MYZOMELA ROSE NBERGL, Sehieges

Von R osenberg’s Honey-eater.

Myzomela rosenbergit, Schlegel, Nederl. Tijdschr. Dierk. iy, p. 38 (1871).—Meyer, Sitz. k. Akad. Wien, lxix
pt. 1. pp. 211, 212 (1874).—Rosenb, Reistocht. Geelvinksbai, p. 138, pl. xvi. fig. 2 (1875).—Salvad.
A Mine. Caste (Ale ee Pl eye a

Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov. vii. Pp. 776 (1875).—Salvad. & D’Albert. tom. cit. p. 825 (1875).

Tue genus A/yzomela contains a number of species of small Honey-eaters, most of them attractive from the
mixture of scarlet and black which forms their staple coloration, and spread over the Austro-Malayan,
Australian, and Pacific subregions. Some few of them are dull-coloured; but most have a more oaleee
brilliant plumage. Perhaps the most beautiful of all the Myzomele is the subject of the present article,
which was discovered by Baron von Rosenberg in the North-western Province of New Guinea. It was
subsequently obtained by Dr. A. B. Meyer during his sojourn in New Guinea in 1873, when it was procured
by him near the village of Atam in the Arfak Mountains, at an elevation of about 3500 feet above the level
of the sea; and since that time numerous specimens have been procured, by D’Albertis, Beccari, Bruijn, and
other collectors, from the same district. It js probably to be found over the mountainous portions of the
whole of New Guinea, as Signor D’ Albertis procured two mutilated skins from the natives of Mount Epa in
the south-eastern part of the island. With this exception, however, all the known specimens of Myzomela
rosenbergi are from the Arfak district. Nothing has been recorded about the habits or food of this bird.
Doubtless, like other J/yzomele, it frequents flowering trees and shrubs for the sake of the nectar of the
flowers and the insects attracted thereby. Nor are we yet quite certain as to its changes of plumage and
sexual differences ; for Dr. Meyer states that, of the specimens killed by himself, the adult males and females
are similar in colour, and he treats the bird described and figured here as the female as a young bird which
has not yet attained its full plumage. I have, however, followed Count Salvadori in considering that the
sexes Bre dissimilar, as, owing to the large series at his disposal, consisting of forty specimens, his opinion
on this point carries great weight. . ;

I am indebted to Mr. W. A. Forbes for the loan of several fine specimens, from which my drawings were
made. This gentleman has lately been preparing a monographic coe a the ae ee pod
he intends to publish. He has also kindly supplied me with the Se diagnosis of MW. ee an

Adult male. The back, rump, and upper tail-coverts, together with the neck and ee s He i
the feathers greyish at their bases; the rest of the body, wings, and tail deep black, with a slight metallic

i i ack; legs horn-c r. Length about 3:7 inches
lustre ; the quills shining blackish grey beneath ; bill black; legs horn-colour. Length < ;
ge ’ 2 Oo re @

culmen 0°65, wing 2°5, tail 1:7, tarsus 0:55.
Young male. General colour reddish brown,
athers blackish grey ; » base, and the shaft lighter.
page Sacisish grey af the base, ne ail blackish brown, the greater and lesser wing-
st. Wines and tail blackish brown, g g
most noticeable on the back, head, and chest. ings and té | es
| juills mareined externally with pale olive-yellow, becoming pale
i 7 | io 7 = need as a
lls with their inner margins white ;

mostly so on the back and rump, and paler beneath; the
This gives a streaked or flammulated appearance,
s give

coverts tipped with pale chestnut ; the « | oe
7 Say Ne To iy orey »
chestnut on the innermost secondaries; wings underneath grey, ]
bill blackish ; feet horn-colour.
t ( ‘tained by Dr. Beccar!).
Adult female (sex ascertained by Dr. Beccar1) en
shin ¢ rOat DiaCKiISH.
forehead, breast, and rump are scarlet, the chin and thro«
” >

: s ahove desenbedes bimene
Resembles the young male above desenwece
This sex is also a trifle smaller than

the male.