No one group of birds is more universally distributed over Australia than the Melithrepti, for their range extends from Van Diemen’s Land on the south to the most northern part of the continent; and they are equally numerous from east to west, each part of country being inhabited by a species peculiarly its own. The Eucalypti are the trees upon which they are almost exclusively found. I believe the form is unknown out of Australia.
| 323. Melithreptus validirostris, Gould | Vol. IV. Pl. 70. |
| 324. Melithreptus gularis, Gould | Vol. IV. Pl. 71. |
| 325. Melithreptus lunulatus | Vol. IV. Pl. 72. |
| 326. Melithreptus chloropsis, Gould | Vol. IV. Pl. 73. |
| 327. Melithreptus albogularis, Gould | Vol. IV. Pl. 74. |
| 328. Melithreptus melanocephalus, Gould | Vol. IV. Pl. 75. |
- Certhia agilis, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. iv. p. 204.
Genus Myzantha, Vig. & Horsf.
During the progress of this work three additional species of this genus have been discovered, one in the interior of New South Wales, the second at Swan River, and the third on the north-west coast; consequently it is a genus the members of which are widely distributed over nearly every part of Australia.
| 329. Myzantha garrula | Vol. IV. Pl. 76. |
| 330. Myzantha obscura, Gould | Vol. IV. Pl. 77. |
| 331. Myzantha lutea, Gould | Vol. IV. Pl. 78. |
| 332. Myzantha flavigula, Gould | Vol. IV. Pl. 79. |
| 333. Myzantha melanophrys | Vol. IV. Pl. 80. |
Family ——?
Genus Zosterops, Vig. & Horsf.
Three well-defined species of this genus inhabit the continent of Australia and Van Diemen’s Land; two are found on Norfolk Island, and numerous others inhabit the Indian Islands and the continent of India even to the Himalaya Mountains.
In placing this group next to the Honey-eaters, I have been influenced by their approximation to those birds in some of their habits: they also exhibit a further degree of affinity in the form and structure of their nest, but not in the colouring of their eggs, which are always blue in colour.