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STIGMATOPS KEBIRENSIS, Meyer.

Kebir Scaly-throated Honey-eater.

Stigmatops kebirensis, Meyer, in Madarasz, Zeitschr. ges. Orn. i. p. 218 (1884).

 

Tuts species has lately been described by Dr. Meyer from specimens sent to him by Mr. Riedel, and we
have thought it advisable to give a figure of it in the present work.

As might be expected, it is very closely allied to Stigmatops squamata from the neighbouring group of
islands ; and it is somewhat remarkable that any difference should be found in specimens from adjacent
islands like Kebir and Timor Laut, when examples from the latter island-group are not to be distinguished
from others collected in the island of Choor, which is much farther distant from Timor Laut than Kebir.

The adult Stgmatops kebirensis is a much greyer bird than S. sqguamata, especially on the wings.
Underneath, the squamations or mottlings of the plumage are confined to the lower throat and chest, not
extending nearly so far down the breast. Beyond this we cannot perceive any differences, and the distinctive
characters must be admitted to be very slight.

The pair sent by Dr. Meyer measure as follows :—

oe: Culmen. Wing. Tail Darsus:
(ame NGeeisebin (iirede)). «ww SC OD 0-75 2°95 2°3 0-80
ereluveisebin(hiede)). 5. . . 00 0-+0 2°90 2°4 0-75

The second specimen, which, in spite of some of its larger dimensions, we take to be a somewhat younger
bird, is greener than the type, especially on the wings and sides of the body, but it preserves the more
restricted mottling on the breast which distinguishes the species from Sfgmatops squamata.

The Plate represents an adult and a somewhat younger bird, of the size of life. The figures are drawn
from the pair of birds described above and lent to us by Dr. Meyer.

[R. B. S.J