442 Prof. F. M^Coy on a new Species of Honey-eaier. 



Nondum quidem illam undique satis examinavimus, ut de illius 

 vi atque pretio certi aliquid audeamus prsedicare ; verisimile 

 vero nobis visum est, adminiculum baud minimi ponderis banc 

 notam prsebere ad species affines dignoscendas." Tbe applica- 

 tion of iodine also manifests a long-desired distinction between 

 Spharophoron coralloides and fragilis, tinging tbe stratum me- 

 dullare of the tballus of tbe former of a violet or intense blue, 

 and tbat of tbe latter of a yellow colour. 



LIV. — On a new Species of Victorian Honey-eater. By Frede- 

 rick M'CoY, Prof. Nat. Sc. Melbourne University, and Di- 

 rector of tbe National Museum, Victoria. 



Ptilotis Leadbeteri (M'Coy). 

 Tbe Subcrested Honey-eater. 



Featbers of tbe crown of tbe head suberect, so as to form a 

 slightly marked subcompressed crest. Bill strong, moderately 

 arched. Colours (male) : — Crown of bead and nape dull greenish 

 yellow ; back, wings, and tail dull greenish black, tbe outer 

 edge of tbe wing- and tail-feathei'S narrowly edged with dull 

 greenish yellow ; lores, or wide space from the gape over and 

 under the eye, tbe ear-coverts, and extending to the shoulder, 

 intense glossy black ; the ear-plume large, and of the most intense 

 pure golden yellow ; cheeks below the black bright yellow ; chin 

 dull black ; breast and abdomen and under tail-coverts dull yel- 

 low tinged with olive, particularly at the sides ; under wing- 

 coverts blackish, with a narrow bright-yellow edge near the 

 shoulder; the middle of the inner edge of the primaries mar- 

 gined with dull whitish ; all tbe outer tail-feathers tipped with 

 yellowish white, chiefly on the inner circles. Bill and feet 

 brownish black. 



Total length 9 inches ; bill from gape -f^ inch, from forehead 

 -i\ inch; wing 4i\ inches, tail 4f inches, tarsi 1 inch. 



Female : total length 7^ inches ; with the back, wings, and 

 tail of a dark brownish olive, where the male is black. 



This splendid new Honey-eater is most allied to the P. auri- 

 cornis, from which its greater size, subcrested head, blackish 

 upper colouring, shorter and thicker bill, and the larger and 

 more intensely coloured ear-plumes, relieved on the intense 

 black extending to the shoulder, easily distinguish it. The 

 subcristate head, and the female differing in colour from the 

 male, suggest a new subgeneric section for this fine bird, which 

 I have great pleasure in naming after my able and zealous taxi- 

 dermist at the Melbourne National Museum, whose great ability 

 and diligence well deserve the compliment. 



