Order PASSERES.] [Fam. MELIPHAGIDyE. 



ANTHOENIS MELANOCEPHALA. 



(CHATHAM-ISLAND BELL-BIRD.) 



Anthornis melanocephala, Gray, in Dieff. Trav. ii., App. p. 188 (1843). 

 Anthornis aurioeula, Buller, Essay on the Orn. of N. Z. p. 8 (1805). 



d similis A. melanura, sed conspicue major : pileo undique chalybeo, indigotico vel purpurco nitente. 



d juv. (A. aurioeula, Buller) similis adulto, sed pallidior : abdomine imo cum crisso et hypochondriis imis 

 fulvescentibus : fronte vix chalybeo nitente : filamentis pilei gulreque chalybeo-nigris : fascia mystacali 

 indistincta, pallide flava : tectricibus alarum, remigibus et rectricibus brunncscenti-nigris, paullo chaly- 

 beo lavatis, extus anguste flavicanti-olivaceo limbatis : rostro nigro : pedibus brunneis, plantis pallidio- 

 ribus, unguibus saturate brunneis : iride aurea. 



Adult male. The whole of the plumage olive-green, lighter on the sides of the body and lower part of abdo- 

 men ; beneath dark plumbeous, this being observable only on raising the feathers ; forehead and crown 

 steel-blue, changing to a purplish-blue gloss on the sides of the head, nape, throat, and fore part of the 

 breast, these parts appearing shot with purple and blue in certain lights ; quills dusky brown, with yel- 

 lowish-brown shafts, margined on the outer webs with yellow ; the small wing-coverts steel-blue, mar- 

 gined with olive-green ; tail-feathers dusky black, with steel-black margins ; the soft ventral feathers 

 and under tail-coverts fulvous yellow, the latter with an olivaceous tinge. Irides golden yellow (?) ; bill 

 • black ; tarsi, toes, and claws dark brown. Total length 10 inches ; wing, from flexure, 4 - 25 ; tail 45 ; 

 bill, along the ridge -7, along the edge of lower mandible - 9; tarsus 1*5 j middle toe and claw T05; 

 hind toe and claw 1'15. 



Young. After examining the type of Mr. G. R. Gray's Anthornis melanocephala, I feel satisfied that the 

 bird obtained by me at the Chatham Islands, and named (/. c.) Anthornis aurioeula, is simply a young 

 male of this species. The following is a description of this specimen, which is now in the Colonial 

 Museum at Wellington : — The whole of the plumage yellowish olive, paler on the underparts, and 

 tinged with fulvous on the abdomen, flanks, and under tail-coverts ; faint steel gloss on the forehead ; 

 produced filaments on the crown, sides of the head, and throat steel-black ; from the angle of the mouth 

 a narrow indistinct streak of pale yellow; wing-feathers and their coverts, also tail-feathers, blackish 

 brown, with a faint steel gloss, their outer webs narrowly margined with yellowish olive ; inner lining 

 of wings pale yeUow. Irides golden yellow ; bill black ; tarsi and toes brown, with paler soles ; claws 

 umber-brown. Length 9"5 inches ; wing, from flexure, 4*4 ; tail 4 - 5 ; tarsus 1 "5. (On a close inspec- 

 tion of this specimen two minute feathers of steel-blue on the side of the head give indication of a 

 change of plumage.) 



Obs. I need hardly say that the above description of the adult is taken from the specimen in the British 

 Museum (obtained by Dr. Dieffenbach in 1839), because it is well known that this is, at present, the 

 only example recorded. I would remark, however, that this bird is not in full plumage. Three 



