176 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



mediately in front of the eye black ; all other parts above and below 

 rich brownish-black ; bill and feet black, the latter yellow beneath ; 

 iris brown. 



Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), four and a half inches ; wing, 

 two and three-fourths inches ; tail, one and three-fourths inches. 



Hab. — Samoan Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington. 



A beautiful little species, considerably resembling Myzomela ruhraira 

 (Lesson), Cimnjris ruhrater, Less. Manuel, II, p. 55, but is smaller 

 and has the bill more curved. In that species, the scarlet is continued 

 on to the abdomen ; in the present it is abruptly terminated on the 

 breast, and the remaining under parts are of the same brownish-black 

 as the wings and tail. The colors of this bird more resemble those of 

 M. erythrocepluda, Gould, but it is considerably larger. 



Mr. Peale observes : 



"In the dark and thick forests of the Samoan Islands, where this 

 bird is not uncommon, its beautiful scarlet and black plumage renders 

 it a conspicuous object. It is seldom seen in the open or cultivated 

 grounds, or near the habitations of men ; in this respect differing from 

 most of its congeners." 



Several specimens are in the collection of the Expedition. The 

 sexes present no difference. 



Our figure of this little bird is of the natural size. 



2. Myzomela jugularis, Peale. 



MijzomeJa jugnlaris, Peale, ZooL U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 150 (1848); ZooL Voy. 

 Aatrolabe and Zelee, Ois. PI. XXII, fig. 6. 



Mijzomela soUtaria, Jac. ct PucH. ZooL Voy. Ast. et ZeL Ois. p. 99 (1853). 



Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XII, fig. 2. Adult ? 



Suj^rci ftiscescenfi-nigra, gutture ijltoeniceo, pectore fiavo, ahdomirie albo. 

 Long. tot. 4l poll ices. 



About the size of the preceding or rather smaller ; bill curved ; nasal 

 aperture large; wings long; tail rather short, rounded. Entire 



