THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
not those of Z. gouldi, our familar ‘ Greenie ’ of the south-west. But it was 
not until after arriving at Condon in the following October that I was able 
finally to identify the songster. When searching for nests of PachycepMa 
laniojdes in the sweltering mangrove thickets I often had the little Zosterops 
within a few feet of my head. It is by no means a timid species, and will pour 
forth a marvellous volume of song, heedless of the presence of an intruder. 
Its plumage harmonizes wonderfully with the green leaves and the patches of 
sunlight on the foliage of the mangroves. At a short distance, unless in 
motion, it is practically invisible, or only to be detected by the sharpest eye 
catching a glimpse of the white ring round the eyelid. I think I was between 
broods, for the only nest I could find, in spite of persistent efforts, was a much- 
battered one, from which the young had flown. I could see no difference in 
its structure from that of Z. gouldi . I had the greatest difficulty in obtaining 
two specimens of the parents themselves. I was lucky enough at last in 
observing a pair where the mangroves were low and open, and after some 
trouble got them both.” 
G. F. Hill recorded : “ Were seen in the mangroves from Derby north¬ 
wards, but they wore uncommon in all localities excepting on Hecla Island 
and the shores of Parry Harbour. The nesting season appears to be from 
the beginning of February to April.” 
McLennan’s notes, recorded by H. L. White, read: “ Mornington Island, 
Bickerton Island and Glyde River. Noted in the mangroves. King River. 
Often seen in mangroves along river. Liverpool River Island. Roted in 
the scrub. Roper River. Noted in the mangroves.” 
Under the name Zosterops gulliveri Macgillivray has written: Numerous 
in the mangroves along the Norman River. One pair was obtained on the 
Leichhardt River, and another pair near Normanton. Differs but little from 
Z. lutea.” 
I used Melville Island specimens as typical and note that the male and 
female seem to differ very appreciably hr coloration, only the adult male being 
‘ lutea ,’ the female (and immature) being of the ‘ gulliveri ’ and ‘ balstoni 
style, and island forms being more brilliant. 
The scientific history of this interesting form is comparatively brief and 
uneventful. Gould described the species from an island, and thirty years 
later Castelnau and Ramsay named: “Zosterops ( Tephras?) gulliveri. The 
general colour above is of a light ashy-brown, darker on the quills of the 
wings and tail, all the feathers washed with pale olive-yellow, which shows 
more conspicuously on the outer webs of the wing and tail-feathers; the 
fore-head and throat of a little brighter yellow; lores blackish, the whole of 
the under-surface and the under wing and tail-coverts very pale citron, with 
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