388 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 



Genus Xanthotis. 

 Like Ptilotis. The feathers behind the ear-coverts golden- 

 yellow, forming a narrow streak. The one species. 



The Streak-naped Honey-eater. 



Xanthotis filigera. 



Gnlf of Carpentaria, Cape York. 



Upper parts brown; ear-coverts silky-grey, suboeular region and 

 feathers above tlie ear-eoverts white, those behind the ear-coverts golden- 

 yellow, forming the characteristic streak; throat greyish; rest of under 

 parts fulvous; bill olive-black; feet slate colour; naked space below the 

 eye yellow. Wing 3.5 to 4.1 inches. 



Genus Meliornis. 

 Bill as long as rest of head. Nostrils operculated, not 

 covered with feathers. Tail rounded a little longer than the 

 wing. Australia and Tasmania. 



Key to the Species. 



Mantle uniform ashy grey. M. pyrrhoptera. 



(australasiana). 

 Feathei's of mantle blackish-brown edged with whitish 

 and brownish-grey. 

 Feathers of fore neck hairy, black, edged and tipped 



with white. M. novae-hoUandisB. 



Feathers of fore neck short, entirely black. 



Eastern. M. sericea. 



Western. M. mystacalis. 



The Crescent Honey-eater. 



Meliornis pyrrhoptera (australasiana). 



New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Islands of Bass Strait, 

 Tasmania. 



Upper parts ashy-grey; wing-coverts and tail black; quills partly 

 golden yellow; praaocular region and a short stripe through the eye 

 black; chin, throat, cheeks and fore-neck white, rest of underparts 

 whitish with a black semilunar bar on each side of the chest; bill and 

 feet black; iris red. Wing 3 inches. 



Mr. A. G. Campbell describes as a sub-species, M. halma- 

 turina, from Kangarooo Island. The bill is a little longer, and 

 the plumage duller. The wing patch and the tail greenish-yellow 

 and not bright-yellow ; no white centre to the chest. "Wing 2.S 

 inch. 



