Aves. 49 



Family ZOSTEROPID^. 

 27. Zosterops natalis. (Plate VI.) 



Zostervps natalis, Lister, P.Z.S., 1888, p. 518, pi. xxvii. 



Ko. 21, (^ ad. Flying Fish Cove, August 5, 1897. 



ff, S '•^^- FlviugFish Cove, August 10, 1897. 



b, c, ^ ad. Flying Fish Cove, November 29, 1897. 



d, S acl- riying Fish Cove, JSTovember 24, 1897. 



e, 5 fifl^- Flying Fish Cove, December 3, 1897. 



f, 9, S 9 'itL Flying Fish Cove, Maix-h 4, 1898. 



The AVhite-eye of Christmas Island is a large species, and easily 

 recognized by its colour. I can see no difference in the plumage 

 of specimens killed in various months, and the young resemble 

 the adults. The yellow at the base of the bill scarcely amounts 

 to more than a small loral patch and does not form a frontal band. 

 N.B. — In Mr. Lister's diagnosis of the species (p. 519) the first 

 character, ^-iz., that the crown becomes paler "towards the base 

 of the ^«//," must be a misprint for 'bill.' 



The nest is a pretty little structure — a shallow cup suspended 

 between the forks of a twig, to which it is attached. The nest 

 consists of vegetable fibre, with wool as a basis, and it is lined 

 with the same black fibre of the sago-palm as that used by the 

 Thrush for its nest. A second nest is deeper in the cup, contains 

 more cotton, and has a few white feathers interlaced in the 

 outside. The two eggs, obtained by Mr. Andi'ews in Xovember^ 

 are uniform bluish white. Axis 0*7 ; diam. 0"5. 



[The little Zosterops (Burung Waringin) swarm everj-where, 

 even in the middle of the forest. Thej- seem to form small flocks, 

 and behave much like Titmice, climbing about among the foliage 

 and often hanging head downwards imder a leaf or branch in their 

 search for insects. They also eat a good deal of fruit, and destroy 

 many papaias, custard-apples, and bananas, of which they are so 

 fond that they often come on to the dinner-table to get them. 

 Thej- liave only a twittering note, but when a Hawk is in the 

 neighbourhood the noise made by a flock of them is considerable. 

 The nest is usuallj' placed between two twigs or in the fork of 

 small branches of bushes, and is made of fibres of the sago-palm, 

 or any other vegetable fibre they can get. They seem to breed 

 nearly all the year round. — C. W, A.] 



Family TUIIDID^. 

 28. Merula erythropleura. 



Turdns erijthropleuriis, Sharpe, P.Z.S., 1887, p. 515. 

 Merula erythropleura, Lister, P.Z.S., 1888, p. 517. 



Is"o. 23, ad. Flying Fish Cove, August, 1897. 



Nos. 52, 53, (J 9 ad. Flying Fish Cove, October 20, 1897. 



E 



