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Show 272 MR. W. A. FORBES ON THE GENUS MYZOMELA. [Mar. 4, and founded on a mistake of Dr. Graffe. It is apparently rather a bird in the Samoan group, occurring both on Savaii and Upolu. 21. MYZOMELA CARDINALIS. Cardinal Creeper, Lath. Gen. Syn. i. pt. 2, p. 733, pi. 33. f. 2 (1782). Certhia cardinalis, G m . S. N. i. p. 472 (1788) ; Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 290 (1790). Cardinal Honey-eater, Lath. Nat. Hist. iv. p. 199, pi. 71. f. 2 (1822). Myzomela cardinalis, Gray, B. Trop. Isl. p. 10 (1859) ; Tristram, Ibis, 1876, p. 261. Myzomela melanoyastra, Bp. C. R. xxxviii. p. 263 (1854), Ad. capite, dorso uropygioque cum pectore superiore coccineis, plumis ad basin nigris; macula anteoculari, alis caudaque nigris, his nitore nonnullo metallico ; corpore subtus fuliginoso-nigro remigum margine interna albida; rostro pedibusque nigris. Long. al. 2*9, caud. 2 1 , rostr. '7, tars. *75 (poll. Angl.). Jr. Myz. nigriventri similis, sed supra magis brunnea, et subtus dilutior; dorso uropygioque castaneo-brunneis, nee rubris. Hab. in Novis Hebridibus. This Honey-eater, one of the few of this genus known to the older authors, is very nearly allied to M. nigriventris of the Samoan group, which it replaces in the New Hebrides. The adult bird (I agree with Messrs. Hartlaub and Finsch in considering that in this section of the group the sexes are nearly similar) is distinguished from M. nigriventris by the scarlet of the upper parts and chest being duller, and extending not quite so far down on the chest. The black of the lower parts is less intense, being tinged with brownish; the white margin to the remiges internally is more distinct; and the bill is stouter. It is also a slightly larger bird. The young bird is paler and browner above (not so much dark brown as greyish brown), and paler and yellower below ; the rump and back are washed with chestnut-brown. Judging from the series of specimens I have seen, the red colour in this species seems to appear first on the head, and not on the back as in M. nigriventris. The remiges, as usual in the young of this genus, are externally lined with olive-yellow. From M. lifuensis this species may be distinguished by its larger size and by the red extending on to the breast. Latham's description and figure clearly apply to this bird, not to M. lifuensis. The irides are marked " black " or " dark brown." Latham describes this bird from the island of Tanna, where, he says, it is called " Kuyameta " and is common, sucking the juices of flowers; and I have seen specimens collected on that island by Mr. Layard. There are specimens in the British Museum from Erromango and Aneiteum (Cuming); and Canon Tristram has received it from the latter island, as well as from Tanna and Aniwa. It thus seems to be confined rather to the southern portion of the New- Hebridean archipelago, being replaced in the north by M. caledonica 1 and M. chermesina. |