PTILOTIS VERSICOLOR, Gould.
Varied Honey-eater.
Ptilotis versicolor, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 136.
This fine species, which is a native of the northern portion of Australia, is only known to me from a specimen contained in a collection from that part of the country. That its whole habits and economy will hereafter be found to assimilate most closely to those of the Ptilotis sonorus is certain, as it is most intimately allied to that species, but may be readily distinguished from it by its larger size, its much longer and stouter bill, by the more contrasted character of its markings, and the sulphur or wax-yellow colour which pervades the breast and upper surface. It is one of the finest species yet discovered of the genus to which it belongs, and is at present so rare, that my own specimen is probably the only one that has been brought to Europe.
All the upper surface brownish olive, tinged with yellowish olive on the margins of the feathers; outer webs of the primaries and tail wax-yellow; inner webs brown; under surface of the wing and tail yellowish buff; stripe over the eye to the back of the neck black; ear-coverts dark grey; below the ear-coverts a stripe of bright yellow; throat and under surface yellow, becoming paler as it approaches the vent, each feather with a stripe of brown down the centre.
The Plate represents the bird in two positions of the natural size.