MELITHUEPTUS VALIDIEOSTHIS. 



(Strong-billed Honey-eater.) 



CiiowN, deep black ; a narrow baud of wliite proceeds from behind tbe eye, and is continued round the occiput ; cheeks, chin, ear coverts 

 and band behind the neck, black ; upper surface, dull olive, brighter on the rump and outer edges of tail feathers ; wings, brown, tinged 

 slightly with olive ; throat, white ; under surface, brownish grey ; bill, black ; feet, brown ; irides, reddish brown ; orbits, greenish white. 



Length, 6f inches ; wing, 3i ; tail, 3 ; bill, f ; tarsus, |. 



This is the largest of the genus to which it belongs, and is only found in Tasmania, where it may be observed in every 

 description of country feeding among the flowering Eucalypti, upon insects and honey. It makes a round cup-shaped nest of coarse grass, 

 which is suspended by the rim. The eggs are three in number, dull buff, thickly spotted with purplish brown and bluish grey markings : 

 size, 11 lines by 8 lines. 



MELITHREPTUS (NIGEO) GULAEIS. 



(BlacTc-throated Honey-eater.) 



Ceown of the head, ear coverts, and behind the occiput, deep black ; throat, white, with a central patch of black ; stripe from each eye 

 through the black of the occiput, white ; neck, yellowish olive ; back, olive ; upper tail coverts, bright olive ; wings and tail, dark brown ; 

 the basal portions of the latter edged with olive ; breast, light grey ; abdomen, greyish buff; under tail coverts, bufly white ; bill, black ; 

 irides, hazel ; orbits, verdigris green ; feet, brownish orange. 



Length, 6i inches ; wing, 3i ; tail, 2| ; biU, | ; tarsus, |. 



This species is found in various parts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, frequenting, like the 

 former species, the flowering Eucalypti in search of its food, which consists of insects, pollen, and honey. Its note is often repeated, harsh, 

 and grating, and is uttered by both sexes. 



MELITHREPTUS LUNULATUS. 



(Lumdated Honey-eater) 



Head, chin, cheeks, and ear coverts, black ; lunate mark on the occiput ; throat and under surface, white ; shoulders, dark greyish brown ; 

 back and wings, rich yellowish olive; inner webs of quills, brown; outer edges of primaries near the extremities, whitish grey; tail, duQ 

 olive— the lateral feathers, brown ; feet, olive ; orbits, red ; irides, dark brown ; bill, dark horn color, lighter and yellowish at the base. 



Length, 5 inches ; wing, 2f ; tail, 2i ; bill, i ; tarsus, |. 



This is a very common species in most parts of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia — being a permanent resident 

 in those colonies. In habit it is in every way similar to the former species. It builds a well constructed cup-shaped nest, the materials used 

 being fine strips of bark, mingled with hair or wool, and lined with the fur of the opossum. It is generally suspended by the rim to the 

 extremity of a leafy branch near the top of a high tree. Eggs, two or three, pale buff", distinctly marked with chestnut, brown, and bluish 

 grey : size, 9 lines by Q^ lines. 



MELITIIREPTUS CHLOE.OPSIS. 



(Swan River Honey-eater) 



— ♦■ 



This is so similar in appearance to M. Lunulatus as to need no separate description— the points of difterence being that the orbits are green, 

 and not red, as in the former species ; it is also larger in size. 



Length, 5| inches ; wing, 3i ; tail, 2| ; bill, f ; tarsus, f. 



[over. 



