12 



Certainly the curious resemblance between the two forms proved equally fatal to 

 both, since both attracted their greatest enemy, Man, by their beautiful yellow plumes. 



Vestiaeia coccinea. (PL III. figs. 36-39.) 



Bill. — The sharp cutting-edges of the bill are smooth, without the slightest indica- 

 tion of any serration. The edges of the premaxillary sheath fit closely over those of 

 the mandible ; the tip of the premaxilla projects a little, less than 5 millim., over 

 those of the mandibles. 



Nostrils bare, basal, only the posterior corner bordered by short feathers ; bristles 

 entirely absent. Nostrils shut by a complete upper operculum, which itself overlaps a 

 similar but smaller flap arising from the ventral margin of the nasal opening. 



Tongue. — The sharp dorso-lateral margins of the horny sheath of the tongue are 

 raised upwards, and gradually meet each other in the middle line, without fusing with 

 each other, but transforming the dorsal surface of the tapering tongue into a single 

 semicanal. The distal halves of these raised margins are frayed out into numerous 

 horny bristles or lacinise, which become longer towards the tip of the tongue, cross each 

 other, or are even interlaced, and thus turn the end of the tongue into a brush. The 

 whole tongue is as long as the bill, and, when the latter is shut, completely fills 

 the space between the two mandibles. The tongue cannot be protruded far, because 

 the hyoid horns do not project above or beyond the level of the eye : they are 

 shorter than in Nectarinia, but resemble those of Acrulocercus. 



Pterylosis. — The spinal feather-tracts form a broad unbroken saddle, the sides of 

 which are not sharply marked, while it is continued as a wide band to the base of 

 the oil-gland. The feathers of the saddle, especially those of its anterior and lateral 

 portions, are fluffy. The pectoral tracts resemble those of Hemignathus in their breadth 

 and lateral expansion. There are elongated, fluffy axillary feather-tufts, which, 

 however, are not conspicuously coloured. The tenth or most distal primary is very 

 slender and short, and is concealed by its larger covert. The tip of the wing is formed 

 by the eighth, seventh, and sixth quills, the ninth being equal to the fifth in length. 

 Of the nine secondary or cubital remiges, the ninth or most proximal is by far the 

 shortest, and in the male is entirely white, thus differing from the rest in colour as 

 well as in size. The twelve rectrices are all obliquely pointed and form a nearly 

 square tail, which resembles that of Lowps, and is slightly forked when closed. 



Metatarsus covered in front with four or five transverse scales, which are partly 

 fused with each other. The lateral side is covered by one long scute, which is followed 

 by two or three smaller scales ; the median side is protected by one long scute, which 

 forms posteriorly a sharp projecting ridge. Of the toes, the first, second, and fourth 

 are about equal in length, the second, which at its base is closely joined to the third, 

 is perhaps the shortest. The first or hallux is, however, the strongest, and carries the 

 thickest and longest claw. 



Alimentary canal. — The oesophagus forms a distinct ventral crop, which is lodged 



