(EDISTOMA PYGM AIUM, Satvad.

Pigmy Honey-eater.

(Edistoma pygmeum, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov. vii. p. 952 (1875).—Id. op. cit. xvi. p. 74 (1880).—-Id. Orn.
Papuasia e delle Molucche, u. p. 312 (1881).—Gadow, Cat. Birds in Brit. Mus. ix. p. 293 (1884).

 

For an opportunity of figuring this curious little bird we are indebted to the kindness of the Marquis Doria,
who was so good as to send us one of the typical specimens from the Genoa Museum. Its small size,
slender bill, and sober colouring recall the species of Melilestes, and, as in the latter genus, Gdistoma has
very pronounced silky tufts on the flanks. Count Salvadori considers Gdstoma to be very nearly allied to
Melilestes, but to be distinguished principally by the form of the bill; and this will be easily discernible on
a comparison of the Plates given in the present work. We agree with him that the genera Mellestes and
CGidistoma, along with Glycichera, form a natural section of the Meliphagide, though they show a certain
connection with the Sun-birds of the genera Arachnothera and Anthothreptes.

This species, as far as is known, is confined to the Arfak Mountains in North-western New Guinea.

The following description is taken from the typical specimen belonging to the Genoa Museum :-—

Adult female, General colour above dark olive-green, slightly greyer on the head and more distinctly
yellowish towards the rump, the feathers of which are long and silky and completely hide the upper
tail-coverts ; wing-coverts below the back, bastard-wing, primary-coverts, and quills ashy brown, edged
with ashy, the secondaries with olive-yellow, lighter than the back; centre tail-feathers olive-green, the
remainder dusky edged with olive-greenish ; in front of the eyes a dusky spot 5 eyelid whitish ; sides of face
and ear-coverts pale ashy, whiter below the eye; throat whitish, with a slight ereenish tinge 5 remainder of
under surface pale sulphur-yellow, olive on the fore neck and chest, yellowish white on the centre of the
breast and abdomen; axillaries pale sulphur-yellow like the sides of the body; quills dusky below, ashy
along the inner web: “ bill dusky, the base of the lower mandible dusky below ; feet lead-colour ” (Beccar?).
Total length 2°8 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 1:9, tail 0°8, tarsus 0:5.

The male, according to Count Salvadori, does not differ from the female in colour.

The figures in the Plate represent an adult bird in two positions, drawn from the typical specimen lent to
us by the Marquis Doria.

[R. B. S.J