168 ZOSTEROPS. 



almost or entirely confined to a well 

 marked silky white ring round the eye . Zosterops. 

 a 2 . Some green or yellow on the back or 

 under parts. 

 a 3 . Throat and breast yellowish and 



never contrasting strongly . . . Subgen. Zosteropisylvia. 

 b 3 . Breast whitish and often contrast- 

 ing strongly with the throat . . . Subgen. Zosterops. 

 b 2 . No green or yellow on the plumage . Subgen. Cyclopterops. 

 b 1 . Lores, as well as the whole or portion 

 of sides of head, white ; bill uniform 

 brown ; no yellow on the plumage . . Speirops. 

 b. Upper tail-coverts white ; no white on sides 



of head ; no yellow on the plumage . . . Malacirops. 



Genus I. ZOSTEROPS. 



All the members of the genus Zosterops may be most readily distin- 

 guished by their having a well marked ring of silky white feathers encircling 

 the eye, which has suggested the English name of White-eye, given to them 

 by Latham in 1783. 



These active little birds are usually to be met with in 

 groups of six to a dozen together frequenting the sunny edges 

 of the glades or outskirts of the forests. They feed upon soft 

 fruits, buds and insects, and much resemble the Tit in their call 

 notes, their peculiar attitudes, and the apparent dislike they 

 show to alighting on the ground. 



It is curious that in the genus Zosterops there should be 

 so many groups of very closely allied species, and that these 

 groups are decidedly limited iu their range. This leads me to 

 fancy that some of supposed good species may be only local 

 forms or mere varieties, the plumage possibly being very 

 sensitive to atmospheric action, as it is known that spirits 

 affect their colouring more than that of most other birds. 



The British Museum contains a fine series of Z. virens, 



from which I make the following notes : 



$ ad. August 7, Newcastle. Wing 2-6, tail 2-0, tarsus 0-75. 

 <? ad. July 30, Pinetown. Wing 2'35, tail L75, tarsus 0'65. 



