MELTTHREPTTN/E. 
Melitiireptus Vieill .* 
•Igg 
BUI rather short and very acute, with the culmen and lateral margins gradually curved, and the ^ 
compressed to the tip, which is very acute, and slightly emarginated at a little distance from the t>P' 
the gonys long and slightly curved ; the nostrils basal, and placed in a broad groove with the °P elU 8 
closed by a large membranous scale. Wings moderate, the first quill short, the second shorter tb» 
the third, which is nearly equal to the fourth and fifth; these are equal and longest. Tail model 
and emarginate. Tarsi rather longer than the middle toe, strong and covered with divided scales- ^ ot 
rather short, with the outer toe rather longer than the inner, and united at the base, the hind 
long and strong, the claws moderate, curved, and acute. 
The species are only found in various parts of Australia, especially on the Eucalypti and Acacia; in small 
few individuals. They usually creep about the leafy and flower-bearing branches with perfect ease and gT"* rn,t)J 
oi 
eat rapa 
ak s 
searching for insects and the pollen of the flowers. Some species were observed by Mr. Gould to cling to the 
of the trees, for the purpose of seeking for insects that are found on them, and they also frequent the trees in ° rC ^ 
to feed on the fruits, upon which they frequently commit great havoc. While perched motionless on the topm° st c 
or bare branches, they sometimes utter a loud harsh noise or whistling note, which at once proclaims their locality 
1. M. lunulatus (Shaw.) Vieill. Ois. dor. t. 6 1., Lewin. B. of N. 
Holl. pi. 24., Jard. & Selby, 111. Orn. pi. 134. f. 2. — Meliphaga 
torquata Swains. Zool. 111. pi. 116.; M. atrieapilla, Temra. PI. Col. 
335. f. 1. 
2. M, atricapillus (Lath.) Vieill. Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 79. 
3. M. . Meliphaga atrieapilla Jard. § Selby, 111. Orn. 
pi. 134. f. 1. 
4. M. jiipilans (Lath.) Vieill. Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 63. 
5. M. ? inornatus (Lath.) Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 29. 
6. M. virescens (Wagl.) Syst. Av. Sturnus, sp. 5. — Hsematops 
validirostris Gov kl, Proc. Z. S. 1836. p. 144., Voy. au Pole Sud, 
Ois. t. 17. t. 1. ; Syn. B. of Austr. pi. f. 2. head., B- of *^ U ,^37.) 
Eidopsarus bicinctus Swains.; Type of Eidopsarus Sv>ain s ' ^ ugtr . 
7. M. gularis Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1836. p. 144. Syn. 0 
B. pi. f. 3. head. ; B. of Austr. pi. . j )re ptu s 
8. M . qffinis (Less.) Rev. Zool. 1839. p. 167 - ^ e * tr . pi- 
melanocephalus Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1845. p. 62. ; B. of us ^_ 
9. M. indistinctus (Vig. & Horsf.) Linn. Trans, xv. P* ^ 
10. M. brevirostris (Vig. & Horsf.) Linn. Trans, xv. P- p r0 c. 
11. M. lanceolatus (Gould.) Syn. B. of Austr.pl. nl'tforhy"^ 
Z. S. 1837. p. 153.; B. of Austr. pi. — Type of P leCt 
Gould (1837.). 
Psophodes Vig. et Horsf. f 
des 
a the sl ° 
Bill rather short and strong, with the culmen and lateral margins gradually curved, ond j ^ed 
much compressed to the tip, which is rather obtuse and unemarginated ; the nostrils basal, and P ^ 
in a broad groove and partly covered by the projecting plumes, with the opening small, anterio^^ 
partly closed by a small membranous scale. Wings rather short, with the first four quills g ra . , e 
, rr aT si 
and the fifth, sixth, and seventh, equal and longest. Tail lengthened and much graduated. x ^ 
length of the middle toe, strong, and covered with broad scales. Toes long, with the outer t°e 
than the inner, and united at the base, the hind toe long and strong; the claws rather short, comp 
and curved. 
* Established in 1 81 6 by Vieillot [Analyse, §c. p. 46.). Htsmatops (1836) of Mr. Gould, Gymnophr 
Mr. Swainson, are coequal with the name employed. It embraces Plectrorhyncha of Mr. Gould (1837). 
t Vigors and Dr. Horsfield established this genus in 1826 (Linn. Trans, xiii. p. 328.). 
•ys and Eidopsni ns 
(185 
i) 
