4.4.2 Prof. F. M‘Coy on a new Species of Honey-eater. 
Nondum quidem illam undique satis examinavimus, ut de illius 
vi atque pretio certi aliquid audeamus predicare ; verisimile 
vero nobis visum est, adminiculum haud minimi ponderis hance 
notam prebere ad species affines dignoscendas.” The applica- 
tion of iodine also manifests a long-desired distinction between 
Spherophoron coralloides and fragilis, tinging the stratum me- 
dullare of the thallus of the former of ‘a violet or intense blue, 
and that of the latter of a yellow colour. 
LIV.—On a new Species of Victorian Honey-eater. By Frepz- 
rick M‘Coy, Prof. Nat. Sc. Melbourne University, and Di- 
rector of the National Museum, Victoria. 
Ptilotis Leadbeteri (M‘Coy). 
The Subcrested Honey-eater. 
Feathers of the crown of the head suberect, so as to form a 
slightly marked subcompressed crest. Bill strong, moderately 
arched. Colours (male):—Crown of head and nape dull greenish 
yellow ; back, wings, and tail dull greenish black, the outer 
edge of the wing- and tail-feathers narrowly edged with dull 
greenish yellow; lores, or wide space from the gape over and 
under the eye, the ear-coverts, and extending to the shoulder, 
intense glossy black ; the ear-plume large, and of the most intense 
pure golden yellow; cheeks below the black bright yellow ; chin 
dull black ; breast and abdomen and under tail-coverts dull yel- 
low tinged with olive, particularly at the sides; under wing- 
coverts blackish, with a narrow bright-yellow edge near the 
shoulder; the middle of the inner edge of the primaries mar- 
gined with dull whitish; all the outer tail-feathers tipped with 
yellowish white, chiefly on the inner circles. Bill and feet 
brownish black. 
Total length 9 inches; bill from gape ++ inch, from forehead 
<2; inch; wing 42 inches, tail 43 inches, tarsi 1 inch. 
Female: total length 74 inches; with the back, wings, and 
tail of a dark brownish olive, where the male is black. 
This splendid new Honey-eater is most allied to the P. auri- 
corns, from which its greater size, subcrested head, blackish 
upper colouring, shorter and thicker bill, and the larger and 
more intensely coloured ear-plumes, relieved on the intense 
black extending to the shoulder, easily distinguish it. The 
subcristate head, and the female differing in colour from the 
male, suggest a new subgeneric section for this fine bird, which 
I have great pleasure in naming after my able and zealous taxi- 
dermist at the Melbourne National Museum, whose great ability 
and diligence well deserve the compliment. 
