THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Shufeldt in the Emu, Vol. 'XIII., pp. 1-14, 1913, has given a short 
account of the osteology of the Red Wattle Bird ( Anthochcera carunculata) 
and has stated : “I would remark that the Australian genus of birds named 
Acanthorhynchus, which have been referred to the Meliphagidce, possess skeletal 
characters which, in the main, agree better with the corresponding ones in 
Arachnolhera than with any of the same characters as seen in the short-billed 
Meliphagidce ,” and added : “ After a careful comparison with additional 
material the fact is made clearer than ever that this bird at least belongs 
among the Nectariniidce, the entire structure of its skull and tongue pointing 
unmistakeably to this conclusion. 
Shufeldt had such scanty material that he could not determine the rela¬ 
tionships exactly of the few species he had, and I agree that Acanihorlujnchus 
is probably Nectariniid, but probably many other Honey-eaters such as some 
forms of Myzomela should be transferred with it. 
Here is a study that could be profitably undertaken by some of the younger 
Australian ornithologists, a review of the skulls or breastbones or even legs 
of a series of “ Honey-eaters,” young and old, and as many species as possible. 
Such a contribution would be of great value and very probably many novel 
items would be at once disclosed. 
y 
Key to the Species. 
No white eye-brow, throat faintly marked 
White eye-brow, throat distinctly marked 
A. tenuirostris 
A. superciliosus 
