ON THE GENUS MYZOMELA. 73 



tendency to retain these markings on the wings, as likewise a white 

 margin on the inner web of the primaries. 



The eggs seem to be generally whitish or buff, spotted with darker, 

 red or yellow. According to Gilbert (Gould, Handb. B. A. i. p. 558) 

 31. niyra, like many other species of Meliphagidae, lays only two eggs. 

 The nests are small and cup-shaped, rather flirnsily constructed of grass- 

 stems, hair, spiders' webs, &c., and often placed in the fork of a tree 

 or bush. 



In their habits the Myzomelce seem to resemble the other smaller 

 Honeysuckers, frequenting flowering shrubs and trees, not apparently 

 so much for the sake of the nectar of the flowers, as for the insects 

 attracted thereby. 



But one or two species of this genus, which is perhaps most nearly 

 allied to Acanihorliynchus, but distinguishable by its longer beak and 

 different coloration, were known to the older authors. Bonaparte, in 

 his ' Conspectus ' (p. 394, 1850), enumerates 9, one of which, however 

 (Certhia sanguined, Gmel.), is a Drepanis, whilst M. eques is omitted. 

 Gray (Hand-1. B. i. p. 153, 1869) gives 17, though here again M. eques 

 is omitted, being included as " Cosmeteira eques " amongst the Necta- 

 riniidae (no. 1337). In the present paper 26 species, including two new 

 ones, are recognized as distinct, besides one other which remains doubtful. 

 Of these 26 species, 24 are known to me autoptically. Of the two 

 which I have not seen, one (M. lafargii) is unique in the Paris Museum, 

 the other (M. rubro-tincta) has lately been described from specimens at 

 Ley den by Count Salvadori. 



The collection in the British Museum, that made by the * Challenger/ 

 and the specimens in the collections of Mr. Sclater and Messrs. Salvin 

 and Godman have formed the basis of my present paper. In addition 

 to these I have to thank Canon Tristram, F.R.S., Dr. A. B. Mejer, and 

 Count Salvadori for the very liberal way in which they have lent me 

 valuable series of specimens. To the two latter, in particular, I am p. z. S. 1879, 

 indebted for sending over to me the types of the species described by P- 258 ' 

 them from New Guinea and its islands, and several others which I 

 should not otherwise have been able to examine, and for their kind 

 permission to figure any of them. Count Salvadori, too, has sent me 

 some very valuable notes as to the range &c. of the Papuan species ; 

 whilst to M. Oustalet I am much obliged for information on the type 

 specimen of M. lafargii and on some other points. 



The following table will assist in the determination of the 26 valid 

 species. It, however, only holds good for adult birds, and in many cases 

 only for the males, our present imperfect knowledge of many of the 

 species making a table that would have included all stages alike an 

 impossibility. 



