(EDISTOMA PYGM^EUM, Salvad. 
Pigmy Honey-eater. 
CE distoma pygmeeum, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, vii. p. 952 (1875). — Id. op. cit. xvi. p. 74 (1880). — Id. Orn. 
Papuasia e delle Molucche, ii. p. 312 (1881). — Gadow, Cat. Birds in Brit. Mus. ix. p. 293 (1884). 
For an opportunity of figuring this curious little bird we are indebted to the kindness of the Marquis Doria, 
who was so good as to send us one of the typical specimens from the Genoa Museum. Its small size, 
slender bill, and sober colouring recall the species of Melilestes, and, as in the latter genus, (Edistoma has 
very pronounced silky tufts on the flanks. Count Salvadori considers (Edistoma to be very nearly allied to 
Melilestes, but to be distinguished principally by the form of the bill ; and this will be easily discernible on 
a comparison of the Plates given in the present work. We agree with him that the genera Melilestes and 
(Edistoma, along with Ghjcichccru, form a natural section of the Meliphagklce, though they show a certain 
connection with the Sun-birds of the genera Arachnothera and Anthothreptes. 
This species, as far as is known, is confined to the Arfak Mountains in North-western New Guinea. 
The following description is taken from the typical specimen belonging to the Genoa Museum : — 
Adult female. General colour above dark olive-green, slightly greyer on the head and more distinctly 
yellowish towards the rump, the feathers of which are long and silky and completely hide the upper 
tail-coverts ; wing-coverts below the back, bastard-wing, primary-coverts, and quills ashy brown, edged 
with ashy, the secondaries with olive-yellow, lighter than the back ; centre tail-feathers olive-green, the 
remainder dusky edged with olive-greenish; in front of the eyes a dusky spot ; eyelid whitish; sides of face 
and ear-coverts pale ashy, whiter below the eye ; throat whitish, with a slight greenish tinge ; remainder of 
under surface pale sulphur-yellow, olive on the fore neck and chest, yellowish white on the centre of the 
breast and abdomen ; auxiliaries pale sulphur-yellow like the sides of the body ; quills dusky below, ashy 
along the inner web: “bill dusky, the base of the lower mandible dusky below; feet lead-colour” ( Beccari ). 
Total length 2‘8 inches, culmen 0 - 5, wing T9, tail 0'8, tarsus 0 5. 
The male, according to Count Salvadori, does not differ from the female in colour. 
The figures in the Plate represent an adult bird in two positions, drawn from the typical specimen lent to 
us by the Marquis Doria. 
