ZOSTEROPS DELICATULA, Sharpe.
Grey-sided White-eye.

Zosterops delicatula, Sharpe, Journ. Linn. Soc., Zool. xvi. pp. 318, 440 (1882).

 

Turs pretty little species belongs to the division of the genus Zosterops in which the species have a parti-
coloured under surface with the throat and the under tail-coverts yellow. It would appear to be very similar
to Zosterops frontalis of Salvadori; but in the description of the latter species given by that author in bis
‘ Ornitologia della Papuasia,’ vol. ii. p. 368, there is no mention of the grey on the sides of the breast and
fore neck, the breast and abdomen being described as white. It will remain therefore for some future
comparison of Z. delicatula with Z. frontalis to determine whether the two birds are absolutely identical as
species. There would be nothing surprising if this should turn out to be the case, as there are many instances
of the same species occurring in the Aru Islands and in South-eastern New Guinea.

As far as our knowledge goes at present, Z. delicatula is only known from the Astrolabe range of moun-
tains, whence several specimens were forwarded by Mr. Goldie.

The following is a description of a specimen kindly lent to me by Mr. Edward Gerrard, jun. :—

“© Adult. General colour yellowish green, brighter aud clearer yellow on the rump and upper tail-coverts ;
wing-coverts like the back ; bastard-wing feathers black; primary-coverts and quills black, externally
yellowish green, brighter on the primaries, which are narrowly edged with this colour ; the secondaries more
broadly margined with the same colour as the back, the innermost secondaries being entirely of the latter
colour; tail-feathers blackish, edged with yellowish green near the base; crown of head like the back ;
forehead black, extending as far as above the middle of the eye; lores and feathers below the eye also black,
as well as the fore part of the cheeks and a narrow line skirting: the rami of the lower jaws to the base of
the chin; round the eye a band of silky white feathers ; ear-coverts and hinder cheeks dark green; throat
bright yellow ; remainder of under surface white with a delicate tinge of ashy grey, extending from the sides
of the fore neck down the sides of the breast ; thighs white washed with yellow; under tail-coverts bright
yellow; under wing-coverts and axillaries white slightly washed with yellow ; quills ey below, ashy along
five inner web. Total length 38 inches, culmen 0°49, wing 2°3, tail 1:5, tarsus 0:65.”

The figures in the Plate represent an adult bird in two positions.

[R. B. S.J

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