THE KING ISLAND HONEY-EATER 373 



M. carpentarianus verj^ similar to M. ketior, but differs from 

 it in its generally darker hue and the bare space round the eye 

 being greenish-blue, instead of yellow. Total length 5.75 inches. 

 Northern Australia. 



The Brown-headed Honey-eater. 



Melithreptus brevirostris. 



All Australia except North. 



Crown and sides of head pale ashy-brown, a band of dull cream 

 colour from eye to eye across the occiput; mantle, back and upper tail- 

 coverts greyish-olive; wings and tail brown; all the under parts brownish- 

 creamy; chin and chest faint grey; bill .5 inch. 



M. magnirostris from Kangaroo Island. A traceable black 

 band below the light collar, and crown and back are darker. A 

 bluish spot in the centre of the bare lower eyelid. 



M. leucogenys, West Australia — Less robvist generally, bill 

 shorter and more slender, the bare spaces round the eyes are 

 orange and bluish-emerald, the blackish chin is distinctly 

 marked, as also the greyish breast, the cheeks are white, and 

 head blackish-brown. 



The Black-headed Honey-eater. 



Melithreptus affinis (melanocephalus) . 



Tasmania, Islands of Bass Strait. 



Head all round jet black, without any occipital band; wing-coverts, 

 wings and tail greyish-brown, rest of upper surface olive-yellow; a few 

 feathers along the sides of the neck and upper chest black; rest of under 

 parts white; bill black; feet brown; iris reddish-brown; bare skin over 

 eye pearly-white, slightly tinged with green. 



The Grey Honey-eater. 



M. vinotinctus. 



North Queensland. 



Has the crown of the head vinous grey, and a. white band across the 

 occiput. 



The King Island Honey-eater. 



M. alisteri. 



Differs from M. afflnis in having a larger bill and telng altogether 

 larger. 



