,save 
in A. braccatus, where the tufts are grey-buff, the tibiae are yellow, 
the throat is barred with white, and the lower parts are streaky. 
A, bishopi has yellow ear-tufts. Their close ally, Chaetoptila, of the 
same islands, is light brown and yellowish above, with white spots, 
and a black cheek-stripe ; the under surface being white with brown 
streaks, and the rump and flanks ochreous. The neck- and breast- 
plumage is lanceolate and decomposed. Many species of Ptilotis 
have white or yellow ear-tufts; the male of Pogonornis possesses 
white erectile post-ocular feathers ; that of Prosthemadera two gular 
patches of curled white filamentary plumes, which give it the name 
of Parson-bird, as well as poimted white feathers curving forward 
from the sides of the neck. In two members of JJeliornis white 
fan-like shields spring from the cheeks; Glycyphila albifrons has 
a white circum-ocular ring ; while many forms have peculiar cheek- 
