

MELITHREPTTNJE. 



Melithreptus Vieill* 



Bill rather short and very acute, with the culmen and lateral margins gradually curved, and the sides 

 compressed to the tip, which is very acute, and slightly emarginated at a little distance from the tip ; 

 the gonys long and slightly curved ; the nostrils basal, and placed in a broad groove with the opening 

 closed by a large membranous scale. Wings moderate, the first quill short, the second shorter than 

 the third, which is nearly equal to the fourth and fifth ; these are equal and longest. Tail moderate 

 and emarginate. Tarsi rather longer than the middle toe, strong and covered with divided scales. Toes 

 rather short, with the outer toe rather longer than the inner, and united at the base, the hind toe 

 long and strong, the claws moderate, curved, and acute. 



The species are only found in various parts of Australia, especially on the Eucalypti and Acacise in small parties of 

 few individuals. They usually creep about the leafy and flower-bearing branches with perfect ease and great rapidity, 

 searching for insects and the pollen of the flowers. Some species were observed by Mr. Gould to cling to the trunks 

 of the trees, for the purpose of seeking for insects that are found on them, and they also frequent the trees in orchards 

 to feed on the fruits, upon which they frequently commit great havoc. While perched motionless on the topmost dead 

 or bare branches, they sometimes utter a loud harsh noise or whistling note, which at once proclaims their locality. 



1. M. lunulatus (Shaw.) Vieill. Ois. dor. t. 6l., Lewin. B. of N. 

 Holl. pi. 24.., Jard. & Selby, 111. Orn. pi. 134. f. 2. — Meliphaga 

 torquata Swains. Zool. 111. pi. 116. ; M. atricapilla, Temm. PI. Col. 

 335. f. 1. 



2. M. alricaplllus (Lath.) Vieill. Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 79- 



3. M. . Meliphaga atricapilla Jard. S; Selby, 111. Orn. 



pi. 134. f. 1. 



4. M. pipi/ans (Lath.) Vieill. Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 63. 



5. M. ? inornatns (Lath.) Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 9.Q. 



6". M. virescens (Wagl.) Syst. Av. Sturnus, sp. 5. — Hsematops 

 validirostris Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1 836. p. 1 44., Voy. au Pole Sud, 



Ois. t. 17. t. 1. ; Syn. B. of Austr. pi. f. 2. head., B. of Austr. pi. ; 

 Eidopsarus bicinctus Swains.; Type of Eidopsarus Sviains. (1837.) 



7. M. gularis Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1836. p. 144. Syn. of Austr. 

 B. pi. f. 3. head. ; B. of Austr. pi. 



8. M. affinis (Less.) Rev. Zool. 1839. P- 167- — Melithreptus 

 melanocephalus Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1845- p. 62. ; B. of Austr. pi. 



9. M. indistinctus (Vig. & Horsf.) Linn. Trans, xv. p. 315. 



10. M. brevirostris (Vig. & Horsf.) Linn. Trans, xv. p. 315. 



11. M. lanceolatus (Gould.) Syn. B. of Austr. pi. iv. pi., Proc. 

 Z. S. 1837. p. 153.; B. of Austr. pi. — Type of Plectrorhyncha 

 Gould (1837-)- 



Psophodes Vig. et Horsf. f 



Bill rather short and strong, with the culmen and lateral margins gradually curved, and the sides 

 much compressed to the tip, which is rather obtuse and unemarginated ; the nostrils basal, and placed 

 in a broad groove and partly covered by the projecting plumes, with the opening small, anterior, and 

 partly closed by a small membranous scale. Wings rather short, with the first four quills graduated, 

 and the fifth, sixth, and seventh, equal and longest. Tail lengthened and much graduated. Tarsi the 

 length of the middle toe, strong, and covered with broad scales. Toes long, with the outer toe longer 

 than the inner, and united at the base, the hind toe long and strong ; the claws rather short, compressed, 

 and curved. 



* Established in 1816 by Vieillot {Analyse, S;c. p. 46.). Hamatops (1836) of Mr. Gould, Gymnophrys and Eidopsarus (1837) of 

 Mr. Swainson, are coequal with the name employed. It embraces Plectrorhyncha of Mr. Gould (1837)- 

 t Vigors and Dr. Horsfield established this genus in 1826 {Linn. Trans, xiii. p. 328.). 



