ZOSTEROPS RENDOV MK, Tristr.

Rendova White-eye.

Tephras olivacea, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, vi. p- 180 (1881, nee Zosterops olivacea ip)
Zosterops ramsayi, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov. xviii. p. 425 (nec Masters).

Zosterops rendove, Tristram, Ibis, 1882, p. 135.—Salvad. Orn. Papuasia e delle Molucche, iii. p. 546 (1882).—
Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, vii. p. 42 (1883).—Sharpe, Cat. Birds in Brit. Mus. ix. p. 188
(1884).

 

Tue genus Zosterops contains several species which have not the white eyelid upon which the trivial name
of “‘ White-eye”’ is founded, and the present bird belongs to the section in which this peculiar character is
not developed. All such species are at least subgenerically distinct from Zosterops, and in that case the
genus Tephras might well be employed, as has been done by Mr. Ramsay in the present instance.

The original specimen was procured by Lieut. Richards in the Island of Rendova in the Solomon
Archipelago, and was described by Mr. Ramsay as Tephras olivacea. Count Salvadori, considering that
Tephras was congeneric with Zosterops, gave to the Rendova species the name of Zosterops ramsayi, as there
was already a Zosterops olivacea of Linneus, from the Island of Réunion. Mr. Masters had, however,
previously bestowed Mr. Ramsay’s name on a species of the genus, and therefore the bird must be called
Zosterops rendove, which title was given to the identical specimen procured by Lieut. Richards when it
came into Canon Tristram’s hands in England, and the latter author recognized at the same time that the
name Z. olivacea was pre-occupied in ornithology.

We have copied the description of the type specimen given in our ‘ Catalogue of Birds’ :—

“General colour above uniform olive-yellow, a little brighter across the ramp; wing-coverts like the back,
a little yellower on the median and greater coverts; bastard-wing feathers dusky, washed with olive ;
primary-coverts and quills blackish, externally olive-yellow, brighter on the edge of the primaries; upper
tail-coverts olive-yellow ; tail-feathers blackish, washed with olive-green near the base; crown of head and
lores like the back ; no ring of white feathers round the eye ; in front of the eye a dusky spot; ear-coverts,
cheeks, and throat olive-yellow, scarcely brighter than the upper surface; fore neck, breast, and abdomen
bright yellow, greener on the sides of the body and flanks; thighs and ae tail-coverts bright yellow 5
under wing-coyerts and axillaries white, washed with bright yellow ; au bee eae inner edge af
quills ashy white tinged with yellow. Total length 4-6 inches, enim 1°65, wing 2°55, tail 1:8, ee O%.

The Plate gives two representations of this species, of the natural size, the figures being drawn from the
typical example lent to us by Canon Tristram.

[R. B. S.J