The sexes are alike in colour, but the female is somewhat the smaller. The white cheeks and the absence of white tips to the tail-feathers will at all times distinguish it from the _M. Novæ-Hollandiæ_. Crown of the head, throat, and space round the eye black; an obscure band of white crosses the forehead and passes over each eye; a beautiful plume of hair-like white feathers spreads over the cheeks and ear-coverts; back dusky brown, striped longitudinally with black; under surface white, each feather having a central longitudinal mark of black; wings dark brown, the outer edge of all the primaries and secondaries wax-yellow; tail dark brown, the external edges margined with yellow; irides dark brown; feet and bill black. The figures represent two males of the natural size, on a plant growing in the district of Illawarra, called Christmas by the settlers. [Illustration: MELIPHAGA MYSTACALIS: _Gould_. _J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._ ] MELIPHAGA MYSTACALIS, _Gould_. Moustached Honey-eater. _Meliphaga mystacalis_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VIII. p. 161. _Bȁn-dene_, Aborigines of Swan River. At the time I described this new species of _Meliphaga_ in the “Proceedings of the Zoological Society,” I was not aware that M. Temminck had applied the term _mystacalis_ to another species of Honey-eater, or I should have selected a different appellation; as however M. Temminck’s bird belongs to a distinct section of this great family, any alteration would rather tend to produce confusion than otherwise. The _Meliphaga mystacalis_ is a native of Western Australia, in which country it beautifully represents the _Meliphaga sericea_ of New South Wales. It is abundant in the vicinity of Perth and Fremantle, and is sparingly dispersed over many other districts of the Swan River colony; according to Mr. Gilbert it is remarkably shy, and only found in the most secluded places in the bush, or on the summits of the limestone hills running parallel with the beach; it generally feeds on the topmost branches of the _Banksiæ_, and is very pugnacious, defending its young from intruders with the most determined courage. Its note is a loud chirp, which is often rapidly repeated six or seven times in succession; but while rising on the wing, it emits a song very much resembling that of the Tree Lark of Europe.