M Y Z O M E L A ROSENBERG I, Schiegei. 
Yon Rosenberg’s Honey-eater. 
Myzomela rosenberyii, Schiegei, Nederl, Tijdschr. Dierk. iv. p. 38 (1871). — Meyer, Sitz. k. Akad. Wien, lxix. 
pt. i. pp. 211, 212 (1874)— Rosenb. Reistoeht. Geelvinksbai, p. 138, pi. xvi. fig. 2 (1875).— Salvad. 
Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, vii. p. 776 (1875). — Salvad. & D’Albert. tom. cit. p. 825 (1875). 
The genus Myzomela contains a number of species of small Honey-eaters, most of them attractive from the 
mixture of scarlet and black which forms their staple coloration, and spread over the Austro-Malayan, 
Australian, and Pacific subregions. Some few of them are dull-coloured; but most have a more or less 
brilliant plumage. Perhaps the most beautiful of all the Myzomela is the subject of the present article, 
which was discovered by Baron von Rosenberg in the North-western Province of New Guinea. It was 
subsequently obtained by Dr. A. B. Meyer during his sojourn in New Guinea in 1873, when it was procured 
by him near the village of Atam in the Arfak Mountains, at an elevation of about 3500 feet above the level 
of the sea; and since that time numerous specimens have been procured, by D’Albertis, Beccari, Bruijn, and 
other collectors, from the same district. It is probably to be found over the mountainous portions of the 
whole of New Guinea, as Signor D’ Albertis procured two mutilated skins from the natives of Mount Epa in 
the south-eastern part of the island. With this exception, however, all the known specimens of Myzomela 
rosenbergi are from the Arfak district. Nothing has been recorded about the habits or food of this bird. 
Doubtless, like other Myzomela;, it frequents flowering trees and shrubs for the sake of the nectar of the 
flowers and the insects attracted thereby. Nor are we yet quite certain as to its changes of plumage and 
sexual differences ; for Dr. Meyer states that, of the specimens killed by himself, the adult males and females 
are similar in colour, and he treats the bird described and figured here as the female as a young bird which 
has not yet attained its full plumage. I have, however, followed Count Salvadori in considering that the 
sexes are dissimilar, as, owing to the large scries at his disposal, consisting of forty specimens, his opinion 
on this point carries great weight. 
I am indebted to Mr. W. A. Forbes for the loan of several fine specimens, from which my drawings were 
made. This gentleman has lately been preparing a monographic revision of the genus Myzomela , which 
he intends to publish. He has also kindly supplied me with the following diagnosis of M. rosenbergi : — 
Adult male. The back, rump, and Upper tail-coverts, together with the neck and breast, shining scarlet, 
the feathers greyish at their bases ; the rest of the body, wings, and tail deep black, with a slight metallic 
lustre ; the quills shining blackish grey beneath ; bill black ; legs horn-colour. Length about 3 - 7 inches, 
culmen 0'G5, wing 25, tail T7, tarsus 0 55. 
Young male. General colour reddish brown, mostly so on the back and rump, and paler beneath ; the 
feathers blackish grey at the base, and the shaft lighter. This gives a streaked or flammulated appearance, 
most noticeable on the back, head, and chest. Wings and tail blackish brown, the greater and lesser wing- 
coverts tipped with pale chestnut ; the quills margined externally with pale olive-yellow, becoming pale 
chestnut on the innermost secondaries ; wings underneath grey, the quills with their inner margins white ; 
bill blackish ; feet horn-colour. 
Adult female (sex ascertained by Dr. Beccari). Resembles the young male above described ; but the 
forehead, breast, and rump are scarlet, the chin and throat blackish. This sex is also a trifle smaller than 
the male. 
