PLATE YIII 



GENUS ZOSTEROPS. 



MEMBERS of this genus are to be found in almost every part of the Old World, but are most 

 numerous in Australia and the adjacent islands. Australia has three species, Norfolk Island two, 

 and Lord Howe's Island two. In all of them the sexes are alike in plumage. 



ZOSTEROPS GHERULESCENS. 



GRE Y - BA CKED ZOSTERi >PS. 



friHE present species resembles greatly, in all general characteristics, Zosteropx Gouldi. On the eastern 

 J- and southern coasts of Australia it is very common, frequenting not only the forests, but almost 

 every garden, having even been known to build in shrubs and rose-trees. It, however, prefers to all other 

 trees the Zeptospermum (tea-tree), darting among the branches in search of the insects which constitute 

 its food. 



It is seen sometimes singly or in pairs, and very often in large numbers. 



The breeding season lasts from about the beginning of September till January. The nest, which 

 is very carefully and neatly made and lined, usually contains three eggs, in colour pale blue, eight and 

 a half lines long by six lines broad. 



The crown of the head, wings and tail are olive; back, dark-grey; eyes surrounded by a zone 

 of white, which is bounded by black ; throat and centre of abdomen, greyish-white, with a slight tinge 

 of olive ; flanks, light chestnut ; irides, bill, and feet, brownish-grey. 



Habitats : New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania. 



ZOSTER OPS LUTE US (Gould). 



YELLOW ZOSTEROPS. 



fl^HIS species is much more shy and wild than the others belonging to the same genus. It inhabits 

 J- the northern portions of Australia, where it principally frequents dense thickets, never resorting to 

 the gardens of the settlers, like the Zostcrojts Ccerulescens. When disturbed it takes refuge on the high 

 branches of gum trees, where the thick foliage serves as an effectual concealment. It is generally seen 

 in small families of from three to seven or eight. 



All the upper surface is olive-green ; primaries and tail-feathers, brown ; forehead and throat, 

 yellow ; lores and lines beneath the eye, black ; eye encircled with a white zone ; abdomen and under 

 tail-coverts, dull yellow : irides, light brown ; legs, feet and bill, bluish-grey. 



Total length, 4* inches; bill, l 2 inch; wing, 2f inches: tail, If inch; tarsi, f inch. 



