ZOSTEROPS TEPHROPLEURUS, Gould. 
Grej-breasted Zosterops. 
Zosterops tephropleurus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., July 24, 1855. 
At least three species of the genus Zosterops are inhabitants of Australia, all of which have been seen in 
a state of nature, either by myself or by my collector Mr. Gilbert, and we found that no difference occurred 
in the plumage, and scarcely any in the size of the sexes : had I not positive evidence of this, as far as 
regards the Australian species, I should have thought it probable that the two species (the present bird 
and the Z. strenuus') sent from Lord Howe’s Island by Mr. MacGillivray were only different sexes of the same 
bird, so similarly are they coloured ; I feel convinced, however, that such is not the case, and that the 
Z. tephropleurus differs from all other known species. In size it rather exceeds the well-known Australian 
Z. dorsalis, and moreover differs in having a much more robust bill and less highly coloured flanks. 
Among the many pleasing recollections connected with my explorations in Australia, none ai e moi e 
grateful than those pertaining to this little group of birds, whose pretty cup-shaped nests and spotless blue 
eggs so vividly reminded me of home, my early life, and the nest and eggs of our own Hedge Accentor. 
Head and upper surface bright olive-green, with a wash of grey across the shoulders ; wings and tail 
slaty-brown, margined with olive-green; throat dull yellow; around the eyes a circle of white featheis, 
below which is a mark of black ; under surface pale vinaceous-brown, becoming gradually paler on the 
lower part of the. abdomen, and passing into the pale yellow of the under tail-coverts. 
The figures are of the natural size. 
