" The Hon. Walter Rothschild (' Ibis,' 1893, p. 113) remarks: ' This genus is nearest 

 to Acrulocercus, but differs from it in the three following points : — 



"' (1) The tail is square and has no elongated central tail-feathers. 



" ' (2) There is a heavy crest of long curled feathers on the forehead, much like the 

 crest of certain species of Stumopastor. 



" ' (3) The beak is straighter, much shorter, and more pointed than in Acrulocercus, 

 and in this respect Palmeria more nearly approaches my genus Viridonia (Ann. N. H. 

 ser. 6, vol. x. p. 112, 1892).' 



" Why Palmeria ' is nearest to Acrulocercus ' we are not told. From examination 

 of a spirit-specimen, obtained by Mr. Perkins, I am enabled to state that Palmeria 

 differs from the Meliphagidce, and agrees with the Drepanididw in at least the following- 

 points, which, so far as these families are concerned, are of decisive importance : — 



" (1) Tongue, typically Drepanine, like that of Hemignathus, Drepanis, Himatione, 

 not brush-like or multifid. 



" (2) Crop present. 



" (3) Tenth or terminal primary obsolete, not long and functional as in Acrulocercus. 



" (4) Edges of bill smooth, not serrated. 



" (5) The pattern of colour closely resembles that of Himatione sanguinea. 



" Although the formation of the oesophagus and of the tongue (1, 2) were possibly 

 not available, and are, moreover, ' anatomical ' features, the other characters (3-5) at 

 least would, I should have thought, obtained such consideration as to have enabled the 

 new genus to be correctly referred from skins only." 



Description. — Adult male. Crown covered by a fiat crest of linear lanceolate feathers, 

 which are blackish with distinct light shaft-streaks ; those nearer the nape are slightly 

 tipped with brilliant orange-scarlet, while those of the nape itself have long tips of that 

 colour and join a line of the same which extends across the neck on each side. A tuft 

 of dirty white feathers springs from the forehead and bends forward so as to cover 

 about half the culmen. The back, lesser wing- and tail-coverts are blackish, with 

 duller orange-scarlet tips and slighter shaft-streaks ; the wings and tail are still darker, 

 the secondaries and greater wing-coverts having greyish-white tips, and most of the 

 primaries white margins. Scarlet is also present to some extent at the bend of the 

 wing, the under surface of which is rather light grey. The throat, sides of head, and 

 neck are silvery grey, the feathers being more or less lanceolate. An orange ring 

 surrounds the eye. The underparts are similar to the back, the thighs reddish 

 orange. The bill and feet are black. 



Dimensions. — Total length 7 inches, wing 375, tail 3, tarsus 1T2, culmen '75. 



Very young. — Crown of the head grey, shading into dull brown-pink, which is 

 tinged on the sides with dull reel ; rest of the upper parts dusky brown mottled with 

 greenish buff; beneath, the throat and breast grey, the tips of the feathers brown; 



