M YZOMELA MELANOCEPHALA. 
Black-headed Honey-sucker. 
Cinnyris (?) dubia, Ramsay (nec Bechst.), Proc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales, iv. p. 83 (18/9). Reichen. J. f. O 
1879, p. 430. — Salvacl. Ibis, 1880, p. 129. 
Cinnyris melanoceplialus, Ramsay, Nature, 1879, p. 125. — Reichen. t. c. p. 101. 
Herniotimia melanocephala, Layard, Ibis, 1880, p. 306. 
Cyrtostomus melanoceplialus , Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, xvi. p. 66 (1880). — Id. Orn. Papuasia, etc. 
ii. p. 269 (1881). 
So peculiar is the coloration of this bird that it is scarcely surprising that some difficulty should have been 
experienced in finding - its natural position. Mr. Ramsay doubted whether it was a true Sun-bird and called 
it Cinnyris ? dubia, and lie afterwards changed the specific name to melanocephala. He also expressed an 
opinion that the species might belong to the family Meliphagidce ; but Count Salvadori considers it to be a 
true Sun-bird and has placed it in the subgenus Cyrtostomus. 
On receiving the type specimen from Mr. Ramsay, we showed it to Captain Shelley, who has written such 
an excellent ‘ Monograph ’ of the Nectariniidce, and, after careful consultation, we both agreed that it is in all 
probability a Meliphagine bird. We say this with all caution, as the question is a difficult one; but we 
notice that in Sun-birds the nostril is rounded oil anteriorly, whereas in the Meliphagidce the anterior edge of 
the nostril vanishes gradually into the upper mandible, and this character is apparently accompanied by the 
brush tongue. We shall therefore expect to find that the present species has the last-named peculiarity. 
In plumage this bird is not unlike some African Sun-birds, and again resembles some of the Spider-hunters 
( Arachnothera ). In the genus Myzomela it is singularly out of place as regards it colouring, but appears to 
belong structurally to this genus. 
The following description is taken from the typical specimen, which came from Savo in the Solomon 
Archipelago, and has been lent to us by Mr. E. P. Ramsay : — 
Adult male. General colour above olive-yellow, with a slight appearance of brighter yellow on the mantle ; 
upper tail-coverts dusky brown, edged with the same olive-yellow as the back; wing-coverts and quills 
dusky brown, narrowly edged with olive-yellow, brighter on the primaries ; bastard wing and primary-coverts 
uniform blackish brown ; tail-feathers black, with narrow margins of olive-yellow ; crown of head as far as 
the occiput glossy black; the nape and the sides of the hinder crown olive-yellow, but duller and rather 
greener than the back ; lores, feathers above and behind the eye, cheeks, ear-coverts, sides of face, and throat 
black like the head, with a slight metallic gloss ; remainder of under surface of body dull olive-yellowish, 
clearer olive-yellow - on the fore neck, chest, and sides of neck ; breast-feathers mixed with ashy, the bases 
being of this colour; under tail-coverts ashy brown, edged with olive-vellow ; axillary tufts pale olive-yellow, 
with white bases ; under wing-coverts white, those near the edge of the wing blackish, edged with olive- 
yellow ; quills dusky blackish below - , white along the edge of the inner web. Total length 4*5 inches, 
culmen 0*85, wing 2*6, tail 1*9, tarsus 0 7. 
Another specimen, apparently younger, has a pale reddish tint on the lower back and rump, as well as on 
the margin of the wing-coverts, the thighs and under tail-coverts being likewise washed with this colour ; 
the black on the head and throat is also less clearly defined. Total length 4*2 inches, wing 2*5, tail 1*65, 
tarsus 0*7. 
The figures in the Plate are drawn of the size of life, and represent the adult male, lent to me by 
Mr. Ramsay, in two positions. [R. 13. S.] 
