INSESSORES. 



177 



upper parts brownish-black, darkest on the head ; occipital spot and 

 another on the throat at the base of the under mandible fine scarlet ; 

 neck before, and breast yellow, which color fades gradually into the 

 white of the abdomen and under tail-coverts. Wing-coverts tipped 

 with white ; quills edged on their outer webs with "greenish-yellow, 

 and on their inner webs with white ; tail brownish-black, tipped 

 with white. Bill dark ; feet light ; iris dark-brown. 



Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about four inches; wing, two 

 and a half inches ; tail, one and a half inches. 



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



A very handsome little species, resembling in a measure several 

 species of Cinnyris, Cuvier, though in the specimens belonging to the 

 collection of the Expedition, there is no metallic lustre on any part of 

 the plumage. 



According to Mr. Peale, this bird inhabits the Feejee Islands : 

 " We never saw it in any other situation than amongst the cocoa- 

 nuts and flowers ; nectar and insects collected in the flowers appear to 

 constitute its principal food. Its voice is weak and not remarkable, 

 and as it is solitary and habitually lives amongst the lofty cocoanut 

 trees, it is seldom observed." 



This interesting bird belongs apparently to an aberrant group of 

 this genus, which includes Myzomela pedoralis, M. nigra, Gould, and 

 other species. In our plate above cited, it is represented of the natu- 

 ral size. 



6. Genus DKEPANIS, Temminch. 



1. Drepanis coccinea [Merrern). 



Mellhuga coccinea, Merr. Beyt. Bes. Gesch. Vogel, p. 17, PI. IV (1784, name on 

 plate). 



CertMa coccinea, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 282 (1788). 

 Certhia vestiaria, Lath. Ind. Orn. I, p. 282 (1790). 



Shaw, Nat. Misc. Ill, Plate LXXV ; Vieill. Ois. Dor. Plate LII, 

 LIII. 



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