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MYZOMELA CRUENTAT A, Meyer.

Red-tinted Honey-eater.

209

Vyzomela cruentata, Meye 5 nunesber. ¢ AC c 1 (lo W l W > 16 J O 4 V . )
Ss Acad. . 8
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Dr. Meyer es geen good enough to send me the type of his Myzomela cruentata, acharming little bird which
he procured in New Guinea. That this country should have contained an undescribed species of this well-
defined genus is not surprising, considering that at least ten others frequent the adjacent Papuan Islands,
Australia, New Caledonia, Samoa, &c. &c. MM. cruentata is closely allied to the Meliphagide, or, more
appropriately speaking, a part of these honey-feeding birds, a little genus which frequents the flowering
trees of the forest, particularly the acacias and Lucalypti. Sprightly in all their actions, they display their
fine colours to the greatest advantage, their prevailing tints often contrasting with the blossoms of the trees
upon which they subsist. Their principal food is honey and insects, which their little brush tongues facilitate
their gathering. That Myzomela cruentata is a very rare species is evidenced by only one specimen being
found; and, for my own part, I have never seen a second.

As Dr. Meyer has favoured me with a short note respecting this new species, I have the pleasure of
inserting it here. He says:—‘‘ Myzomela cruentata is distinguished from M. sanguinolenta, Gould, ‘ Birds
of Australia,’ vol. iv. pl. 63, by the red colour predominating everywhere ; besides, the latter has the Jores
black, and the tail and wings do not possess any red tint, whilst in crwentata the parts when closed appear
quite red, although somewhat less intense on the back and under surface ; furthermore the whole of the
n sanguinolenta they are brownish yellow. The figure of Certhia

underparts are intense red, while
cardinalis, Aud. and Vieill. Ois. Dor. ii. t. 58, shows the under surface to be quite red, and agrees in this
respect with JZ cruentata; but the wings, tail, and region of the eyes are decidedly deep black.

Male.— Red, especially on the head, back, and uropygium. Primaries and secondaries dusky black,
with red margins; the tertiaries, as well as the upper wing-coverts, deeply tinged with red; underside of
| f the inner webs whitish ; middle tail-feathers rufous; under surface of the tail grey

wings grey; base 0
ctrices broadly margined with the same colour. Bill, feet, and

with a reddish tinge ; outer webs of the re
claws black. Total length 105 millims., wings 58, tail 42, bill from the front 14.”
Hab. Arfak Mountains, New Guinea.
The figures in the accompanying Plate are of the natural size.