M YZUMELA CRUEN T A T A, Meyer. 
Red-tinted Honey-eater. 
Myzomela cruentata, Meyer, Sitzungsber. d. k.-k. Acad. d. W. zu Wien, 16. Juli 1874, vol. lxx. p. 202. 
Dr. Meyer has been good enough to send me the type of his Myzomela cruentata, a charming little bird which 
he procured in New Guinea. That this country should have contained an undescribed species of this well- 
defined genus is not surprising, considering that at least ten others frequent the adjacent Papuan Islands, 
Australia, New Caledonia, Samoa, &c. &c. M. cruentata is closely allied to the Meliphagidae, or, more 
appropriately speaking, a part of these honey-feeding birds, a little genus which frequents the flowering 
trees of the forest, particularly the acacias and Eucalypti. Sprightly in all their actions, they display their 
fine colours to the greatest advantage, their prevailing tints often contrasting with the blossoms of the trees 
upon which they subsist. Their principal food is honey and insects, which their little brush tongues facilitate 
their gathering. That Myzomela cruentata is a very rare species is evidenced by only one specimen being 
found ; and, for my own part, I have never seen a second. 
As Dr. Meyer has favoured me with a short note respecting this new species, I have the pleasure of 
inserting it here. He says: — “ Myzomela cruentata is distinguished from M. sanguinolenta , Gould, * Birds 
of Australia,’ vol. iv. pi. 63, by the red colour predominating everywhere ; besides, the latter has the lores 
black, and the tail and wings do not possess any red tint, whilst in cruentata the parts when closed appear 
quite red, although somewhat less intense on the back and under surface ; furthermore the whole of the 
underparts are intense red, while in sanguinolenta they are brownish yellow. The figure of Certhia 
cardiualis, Aud. and Vieill. Ois. Dor. ii. t. 58, shows the under surface to be quite red, and agrees in this 
respect with M. cruentata ; but the wings, tail, and region of the eyes are decidedly deep black. 
Male. — “ Red, especially on the head, back, and uropygium. Primaries and secondaries dusky black, 
with red margins ; the tertiaries, as well as the upper wing-coverts, deeply tinged with red ; underside of 
wings grey ; base of the inner webs whitish ; middle tail-feathers rufous ; under surface of the tail grey 
with a reddish tinge ; outer webs of the rectrices broadly margined with the same colour. Bill, feet, and 
claws black. Total length 105 millims., wings 58, tail 42, bill from the front 14.” 
Hob. Arfak Mountains, New Guinea. 
The fi gures in the accompanying Plate are of the natural size. 
