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Show 1879.] DUKE-OF-YORK ISLAND. 449 internis albis; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long, tota 5*2*8, caudee 2*4, tarsi 08, rostri a rictu (lin. dir.) 1*05. Hab. Nova Britannia (Brown). A single male example of this apparently distinct Myzomela was obtained by Mr. Brown in New Britain in May 1878. The species may be placed best, I think, in Mr. Forbes's section A. <3. a (antea, p. 268), following 31. nigrita and M. pammeleena. 7. MYZOMELA ERYTHRINA, Ramsay, Pr. L. S. N. S. W. ii. p. 107 (?). A single specimen of a Myzomela, obtained in New Ireland in September 1878, appears to agree best in dimensions with M. coccinea of Ramsay, thougb in colouring perhaps rather coinciding with M. erythrina, described in the same paper. Mr. Ramsay himself confesses his doubts as to whether these supposed species are really different; but I will adopt the latter name, as the locality coincides. Prof. Salvadori has been kind enough to compare this specimen with his example of M. cruentata, Meyer1, of New Guinea, with which Mr. Forbes (antea, p. 280) thought Mr. Ramsay's species might prove identical. But Prof. Salvadori tells me the present bird is "positively different" from M. cruentata, being a "larger bird with a stouter bill, and of a very different red." 9. DONACICOLA2 SPECTABILIS, sp. nov. (Plate XXXVII. fig. 2.) Brunnea; pileo, nucha et capitis lateribus nigris; tectricibus caudee superioribus et rectricum mediarum marginibus pallide castaneis ; subtus alba; gula, ventre imoet crisso cum femoribus nigris; subalaribus ochraceo-albis; rostro et pedibus Long, tota 3 4, alee 1*8, caudee 1*2. Hab. Nova Britannia (Brown). This Finch, of which there is a single skin in the present collection, is perhaps not very far from Donacolaflaviprymna, Gould, B. Austr. iii. pi. 96, but is immediately recognizable by its black head and neck. 10. MUNIA FORBESI, sp. nov. (Plate XXXVII. fig. 3.) Testaceo-rufa, subtus paulo dilutior; capite undique cum hypochondriis et ventre imo cum femoribus et caudee tectricibus productis nigris; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long, tota 4, 2, caudee acuminatee 1*5 ,* rostro crassiusculo. Hab. Nova Hibernia (Brown). A single example of this Finch, obtained in the Topaia district of New Ireland in September 1878, is in the collection. It is a rather thick-billed species, belonging to the group of M. malacca. I propose to name it in compliment to Mr. W. A. Forbes, F.Z.S., who has paid much attention to the Ploceidse, and will, I hope, some day give Us a monograph of them. 1 Sitzungsb. Ak. Wien, lxx. p. 202. 2 Emend, ex Donacola, Gould, P. Z. S. 1845, p. 80. PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1879, No. XXIX. 29 |