PTILOTIS FLAVA, Gould.
Yellow Honey-eater.
Ptilotis flava, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 136.
This new species may be distinguished from all its congeners by the uniform colouring of its plumage; it is in fact a most remarkable bird, inasmuch as I scarcely recollect one similarly coloured in any genus that has come under my notice. I regret that, as regards the history of this Honey-eater, its range over the Australian continent, its habits and economy, all is a perfect blank; a single specimen is all I have at present seen; this was procured by one of the officers of Her Majesty’s Ship the Beagle, while employed on the north coast. The names of Captain Stokes, Lieutenant Emery and Mr. Bynoe have been repeatedly mentioned in this work, with feelings of personal gratification that their labours have been useful to science. It now only remains for me to describe the colours of this bird; having I trust thrown out a sufficient hint to those who may visit its native country, and may have opportunities of observing it, that any contributions to its history will be very desirable.
Head and all the under surface delicate citron-yellow, the yellow prevailing over the head; immediately under the ear-coverts is a spot of blackish brown, posterior to which is a patch of bright yellow, the remainder of the plumage olive-grey.
The Plate represents the bird in two positions of the natural size.