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RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 
ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES. 
By Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S., Ornithologist. 
VIII.— DESCRIPTION of a NEW SPECIES of HONEY- 
EATER from NORTH QUEENSLAND. 
Ptilotis leilavalensis, sp. nov. 
Adult . — General colour above pale ashy-brown tinged with 
yellow, the upper tail-coverts more distinctly shaded with yellow; 
scapulars and upper wing-coverts like the back ; quills brown, 
strongly washed with bright olive yellow, the apical portion of 
the outer webs of the primaries and the tips of the secondaries 
having whitish edges ; tail-feathers brown with whitish tips, the 
two central feathers, and outer webs of the remainder washed with 
bright olive yellow; lores, forehead, sides of the head, cheeks and 
ear-coverts bright olive yellow ; behind the ear-coverts a patch of 
silky-white feathers; chin, throat, and fore neck pale olive-yellow 
passing into fawn-white, tinged with yellow on the breast and 
abdomen, lower portion of the abdomen and the under tail-coverts 
pale yellow ; bill black ; legs and feet fleshy-brown. Total length 
of skin 6 inches, wing 2 8, tail 2*7, bill 0‘42, tarsus 0‘75. 
Habitat. Fullerton River, Burke District, North Queens- 
land. 
Type. In the Australian Museum, Sydney. 
Observations. This species, which will be vernacularly known as 
the Lesser White-plumed Honeyeater, is allied to P. penicillata and 
P. flavescens. From the former it may be distinguished principally 
by its smaller size, more brightly coloured head, and otherwise 
generally paler plumage, also by the absence of the blackish line 
which separates the silky-white patch of feathers from the ear- 
coverts. In size, and general colour of plumage, except the ear- 
coverts, it closely approaches P. flavescens. 
The specimen from which the above description is taken was 
presented to the Trustees by Dr. W. Macgillivray of Hamilton, 
Victoria. It was obtained by his brother, Mr. A. S. Macgillivray, 
of Leilavale Station, Fullerton River, thirty miles east of Cloncurry 
Township, North Queensland, who states that these birds are fairly 
common in the Tea-trees along the river. The nest and eggs were 
secured at the same time, but the latter were unfortunately broken. 
