The species of this group are not only more numerous than those of any other division of the _Meliphagidæ_, but they also comprise some of the most beautiful and gaily-coloured members of the family. Nearly all the species are either prettily marked about the face, or have the ear-coverts largely developed and characterized by a colouring different from that of the other parts of the plumage. The _Eucalypti_ and _Acaciæ_ are the trees upon which they are usually found; the species with olive-green backs, such as _P. flavigula_ and _P. leucotis_, frequent the dwarf or thickly-leaved kinds, the foliage of which assimilates in colour to that of their plumage; the more gaily-attired species with bright yellow cheeks and ear-coverts, such as _P. ornatus_ and _P. plumulus_, are most frequently found among the flowering _Acaciæ_; some species, particularly _P. penicillata_, descend from the trees and seek Coleoptera and other insects on the ground; the _Casuarinæ_ are the favourite trees of _P. sonorus_ and _P. versicolor_; while the _P. chrysotis_, _P. chrysops_ and _P. fusca_ are almost entirely confined to the brushes and seek their food among the _Eucalypti_, the hanging festoons of _Tecoma_ and other beautiful brush creepers. The members of this group are principally Australian, but I believe that some species inhabit New Guinea; they mainly subsist upon insects, to which berries are sometimes added. The sexes are alike in plumage, but the females are smaller than the males, and the young assume the adult livery from the nest. 283. Ptilotis chrysotis Vol. IV. Pl 32. _Ptilotis Lewinii_, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 326? 284. Ptilotis sonorus, _Gould_ Vol. IV. Pl. 33. 285. Ptilotis versicolor, _Gould_ Vol. IV. Pl. 34. 286. Ptilotis flavigula, _Gould_ Vol. IV. Pl. 35. 287. Ptilotis leucotis Vol. IV. Pl. 36. 288. Ptilotis auricomis Vol. IV. Pl 37. 289. Ptilotis cratitius, _Gould_ Vol. IV. Pl. 38. 290. Ptilotis ornatus, _Gould_ Vol. IV. Pl. 39. 291. Ptilotis plumulus, _Gould_ Vol. IV. Pl. 40. 292. Ptilotis flavescens, _Gould_ Vol. IV. Pl. 41. 293. Ptilotis flava, _Gould_ Vol. IV. Pl. 42. 294. Ptilotis penicillatus, _Gould_ Vol. IV. Pl. 43. 295. Ptilotis fusca, _Gould_ Vol. IV. Pl. 44. 296. Ptilotis chrysops Vol. IV. Pl. 45. 297. Ptilotis unicolor, _Gould_ Vol. IV. Pl. 46. Genus PLECTORHYNCHA, _Gould_. Generic characters.