VoLxxi.] 106 



blacker below^ and with the scarlet of the rump of a deeper 

 colour. The female has red on the rump and is also darker 

 than that of M. e. eichhoimi ; in fact^ M. e. atrata is a darker 

 and blacker form — as it Avere a melanism — oiM. e. eichhorni, 

 which inhabits the islands of Kulambangra, Rendova, and 

 Gizo. 



Pachyckphala melanonota, sp. n. 



Adult male. Upper surface^ including the wings and tail, as 

 well as a spot on the chin and a broad pectoral band, black ; 

 sides and flanks more or less black; feathers of the thighs 

 black, broadly tipped with yellow ; throat, breast, abdomen, 

 and under tail-coverts golden-yellow. Inner edges of the 

 quills buff; inner webs of the rectrices yellow at the base; 

 under Aving-coverts yellow, whitish at the base, those near 

 the edge with the base black. " Bill and feet black, iris 

 dark rufous-brown." Wing 96-99 mm. 



Adult female. Somewhat similar to that of P. astrolabi, 

 Bonap., but the crown and upper tail-coverts are dark 

 cinnamon and the back blackish-olive. 



Hah. Vella Lavella I., Central Group of the Solomon 

 Islands. 



Type in the Tring Museum : J . No. 3834, 23. ii. 08. 



Obs. This is another blackish form, and is perhaps the 

 geographical representative of P. astrolabi. The latter has 

 the back yellowish-olive, and the black of the crown separated 

 from the olive back by a golden-yellow band. 



ZOSTEROPS VELLALAVELLA, Sp. U. 



Adult wale and female. A white ring round the eye ; 

 upper surface yellowish-green ; quills blackish-brown, with 

 the outer webs broadly edged with yellowish-green and the 

 inner with creamy- av bite. Chin and throat dark yellow, 

 the jugulum greenish-yellow ; the abdomen yellowish-white 

 or cream-colour ; flanks delicately tinged with grey; under 

 tail-coverts lemon-yellow. Rectrices blackish-brown, nar- 

 rowly edged with yellowish-green. Iris chocolate; bill 

 cadmium-yellow ; feet dull yellow, metatarsus tinged with 

 hor"-grey. Wing 92-94 mm. ; culmen 17-18 mm. 



