Species of Honey -eater from New Guinea. 251 



Ou account of the well-marked pale spots on the lower 

 breast and belly, I have called the new species 



PtILOTIS SPILOGASTER, Sp. 11. 



Most nearly allied to P. filigera, Gould, but recognizable 

 at a glance by the large and conspicuous postorbital patch of 

 white feathers, which passes above and below the eye in two 

 well-marked white bands. It also differs from P. filigera 

 in having the nape entirely devoid of pale grey spots, while 

 the lower breast and belly are very distinctly spotted with 

 pale yellowish white. The general colour of the under part 

 is pale brown, without much trace of any rufous on the flanks ; 

 the greater wing-coverts are dark brown, very narrowly edged 

 with greenish yellow. 



Adult : Astrolabe Mountains. Total length 7*5 inches, 

 wing 4" 15, tail 3 "25, tarsus 1*06. 



Adult : Port Moresby. Total length 7*4 inches, wing 4*1, 

 tail 3*5, tarsus 1*02. 



The specimen from Port Moresby is the type of the 

 species. 



The following key shows the differences between P. spilo- 

 gaster and the most nearly allied species : — 



A. Patch of white feathers behind the eye very large 



and distinct, and extending above and below the eye 

 to the lores ; feathers of the nape entirely devoid of 

 pale spots P. spilogaster. 



B. Patch of white feathers behind the eye and above the 



ear-coverts small but well-marked (absent in young 

 birds) ; feathers of the nape distinctly spotted with 

 whitish grey (less conspicuous or obsolete in imma- 

 ture birds) r.Jilifjera. 



0. Patch of white feathers behind the eye and above the 

 ear-coverts quite rudimentary or absent ; pale spots 

 on the nape less distinctly marked or absent. 

 n. Rufous margins to the inner webs of the primaries 

 and secondaries very wide ; greater wing-coverts 

 pale rufous chestnut with brown middles, or brown 

 widely margined with pale rufous. General 

 colour of mantle, back, aud wings brown, washed 

 with rufous, forming a rather well-marked con- 

 trast with the crown of the head, which is dark 

 brown with a more or less greenish tinge. 

 Average size of wing 3'6 inches P. visi. 



