147 



Stigmatops subocularis, Sharpe, Rep. Voy. H. M.S. "Alert," p. 

 18 (1884) ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., vol. T, 2nd series, 

 p. 1,092 (1888) ; North, Rep. Horn Sci. Exp. Centr. Austr., part 

 II., Zool, p. 93 (1896). 



One adult male and one youno^ male obtained near Derby. The 

 adult male has a bleached appearance, and the head is more 

 greyish than examples from Eastern Australia. A specimen 

 from the same locality obtained by Mr. E. J. Cairn in 1886 can- 

 not be distinguished from birds procured near Sydney. The 

 young male has the cheeks, upper wing-coverts, and edge of the 

 wing distinctly washed with yellow, and is similar in colour and 

 size to young examples from Port Essington, the Gulf District, 

 and Bur wood, near Sydney. This is Gould's S. subocularis, 

 separated by him from the present species on account of its 

 smaller size and the yellower tint which pervades the plumage. 

 I would here point out, however, that a yellow wash to some of 

 the fpathers of several species of the Meliphagiidcf is a certain 

 indication of youth, and that it is entirely lost when the birds 

 have attained their full adult livery. This may be more particularly 

 observed in Philemon citreogularis, P. sordidus, Myzomela 

 pectoralis, and the present species. With the exception of the 

 adult m^\e in the Calvert Collection previously referred to I can 

 find no difference in adults and young birds of S. ocularis from 

 Nothern and North- Western Australia with others obtained in 

 the Eastern and South- Western parts of the Continent. One 

 specimen in the mounted collection of the Australian Museum, 

 procured at Port Denison, has an abnormally long bill. The 

 following are the wing measurements of both adults and young 

 from different localities : — 



Locality. 

 Dobroyde, Sydney, N.S. Wales 

 Ash field, Sydney, N.S. Wales 

 Port Denison, Queensland 

 Georgetown, Gulf District, Qu'nd. 

 Georgetown, Gulf District, Qu'nd. 

 ' Port Essington, North Australia 

 Port Essington, North Australia 

 Derby, N.W. Australia 

 Derby, N.W. Australia 

 Perth, S.W. Australia 

 Bur wood, Sydney, N.S. Wales 

 Derby, N.W. Australia 

 Port Essington, North Australia 

 Port Essington, North Australia 

 more or less tinged with yellow, 

 especially on the cheeks, upper wing-coverts, and edge of the 

 wing. 



