M M OM E X A MEXÄMißCMEflMA, R am say.
MYZOMELA MELANOCEPHALA.
Black-headed Honey-sucker.
Cinnyris (?) dulia, Ramsay (nec Bechst.), Proc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales, iv. p. 83 (1879).—Reichen. J. f. 0 .
1879, p. 430.—Salvad. Ibis, 1 8 8 0 , p. 129.
Cinnyris melanocephalus, Ramsay, N a tu r e , 1879, p . 125.—Reichen, t. e. p. 101.
Hermotimia melanocephala, Layard, Ibis, 1880, p . 306.
Cyrtostomus melanocephalus, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov, xvi. p. 66 (1880),—Id. Orn. Papuasia, etc.
ii. p. 269 (1881).
So peculiar is the coloration o f this bird that it is scarcely surprising that some difficulty should have been
experienced in finding its natural position. Mr. Ramsay doubted whether it was a true Suu-bird and called
it Cinnyris ? dubia, and he afterwards changed the specific name to melanocephala. He also expressed an
opinion that the species might belong to the family Meliphagidce; but Count Salvador*! considers it to be a
true Sun-bird and has placed it in the subgenus Cyrtostomus.
On receiving the type specimen from Mr. Ramsay, we showed it to Captain Shelley, who has written such
an excellent ‘ Monograph ’ o f the Nectariniidoe, and, after careful consultation, we both agreed that it is in all
probability a Meliphagine bird. We say this with all caution, as the question is a difficult one; but we
notice that in Sun-birds the nostril is rounded off anteriorly, whereas in the MeliphagidiB the anterior edge of
the nostril vanishes gradually into the upper mandible, and this character is apparently accompanied by the
brush tongue. We shall therefore expect to find that the present species has the last-named peculiarity.
In plumage this bird is not unlike some African Sun-birds, and again resembles some of the Spider-hunters
(Arachnothera) . In the genus Myzomela it is singularly out o f place as regards it colouring* but appears to
belong structurally , to this genus.
The following description is taken from the typical specimen, which came from Savo in the Solomon
Archipelago, and has been lent to us by Mr. E. P. Ramsay : ^ \C ]
Adult male. General colour above olive-yellow, with a slight appearance of brighter yellow on the mantle;
upper tail-coverts dusky brown, edged with the same olive-yellow as the back; wing-coverts and quills
dusky brown, narrowly edged with olive-yellow, brighter on the primaries ; bastard wing and primary-coverts
uniform blackish brown ; tail-feathers black, with narrow margins o f olive-yellow; crown o f head as far as
the occiput glossy black; the nape and the sides of the hinder crown olive-yellow, but duller and rather
greener than the back ; lores, feathers above and behind the eye, cheeks, ear-coverts, sides of face, and throat
black like the head, with a slight metallic g lo ss; remainder of under surface o f body dull olive-yellowish,
clearer olive-yellow on the fore neck, chest, and sides of heck ; breast-feathers mixed with ashy, the bases
being o f this colour; under tail-coverts ashy brown, edged with olive-yellow ; axillary tufts pale olive-yellow,
with white bases; under wing-coverts white, those near the edge o f the wing blackish, edged with olive-
yellow; quills dusky blackish below, white along the edge of the inner web. Total length 4 ’5 inches,
culmen 0 -85, wing 2 ‘6, tail l -9, tarsus 0 '7.
Another specimen, apparently younger, has a pale reddish tint on the lower back and rump, as well as on
the margin o f the wing-coverts, the thighs and under tail-coverts being likewise washed with this colour;
the black on the head and throat is also less clearly defined. Total length 4'2 inches, wing 2 -5, tail 1‘65,
tarsus 0-7.
The figures in the Plate are drawn o f the size o f life, and represent the adult male, lent to me by
Mr. Ramsay, in two positions. [R- B. S.]