ON THE GENUS MYZOMELA. 89 



authors, is very nearly allied to M. nigriventris of the Samoan group, 

 which it replaces in the New Hebrides. 



The adult bird (I agree with Messrs. Hartlaub and Einsch in con- 

 sidering that in this section of the group the sexes are nearly similar) is 

 distinguished from M. nigriventris by the scarlet of the upper parts and 

 chest being duller, and extending not quite so far down on the chest. 

 The black of the lower parts is less intense, being tinged with brownish ; 

 the white margin to the remiges internally is more distinct ; and the 

 bill is stouter. It is also a slightly larger bird. 



The young bird is paler and browner above (not so much dark brown 

 as greyish brown), and paler and yellower below ; the rump and back 

 are washed with chestnut-brown. Judging from the series of specimens 

 I have seen, the red colour in this species seems to appear first on the 

 head, and not on the back as in M. nigriventris. The remiges, as usual 

 in the young of this genus, are externally lined with olive-yellow. From 

 M. lifuensis this species may be distinguished by* its larger size and by 

 the red extending on to the breast. Latham's description and figure 

 clearly apply to this bird, not to M. lifuensis. 



The irides are marked " black " or " dark brown." 



Latham describes this bird from the island of Tanna, where, he says, 

 it is called " Kuyameta " and is common, sucking the juices of flowers ; 

 and I have seen specimens collected on that island by Mr. Layard. 

 There are specimens in the British Museum from Erromango and Anei- 

 teum (Owning); and Canon Tristram has received it from the latter 

 island, as well as from Tanna and Aniwa. It thus seems to be confined 

 rather to the southern portion of the New-Hebridean archipelago, being 

 replaced in the north by M. caledonica ? and M. chermesina. 



22. MYZOMELA LIFFENSIS. p 2 s. 1879 



Myzomela lifuensis, E. L. and L. C. Layard, Ibis, 1878, p. 258. p * m 



<5 capite, dorso uropygioque coccineis ; alis, cauda et corpore subtus toto 

 cum macula anteoculari fuliginoso-nigris ; alis caudaque nitore non- 

 nullo metallico ; remigum margine interna albida ; rostra nigro,pedibus 

 nigro-corneis. Long, iota circa 4'2, al. 2-5, caud. 1-75, rostr. -55, 

 tars. '68 (poll. Angl.). 

 Hob. in Lifu, ex insulis " Loyalty " dictis. 



Canon Tristram having kindly submitted to me two skins (now in his 

 collection, both marked " males " and adult) collected by the Messrs. 

 Layard, who first indicated this species, I can give a more complete 

 account of it, and say that it is certainly a very good species. It is 

 nearly allied to M. nigriventris and M. cardinalis of the Samoas and New 

 Hebrides respectively, more particularly to the last, but is at once dis- 

 tinguished from both by the red below not extending beyond the head, 

 the breast being sooty-black like all the rest of the lower parts. It is 



