MYZOMELA ERYTHRINA , Ramsay,
New-Ireland Honey-sucker.
H I i erythrina, Ramsay, Pros. Linn. Snc. New South Wales, g p. 107 ( 1 877> - F o r b e s F ree . ZooL g
1879, p . 270.—Sclater, P roc. Znol. Soc. 1879, pp. 4 4 9 ,-S a lv a d . Ann. Mns. Civic. Genov, xvi. p . 72
C1880).—Id . Ora. Papuasia, etc. ii. p. 297 (18 8 1 ). R9Kj Q
M y em e la c o c c iL , Ramsay, P roc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales, u p . 100 (1 8 7 8 h -F o r b e s , R o c iggl H
y _ s . l™ t . A n n . Mns. Civic. Genov. xvi. p. 72 ( 1880} —™ IW Pannasm. etc. n . n. 296
XHE original specimen of this elegant little Honey-sacker came from New Ireland, where it was collected by
Mr. Cockerell, and, according to our judgment, is a young bird, probably a male. In the succeeding year
Mr. Ramsay described a second species from Duke-of-York Island as M. cocdnea and from an examination
o f t h e t y p e , w e h a v e little hesitation in saying that it is only the adult male o f bis M . erythnm. Inde d
Mr Ramsay tells ns that this was his first impression, but that the collectors insisted that the birds in the
two islands were always Constantin their colouring. We think, however, that there has been some mistake I %M . EH is closely allied to M. omentata I Meyer, from the Arfak Mountains but, as Count Sdvadori
has pointed out, it differs in the red colouring, which is more, crimson or rosy, and also — ¡ j j
darker red than the back. The bird from New Britain appears to us to belong to an undescribed species
which we propose to call Myacmela kldnschmidti, after the late well-known collector who discovered it.
closely resembies I erythrina. but differs in its dusky head and throat and in MBjjM— M
coverts and axillaries; these are smoky brown, washed with crimson, whereas is M. e rythnm they pale
earthy brown, with scarcely any tinge o f red.
The following is a description of the types of M. cocdnea and M . e rythnm respectively:
Adult male. General colour above crimson, rather glossy on the back; bead rather more dusky crimson
.than the back, as also the lores, sides efface, ear-coverts, and throat, becoming brighter crimson again on the
lower throat and remainder o f under surface o f body; under tail-coverts rosy ; wing-coverts and quills dusky
brown, narrowly edged with crimson, brighter on the margins of the quills ; centre tad-feathers du 1 crimson,
the rest brown, dull crimson along the outer web.; under wing-coverts and axillar.es pale earthy or asby
brown, with a very faint tinge o f red; quills dusky below, ashy white along the edge o f the inner web.
Total length 4 inches, culmen 0'6, wing 2-25,Hi tail 1-6, tarsus 0-55.. Much duller in colour than the male, being obscure rosy on the upper surface the feather
being brown washed with rosy; head a little brighter; wings and tail as in the adult, but edged with much duller
crimson; sides of bead like the crown; throat brighter crimson; the remainder of the under sur
earthy brown, washed with rosy, deepening into the latter colour on the under tad-coverts. Total length
3 -4 inches, culmen 0-55, wing 1*9, tail 1‘4, tarsus 0-55.
The figures in the Plate represent the two birds lent to me by Mr. Ramsay, the adult being the type of
his M. cocdnea. and the young being the type of his M. erythnm. They are represented of the size of life.