ZOSTEROPS REMJDO’&E» Tristram. '
ZOSTEROPS RENDOViE, Tristr.
Rendova White-eye.
Tephras olivácea, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W a le s ,v i, p. 180 (1881, nec Zosterops olivácea (L .) ).
Zosterops ramsayi, Salvad. Ann. Mils. Civic, Genov, xviii. p. 425 (nec Masters).
Zoslerops rendmx, T ristram, Ibis, 1882, p . 135 —Salvad. Orn. Papuasia e delle Molucche, iii. p . 546 (18 8 2 ).—
Ramsay, P roc. L inn. Soc. N . S, Wales, vii. p . 42 (1 883).—Sharpe, Cat. Birds in B rit. Mus. ix. p. 188
(1884).
T h e genus Zoslerops contains several species which have not the white eyelid upon wliM the trivial name
o f “ White-eye ” is founded, and the present bird belongs to the section in which this peculiar character is
not developed. All such species are.at least subgenerically distinct from Zosterops, and in that case the
genus Tephras might well be employed, as has been done by Mr. Ramsay in the present instance.
The original specimen was procured by Lieut. Richards in the Island of Rendova in the Solomon
Archipellflllaiici was described by Mr. Ramsay as Tephras olwacea. Count Salvadori, considering that
Tephras was congeneric with Zosterops, gave to the Rendova species the name of Zosterops ramsayi, as there
was already a Zosterops olxmcea o f Linnmus, from the Island o f Reunion. Mr. Masters had, however,
previously bestowed Mr. Ramsay’s name on a species of the genus, and therefore the bird must he called
Zosterops rendome, which title was given to the identical specimen procured by Lieut. Richards when it
cameiipto Canon Tristram’s hands in England, and the latter author recognized at the same time that the
name Z. olwacea was pre-occupied in ornithology.
We have copied the description of the type specimen given in our ‘ Catalogue of Birds ’
“ General colour above uniform olive-yellow, a little brighter across the rump ; wing-coverts like the back,
a little yellower on the median and greater coverts p bastard-wing feathers dusky, washed with oliv e;
primary-eoverts and quills blackish, externally olive-yellow, brighter on the edge o f the primaries; upper
tail-coverts olive-yellow ; tail-feathers blackish, washed with olive-green near the base; crown o f head and
lores like the back ; no ring of white feathers round the eye ; in front of the eye a dusky spot; ear-coverts,
cheeks, and throat olive-yellow, scarcely brighter than the upper surface; fore neck, breast, and abdomen
bright yellow, greener on the sides o f the body and flanks; thighs and under tail-coverts bright yellow;
under wing-coverts and axillaries white, washed with bright yellow; quills below dusky; inner edge of
quills ashy white tinged with yellow, Total length 4-6 inches, culmen 1-65, wing 2-55, tail 1-8, tarsus 0 7 .”
The Plate gives two representations of this species, o f the natural size, the figures being drawn from the
typical example lent to us by Canon Tristram,
[R. B. S.]