206 MALACIROPS E-NEWTONI. 



Malacirops e-newtoni. (Pi. 9, fig. 2.) 



Zosterops e-newtoni, Hartl. Vog. Madag. p. 97 (1877), Bourbon; 

 E. Newton, Ibis, 1888, p. 475. 



Adult. Similar to M. mauritiaiia, but larger and darker; above, slaty 

 grey, with the upper tail-coverts white ; chin, centre of breast, thighs and 

 under tail-coverts white, remainder of the throat and breast grey, darkest 

 on the sides of the body, where there is scarcely any trace of brown. 

 Total length 4-7 inches, culmen 0'45, wing 22, tail 1-8, tarsus 0'8. Bour- 

 bon (Bewsher). 



Edward Newton's Malacirops is a native of the island of 

 Reunion. 



This is a well-marked species. The only specimen in the 

 British Museum was given to me by Mr. Bewsher, along 

 with other birds from both Reunion and Mauritius, and 

 agrees perfectly with Dr. Hartlaub's very accurate descrip- 

 tion of what he took to be the male ; but I feel sure he 

 was wrong in the determination of the female, which is 

 evidently a specimen of M. borbonica, for it is too improbable 

 that the female of this species should be very different in 

 plumage from the male, when in all the other members of 

 the family Zosteropidse the sexes are practically alike. 



Family IV. PAEISOMIDJE. 



Bill shorter than the head, widened at the base; culmen arched. Nostril 

 placed in a short oval groove, which reaches half way down the bill from 

 the gape to the tip, is covered by a membrane, and opens in a slit. Wing 

 rounded, of ten primaries, bastard primary very large. Tail square or 

 rounded, about the same length as the wing, of twelve feathers which have 

 rounded tips. Tarsi scaled in front ; feet and claws fairly strong, the latter- 

 much curved. Sexes alike in plumage. Nest cup-shaped ; eggs spotted, 

 and two to five in a clutch. They have a powerful and melodious 

 song. 



