Ord er II. 
passeres. 
Tribe II. Tenutrostees. 
Family IY. Meliphagidas, 
Th 
e third Subfamily, 
MELITHREPTINiE, or Honey-feeders, 
have t v, t> ■ 
^ . Ie PiU short, subconic, with the culmen slightly curved, and the sides much compressed towards 
s P) which is sometimes emarginated and acute ; the Wings more or less long, with the fourth to the 
to 1 d u ills generally the longest; the Tarsi short and strong; the Toes more or less long, the lateral 
Ulle qual, the outer the longest, and united at its base ; the Claws moderate, compressed, and acute. 
Manokhina Vieill.* 
short, with the culmen and lateral margins curved, and the sides compressed to the tip, which is 
ai)( j aii< l emarginate ; the gonys moderate and ascending ; the nostrils basal, placed in a broad gi oove, 
^ °lothed by the projecting plumes, with the opening closed by a large membranous scale. II ings 
Ihe f a ^ G ’ the first quill short, the second much shorter than the third, which is rather shorter than 
1 ^ tlX <EHf] -fi-ft-H . 4- 1-, ^ ^ 1 — 1 'T^ 'l orvrl vmiTirlpf] mi flip ftlflps. 'T^UVS'L PHtillCir 
0ll ger 
All U QULV/J. Uj 011 V-/ OUOV11U. muvii ^ - ~ / 
lon^. ' v ‘* an d fifth : these are equal and longest. Tail long and rounded on the sides. Tarsi rather 
Out er H- 16 middle toe, robust and covered with slightly divided scales. Toes rather short, with the 
lo 
father longer than the inner, and united at the base, the hind toe long and strong ; the claws 
® 6 "*«*!, and 
acute. 
^ la * com pose this genus are peculiar to the Australian Continent. They are generally seen on the 
a bo for q 111 Sllaa ll troops of few individuals, searching among the leaves and flowers for the insects, and in the latter 
Peking f Q e P°^ en - They are very active, often removing from tree to tree, and while on the branches engaged in 
s '°Uafly ^' ( P' food, perform a series of singular actions, at the same time spreading out their wings and tail. Ocea- 
af|( l coa rs ^ aie °bserved at the roots of the trees examining for hard-winged insects. The nest is formed of fine twigs 
S ras s, lined with wool, &c., and it is usually placed among the small upright branches of small trees. 
1. IVj 
q ^ at >Orhi na (Lath.) G. R. Gray. Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 48. 
/"• Pi. 7 8 , V ‘ ndis ri «W. Gal. desOis. t. 149., Jard. & Selby, 111. 
• • IVT»rr, .1 - 
Ustr 
• 10 . • Vt ^ ’ 
pl. ’ y zat >tha flavirostris Vig. 8? Horsf. Gould, B. of 
<• M 
< Lat M Vig. & Horsf. Lamb. 
lS tr. pi. 
Icon. ined. i. 56., 
3. M. obscura Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1840. p. 159-, B. of Austr. pl. 
4. M. favigula Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1839- P- 143, B. of Austr. pl. 
5. M. lutea Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1839-p. 144., B. of Austr. pl. 
6. M. citreola Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1839- p. 144. 
tl83 ‘)?S S E h v e ' 1 b y Vieillot i 
synony 
mous. 
in 1825 (Galerie des Oiseaux). Mymntha of Vigors and Dr. Horsfield (1826), and Philanthus of M. Lesson, 
