1879.] MR. W. A. FORBES ON THE GENUS MYZOMELA. 2/7 



has four species, none of v.hich is peculiar, tliree occurring on the 

 mainland of the west part, whilst two are Australian (J/, obscura 

 and M. erythrocephula). In the Admiralty Islauds there is a single 

 ])eculiar species, M. pammelcena, replacing M. niyrita of the 

 further west. One species, also peculiar, is ibund in the Solomous 

 (ilf. lafargii) ; but on which islands has yet to be ascertained. Oa 

 New Ireland and in the Duke-of-York group only one species, 

 which is probably M. cruentata, occurs ; whilst M. sdateri alone 

 represents the genus in New Britain, and is peculiar. 



In N. Australia all five Australian species occur; and M.pectoralis 

 is confined to that district. M. obscura and M. erythrocephula are 

 confined to this region in Australia, but range into the Papuan 

 Islands. M. nigra and M. scmguinolenta have a wider range over 

 Australia ; and the former is the only representative of the genus in 

 W. Australia : both are peculiar. No species occurs in Tasmania. 



Proceeding to the Polynesian subregion, we find the Fijis inhabited 

 by a single peculiar species (^M. jugularis) ; and the same is the case 

 in the Samoas, where M. 7iigriventris occurs, a representative form 

 of M, cardinalis. The New Hebrides have no less than three species, 

 of which 31. cai-dmalis is peculiar and fouud on the more southerly 

 islands of the group (Erromango, Aneiteum, Tanna, &c.), where it is 

 the sole species. Malhkollo is inhabited (if the localities given can 

 be trusted) by fivo species — J/, caledonica, which also occurs on Vate 

 and Api, and M. chermesina, which has managed to extend its range 

 to the isolated islet of Rotumah. New Caledonia has but one 

 species, M. caledonica ; whilst on Lifu occurs M. lifuensis. The 

 Pelews, Mariannes, and Carolines are all inhabited by one species 

 peculiar to these groups, M. rubratra. It is rather remarkable that 

 no species of the genus has yet been found on the Tonga Islands, 

 although these are situated between the Fijis and Samoan Islands ; 

 but our present knowledge of the range of the Polynesian species is 

 very imperfect. 



Many other of these islands have no species of Myzomela re- 

 corded from them ; but I have little doubt that several new species 

 remain to be discovered both here and further west in the islands 

 east of New Guinea, as well as on the mainland of that great island 

 itself. 



The appended Table will show the geographical distribution of 

 the species in a concise form. 



