ZOSTEROPS DORSALI S, Vig. and Florsy. 
Grey-backed Zosterops. 
Certhia cerulescens, Lath, Ind. Orn. Supp., p. xxviii. 
L Heorotaire blew, Vieill. Ois. dor., tom, ii, p. 121, pl. 832 
Bluish-breasted Creeper, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 244. 
Cerulean Creeper, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 188. 
Cerulean Honey-eater, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p, 204. 
Sylvia lateralis, Lath. Ind, Orn. Supp.. p. lv. 
Rusty-side Warbler, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 250.—Shaw Gen. Zool., vol. &. p. 659.—Lath. Gen. 
vol, vii. p. 140, 
Certhia diluta, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 244. 
Philedon ceruleus, Cuv. 
Meliphaga cerulea, Steph. Cont. of Shaw's Gen. Zool., yol. xiv. p. 264, 
Sylvia annulosa, var. 8, Swains. Zool. Til, 1st Ser., pl. 16, 
Zosterops dorsalis, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Traus., yol. xy. p. 235. 
White-eye, Colonists of New South Wales. 
Hlist.. 
Tuts bird 1s stationary in all parts of Van Diemen’s Land, New South Wales and South Australia, anc ts 
tore numerous than any other bird inhabitmg those countries ; where it is not only to be met with in the 
forests and thickets, but also in nearly every garden, by the proprietors of which it is regarded more as a pest 
than, as one would suppose, a welcome visitor; no one of the birds of the country effecting greater damage 
to the buds and fruits of every kind, It even builds its nest and rears its young in the shrubs and rose-trees 
bordering the walks, T observed several nests in such situations in the garden of the Goyernment House at 
New Norfolk, Van Diemen’s Land. Among the trees of the forest the beautiful tea-tree (leptospermum ?) is 
the one to which at all times this species evinces a great partiality. Were it not for its destructive propensiti¢s, 
the Grey-backed Zosterops must from its familiar disposition and pretty lively song be a very general favourite. 
Its flight is quick and darting, and when among the branches of the trees if 1s as active as most birds, 
prying and searching with the most scrutinizing care into the leaves and flowers for the insects, upon which 
+t feeds. It is sometimes seen singly or in pairs, while at others it is to be observed im great numbers, on the 
same or neizhbouring trees. The southern and eastern portions of Australia, and the islands adjacent, are 
its true habitat ; and the two succeeding plates will show how beautifully it is represented by allied species in 
other parts of the country. | 
The breeding-season commences in September and continues to January. The nest is ove of the neatest 
structures possible ; it 1s of a round deep cup-shaped form, composed of fine grasses, moss and wool, and 
most carefully lined with fibrous roots and grasses. The eggs are usually three in number, of a beautiful 
uniform pale blue, eight and a half lines loug by six lines broad, 
The sexes present no difference of plumage. 
On examining the ‘“ Collection of Australian Drawings,” formerly belonging to the lute A. B. Lam- 
bert, Esq., and. now in the possession of the Earl of Derby, mvp kindly forwarded them to me for the 
purposes of the present work, I find that this species was long since described by Latham, under the names 
above quoted ; 1m neither of his deseriptions, however, does he mention the Shite ring around the eye, 
which forms so conspicuous a feature in the appearance of the bird, the went of which would have precluded 
the possibility of my believing them to be identical, had not the Sreytas named by Latham’s si re 
proved such to be the case: the species should therefore stand as Zosterops caerulescens, although - lateralis 
would certainly be more appropriate : unfortunately this fact did not come to my knowledge ee riley the 
Plate had been named, and the requisite number of impressions struck off. Latham refers to the S$3rd Plate of 
the « Oiseaux Dorées,” as identical with his cwrulescens, but of this as I have indicated above I am doubttul. 
Crown of the head, wings and tail olive ; back dark grey, eyes surrounded hy a mone of white feathers, 
bounded in front and below with black; throat, centre of the abdomen, and under tail-coyerts greyish white 
with a slight tinge of olive; flanks light chestnut browns upper mandible dark brown, under mandible 
‘chtor: irides and fect greyish brown. } :, 
pct ae: aie the throat and sides of the head are wax-yellow, and the flanks are only stained with 
chestnut brown, 
The Plate represents the 
Diemen’s Land. 
male, female and nest of the natural size, on a branch of the tea-tree of Vau 
' 
