IP ILi A. T IE 



XIII. 



MYZANTHA LUTE A (Gould). 



LUTEOUS HONEY-EATER. 



THIS, the most beautiful of all the Myzanthce, worthily represents the genus in the north-western part 

 of Australia, where it was first procured by Mr. Bynoe. It does not differ materially from its 

 congeners. 



It is worthy of notice how thoroughly representative every member of this genus is, each one 

 being confined to its own particular part, while the habits of all are very much the same. 



Crown of the head is grey, with black spots ; back of the neck, and back, dark brown ; rump, 

 upper tail-coverts, and under surface, white ; throat and chest tinged with grey, each feather crossed 

 by an arrow-shaped mark of brown ; wings and tail, brown, the external margins of the feathers of the 

 former dull citron-yellow ; tail, tipped with grey ; bill and forehead, citron-yellow ; feet, yellowish-brown. 



Total length, 10^ inches; wing, 5-| inches; tail, 5^ inches; tarsi, lj inch. 



Habitat : North-western portion of Australia. 



GENUS MANORHINA (Vieillot). 



^~^F this genus, which is closely allied to the Myzantlice, one species inhabits Australia. 



MANORHINA MELANOPHRYS. 



BELL-BIRD. 



UNLIKE the Myzanthw, this species inhabits thick and dense brushes, more especially those situated 

 in swamps. It appears to be confined entirely to New South Wales, being found particularly in 

 the brushes along the coast. It is met with in companies, varying in number from ten to forty. The 

 note is a most peculiar one, resembling the distant tinkling of a sheep-bell — hence its name. 



It is of a very inquisitive nature, and it is sufficient to utter any kind of a harsh note to bring 

 the whole flock round, all showing the greatest curiosity to ascertain the cause. Then all simultaneously 

 fly off to a neighbouring tree, with a skimming motion, spreading out the wings and tail. 



The whole of the plumage, with the exception of the primaries and secondaries, yellowish-olive, 

 the under surface being much paler than the upper ; forehead, stripe from the lower mandible, and ring 

 encircling the eye, black; ear-coverts, olive-brown; primaries and secondaries, dark brown, the former 

 margined with grey, and the latter witli yellowish-olive ; bill, yellow : tarsi and toes, orange. 



The sexes are alike in plumage. 

 Habitat: New South Wales. 



