37 

 FAMILY MELIPHAGID^E. 



Bill with prominent culmen and broadened out at base ; nostrils basal, 

 situated in a large unossified groove ; tongue bifid and brush-like. 



SUB-FAMILY MYZOMELIN.E. 



Small birds of the size of a sparrow. First primary about the length of 



the second. 



GENUS MYZOMELA. Bill longer than rest of head, slender and curved. 

 Tail two-thirds length of wing. Principal colours black and red. 

 Female generally plain olive above. 



294. M. sangllinolenta, Lath., Sanguineous Honey-eater. 



Head red all round ; middle line of back and rump red ; chest and 

 fore-neck red. 



Female. Brown ; touch of red on rump. 

 Hab, : 2, 3, 4. 



295. ]H. erythrocephala, Old., Red-headed Honey-eater. 



Head red all round ; middle line of back black ; rump red. 

 Female. Uniform brown ; lighter below. 

 Hab. : 1, 2. 



296. ]U. nigra, Old., Black Honey-eater. 



Head and neck all round and mantle black ; rest of back and tail 

 blackish-brown ; breast and abdomen pure white. 



Female. Upper surface brown ; under surface brownish-white, 

 centre of each feather being darker. 

 Hab. : 1, 6, 7, 9. 



297. M. pectoralis, Old. , Banded Honey-eater. 



Whole crown black ; abdomen and breast white ; upper tail 

 coverts white ; a pectoral crescent black. 

 Hab. : 1, 2, 8. 



298. M. Obsciira, Old., Dusky Honey-eater. 



Upper and under parts olive-brown ; crown slightly tinged with 

 red. 



Hab. : 1, 2, 3. 



GENUS ACANTHORHYNCHUS. Tail about equal to wing in length. 



299. A. tenilirostriS, Lath, (including A. dubius), Spine-billed Honey- 



eater. 



Crown black ; a bronzy-brown crescent on chest separates the 

 white throat, with a brownish patch upon it, from a reddish-fawn 

 abdomen ; no white eyebrow. 



Culmen, 1-2 in. ; wing, 2 '5 in. ; tail, 2 '3 in. ; tarsus, 070 in. 

 Hab. : 3, 4, 5. 



300. A, SllpercilioSUS, Gld., White-browed Spine-bill. 



Entire crown of head, mantle, and back greyish olive-brown, a 

 streak behind eye and above ear coverts, chin, and cheeks, and a finely 

 developed crescent across chest white ; throat and neck all round 

 chestnut-red ; breast, abdomen, flanks, and under tail coverts pale 

 buff, separated from white crescent by another one of brownish- 

 black. 



Hab. : (6), 9. 



SUB-FAMILY ZOSTEROPIN^E. 



Bill shorter or equal to the rest of the head ; a peculiar ring of short 

 whitish feathers surrounds the eye. Plumage green, yellow, and 

 white. 



