5S6 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Sp. 9. ZOSTEROPS TENUIROSTRIS, Gould. 

 Long-billed Zosterops. 



Zosterops tenuirostris, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part iv. p. 7&. 



lateralis, Gray aud Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 198, Zosterops, 



sp. 5. 



Zosterops tenuirostris, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol.. Supplement, 

 pi. 



The specific name of tenuirostris has been given to this bird 

 from the circumstance of its bill being more prolonged than 

 those of the other members of the genus ; its body is also 

 more slender and elegant in contour than that of any of its 

 congeners. Its native country is Norfolk Island, whence all 

 the specimens I have seen have been forwarded by way of 

 New South Wales. It is a very distinct and well-defined 

 species, and is of large size when compared with most of its 

 near allies. Of its manners and mode of life nothing has yet 

 been recorded, which is much to be regretted, as they might 

 present some peculiarities consequent upon the particular 

 character of the vegetation of the remote island it inhabits, 

 the native productions of which differ very considerably from 

 that of Australia. I fear the time is gone by when we might 

 expect to glean any information respecting it, for it can 

 scarcely be supposed that the Pitcairn Islanders, who now 

 inhabit Norfolk Island, have acquired a taste for natural 

 history. 



All the specimens I have seen being similarly coloured, I 

 believe that the sexes, like those of Zosterops alhogularis, do 

 not differ in outward appearance. 



Head, all the upper surface, and wing-coverts olive-green, 

 brightest on the head and upper tail-coverts ; wings and tail 

 brown, margined with olive-green ; throat yellow, stained 

 with red in the centre ; centre of the abdomen and under 

 tail-coverts pale yellow ; flanks olive brown ; bill and legs 

 light brown, inclining to lead-colour ; eye surrounded by a 



