THE VARIED HONEY-EATEE 383 



The Yellow-eared Honey-eater. 



Ptilotis chrusotis (lewini). 



Victoria New South Wales and Queensland. 



Upper part dull olive-green; ear-coverts blackish silky -grey, a spot 

 below the eye and a larger oval spot behind the ear pale yellow; under 

 parts dull olive-grey; edge of wing, under wing-coverts fulvous yellow; 

 bill yellow at base, black at tip; feet purplish; iris dark lead colour. 

 Length 9 inches, tail 3.85, wing 3.9. Eggs white with very few dark 

 spots, and measure 1.05 x 0.71 inches. 



The Macleay Honey-eater. 



Ptilotis macleayana. 



Xorth-east Queensland. 



Upper parts brownish olive, with a lighter mark towards the tip 

 •of each of the feathers; around the eye a bare space, below and extending 

 behind it a bright tuft of yellow feathers; throat greyish-white tinged 

 with olive, the upper breast dull olive-3'ellow, each feather being streaked 

 with yellow, rest of under surface olive, the feathers being marked in 

 the centre with a lighter shade; no white spot behind the ear, and no 

 black and yellow lines on the side of the head. Length 7 inches, wing 

 3.46, tail 3.1. 



The Singing Honey-eater. 



Ptilotis sonora. 



Australia except extreme North. 



Upper part earthy-brown with olive tinge; ear-coverts and sub- 

 ocular region bright yellow; a spot of greyish-white behind the ear; a 

 black streak from the lores through the eye, down the sides of the neck; 

 under parts dingy yellowish-grey, with pale-brown streaks; bill black; 

 feet greenish-grey; iris dark-brown. Wing 3.8 inches. The eggs are 

 reddish-buff in colour and rarely have any markings; very similar to those 

 ■of the Pallid Cuckoo. 



Forrest's Honey-eater. 



Ptilotis forresti. 



Northern Territory. 



Similar to F. sonora, but paler on the back and under surface, 

 ■especially on the rump, which is light-brown. The abdomen and under 

 tail-coverts are unmarked, being of a dirty white colour, washed with 

 isabelline. Total length 7 inches. 



The Varied Honey-eater. 



Ptilotis versicolor. 



North Queensland, Islands of Torres Strait, South-east New Guinea. 



Upper parts brownish-olive; ear-coverts black above, light-yellow 

 Ijelow, a whitish spot behind the ear; a blackish stripe from the lores 

 i:hrough the eye, over the upper half of the ear-coverts and down the 



