478 Mr. Swainson on New Australasian Birds. 



point, and suppose that while the bird was feeding upon fruits^ 

 it was sucking flowers. Yet it is useless to argue from conjec- 

 tures. All we can say is, that if Sericulus belongs to the circle of 

 Meliphagidce, it presents a most singular deviation from the general 

 structure of all those birds which are known to be nectiferous. 

 I hope some naturalist of that distant region where it is found, 

 will throw some light on this important question ; by sending 

 home a specimen of the bird in spirits, accompanied by details on 

 its natural economy. Until this is done the question must remain 

 undecided. 



Sericulus chri/socephalus. 

 S. niger : cervice^ remigibusque secundariis aureis. 

 Black; crown, upper part of the neck and lesser quill feathers 

 golden yellow. 

 King Honey sucker, Lewin's Birds of New Holland, PI. 1. 



Size of a thrush. Length nine inches. Bill three quarters of 

 an inch long, from the frontal feathers to the tip ; rather strong ; 

 the sides compressed, but the base broader than high ; the cul- 

 men is elevated, and gradually curved nearly its whole length : the 

 upper mandible projects over the lower, and has the tip obtuse ; 

 the ends of both are notched : the colour is pale, or yellowish 

 brown. The nostrils large, basal, and entirely naked ; the upper 

 part is covered by a thin membrane, and the under part forms 

 an oval aperture. Front, crown, and upper part of the neck, 

 covered by soft, close-set feathers, of a brilliant golden yellow ; 

 those on the head very short, and resembling velvet : this patch 

 of colour borders the ears, and terminates in a half collar round 

 the back of the neck. On the wing, is also a large spot of pure 

 yellow, which covers the scapulars, and leaves only a black tip to 

 the lesser quills ; the greater quills, (except the two outermost) 

 are black, with the half of the inner webs, (nearest the shafts,) 

 yellow. All the rest of the plumage, (including the ear feathers, 

 and a stripe over the eye,) is deep black ; the tail is slightly, but 

 decidedly forked ; the middle feathers being three-tenths of an 

 inch shorter than the outer pair. Tarsi black, lengthened, and 

 robust; the hind claw although strong, is considerably shorter 



