Myzomela cruentata MEYER (Aves, Meliphagidae) in the

By FINN SALOMONSEN

Zoological Museum, Copenhagen.

NOONA DAN PAPERS NO. 20

Very little is known about the distribution coccinea and kleinschmidti with erythrina. He and geographical variation of Myzomela had only one specimen from , cruentata in the Bismarck Archipelago. This however. During the Whitney South Sea little honey-eater, of which the males are Expedition W. F. CouLTAS collected in almost uniform bright carmine red, has its New Britain in 1932-33 and obtained main distribution in , from three specimens of M. cruentata in the where the nominate form was described Baining Mountains at an altitude of 5000 by A. B. MEYER in 1875. Shorty after it feet, but unfortunately they were all im­ became known from the Bismarck Islands, mature specimens. Furthermore, CoULTAS and in 1878 RAMSAY separated the popu­ in 1935 collected no less than 12 specimens lation of the as of M. cruentata on Tabar Island, an island Myzomela coccinea and that of which from a zoological view-point was as M. erythina (emended to erythrina) . In completely unknown prior to his visit. 1884 SHARPE described the birds from Recently MAYR (1955, Arner. Mus. New Britain as M. kleinschmidti. All these Novitates, No. 1707: 42-43) made a very names were based on a single specimen interesting study of the Bismarck forms each, and the descriptions were so in­ of cruentata, basing it on E1cHHORN's and adequate that GADOW ( 1884, Cat. Birds CouLTAs' collections. He described the Brit. Mus., 9: 140) synonymized them all Tabar and New Hanover birds as a new with cruentata. Subsequently, REICHENOW subspecies, cantans, adding that "the New ( 1899, Mitt. Zool. Samml. Mus. Naturk. Hanover population is somewhat inter­ Berlin, 1, no. 3: 102) accepted coccinea, but mediate between Tabar and New Ireland not the two other species. He had not birds''. On the other hand, MAYR was personally examined specimens of any of unable to define the New Britain form the three forms, however. In 1923-24 (coccinea) owing to insufficient material. In A. F. EICHHORN collected a number of 1958, however, the late THOMAS GILLIARD specimens on New Ireland and New during his expedition to the Whiteman Hanover, which were described by HAR­ Mountains in the western part of New TERT (1924, Novitates Zool., 31: 210, and Britain, collected a large series of coccinea, 32: 133). HARTERT united the populations which is now in the American Museum of of these two islands as erythrina Ramsay, Natural History, New York. adding that there were no tangible differ­ During the Noona Dan Expedition I ences between New Britain and New Ire­ collected a long series of this species in land birds, and he, therefore, synonymized New Ireland, and a smaller series (five Myzomela cruentata 119 specimens) on Dyaul Island. The latter forms juvenile hirds, therefore, have been island was previously unexplored. M. cru­ chosen as type specimens. entata is now known from New Britain, It is necessary shortly to mention the Duke of York Islands, New Ireland, New different plumages which can be distin­ Hanover, Dyaul and Tabar. The hird life guished in these hirds. The first plumage of the different islands in the Bismarck (after the natal down) is the juvenile Archipelago is now so comparatively well dress, which in comparison with the adult known that it is unlikely that this species plumage is characterized by the looser will turn up on other islands than those texture of the feathers, the smaller pro­ mentioned. portions throughout with particularly The present study was partly carried out short wings, the swollen gape and the during a visit to the American Museum of characteristic plumage pattern differing Natura! History in New York. At my dis­ from that of the adult hirds. It is possible posal were the series collected by EicH­ to distinguish the two sexes in the juvenile HORN and CouLTAS, i. e. the same material dress. This dress is very soon replaced by which was formerly utilized by MAYR. In the first adult one, in which the short addition to this I had the Noona Dan juvenile wings are retained, while the collection and, further, the series of coccinea colour pattern of the plumage is similar to collected by GILLIARD in 1958. My thanks that of the subsequent adult stages, al­ are due to the authorities of the American though somewhat more dull, at least in Museum of Natural History and to Dr. the males. Even in the adult plumages the DEAN AMADON, Chief-Curator of the two sexes can be distinguished. Department of Ornithology, for their kind Unfortunately, MAYR (loc. cit.) con­ permission to let me examine the material fused juvenile and adult females. His of Myzomela cruentata in the museum. I am descriptions of the females of erythrina and also much indebted to Dr. TH. GILLIARD cantans actually refer to juvenile specimens. for giving me access to his collection of Neither EICHHORN nor CoULTAS col­ coccznea. lected any adult females, which apparently I am confining myselfin this paper to the are difficult to collect in several species morphology and taxonomy of the Bismarck within the genus Myzomela. During the populations only, while notes on life Noona Dan Expedition I collected an habits and ecology will be published else­ adult female on both Dyaul Island and in where at a future date. New Ireland, the fi.rst ones known in the As far as the taxonomic characters are erythrina group. These females appeared to concerned, there is a major break between differ considerably in colour pattern from the populations of New Britain - Duke of the juvenile hirds. York Islands and those of the remaining Nominate cruentata and coccinea are islands. The former are very near to characterized by a strong sexual di­ nominate cruentata from New Guinea, morphism in the adult hirds, just as is the whereas the latter are strikingly different case in most other species of Myzomela. and can be separated as a special sub­ The males of nominate cruentata and division, the erythrina-group. This group coccinea are bright red, while the females comprises four subspecies, which are are olive brown with paler, greyish under rather similar, however, the most distinct parts and a facial mask of dull red. The one being the form inhabiting Dyaul Is­ juveniles are similar to the adult females. land. The juvenile hirds of these forms Contrary to the condition in these two differ much more from each other than forms the adult females of the erythrina sub­ do the adult ones, and in three of the species group are similar to the males, 120 Myzomela cruentata

being only slightly duller in the colora­ noses of the subspecies and the subspecies tion. This development is of great princi­ groups which can be distinguished in the pal interest. On the other hand, there is Bismarck Archipelago. Measurements of a considerable difference between the wing and bill of all individuals from the adult females and the juvenile birds, Bismarck Islands examined are given in while, as said above, in the cruentata group Table 1. the adult females and the juvenile birds are similar. The two adult females collected ( one in Cruentata Group. New Ireland, one on Dyaul) appear to be Adult males bright carmine red. Adult very similar. Likewise, the adult males, of females with olive brownish upper parts, which sufficient material is present of all dusky greyish under parts with dull red four forms of the erythrina group, differ on chin, upper throat and forehead. mutually only rather slightly. On this Juvenile birds very similar to the adult background it is noteworthy that the females. juvenile birds are subject to a very pro­ nounced geographical variation. The masculinization of the females in ( 1) Myzomela cruentata coccznea RAMSAY, the e1ythrina group is not unique. A similar 1878. development has taken place in two other Very similar to nominate cruentata, but species of Myzomela, namely M. nigrita and adult males differing in having the M. cardinalis. In both these species as well carmine red colour slightly duller and as in cruentata the masculinization of the paler, and females in having a faint females is developed only in populations carmine tinge on the upper parts. Bill on which inhabit small or medium-sized an average slightly larger. islands, while in the mainland populations Measurements: Four adult males ( coll. the sexes are markedly different.1) In all TH. GrLLIARD) have a wing length of three species the masculinization of the 54-57 (average 55.6) mm, and bill 16-17 females represents a higher evolutionary ( average 16.6) mm, compared with wing level than the sexual dimorphism. The 55-60 (average 57.0) mm and bill 15.8- faet that in all three species masculiniza­ 16.5 ( average 16.1) mm in 35 adult males tion of females is correlated with melaniza­ of nominate cruentata measured by me. tion and with increase in size constitutes a Range: New Britain and Duke of York further parallelism. This close parallelism Islands. tends to demonstrate that the said devel­ opment represents a fundamental evolu­ tionary trend in island forms of Myzomela. Erythrina Group. It can be added tha t melaniza tion has occurred three times, independently of Adult males sombre vinaceous red.Adult each other, in the superspecies M. lafargei, females similar to adult males, but duller. inhabiting the Solomon Islands, but this Juvenile birds strikingly different from is not followed by masculinization of the adult females and subject to strong geo­ females, only by a slight increase in size. graphical variation. The following notes concern the diag-

(2) Myzomela cruentata erythrina RAMSAY, 1 ) In the case of M. cardinalis the mainland is 1878. inhabited by the closely allied species M. sanguino­ lenta, with which it forms a superspecies. Adult males: Strikingly different from the Myzomela cruentata 121

Table I. Individual measurements (in mm) of Myzomela cruentata in the Bismarck Archipelago. Measure­ rnents of specirnens collected by the Noona Dan Expedition are italicized. The remaining material belongs to the American Museum of Natural History, New York.

Wing Bill

Adult Males coccinea ...... 54.5, 55, 56, 57 16, 16, 17, 17.5 erythrina ...... 57, 58, 58, 58, 59, 59, 59, 59.5, 60, 60 16.5, 16.8, 17, 17, 17.1, 17.2, 17.5, 17.5, 18 lavongai ...... 60, 60, 60.5, 62.5, 62.5 17, 17.5, 17.8, 18, 18.2 cantans ...... 59, 61, 61, 62, 62, 62, 62, 63 17, 17, 17, 17.5, 17.5, 17.8, 18 vinacea ...... 63, 64, 65 18, 18.5, 18.5 Adult Females erythrina ...... • . . . 54 16 vinacea ...... 58.5 16 Juvenile Males erythrina ...... 55, 55.5, 57 16, 16.7, 17 lavongai ...... 57.5 16.3 cantans ...... 57, 57.5, 59 16.5, 17, 17.5 Juvenile Females er_ythrina ...... 51, 53, 53 16, 16, 17 lavongai ...... 52.5, 54 16, 17 cantans ...... 53 16 vinacea ...... 56 17

preceding form by being much duller and Measurements: Slightly larger propor­ darker and more sombre vinaceous red tions than coccinea. Wing length of 10 with the crown almost blackish. adult males 57-60 (average 58.7) mm, bill 16.5-18 (average 17.2) mm. Adult females: V ery similar to the Range: New Ireland. adult males, but red colour on upper parts Noona Dan material: Four cJcJ ad. slightly duller, chin and throat slightly (no. 1387, 1399, 1541, 1594, collected 10th- paler vermilion, breast and abdomen paler 29th April 1962, testis length 3.5-6 mm), red. one y ad. (no. 1504, collected 19th April 1962, ovary coarsely granulated; bill Juveniles: Strikingly differing from the black, legs dark greyish, iris black), two juvenile plumage of the cruentata group by cJcJ juv. (no. 1460, 1548, collected 16th and having upper parts and throat dull rosy 22th April 1962, testis with diameter about carmine, breast and abdomen paler rosy 1 mm; no. 1460 has obtained adult brown contrasting with carmine throat. plumage on upper parts), two yy juv. One specimen (of six examined) has (no. 1433, 1522, collected 12th and 20th breast and abdomen buffish grey without April 1962, oviduct straight, very thin). any rosy tinge. The two sexes are similar, Coll. : F. SALOMONSEN. but the males have throat more bright American Museum material: Six cJcJ carmine red in stronger contrast to colour ad., one cJ juv., one y juv. Coll.: A. F. of breast. ErcHHORN. 122 Myzomela cruentata

(3) Myzomela cruentata lavongai, new two of the dd juv. as 9 Q juv., although subspecies. they were sexed as males by the very care­ Type: ~ juv., New Hanover ( = Lavongai), 6th ful CouLTAS. I see no reason to reject Feb. 1923, coll. A. F. ErcHHORN, in the American CouLTAs' sex determination. Museum of Natural History, New York, no. 693102. (5) Myzomele cruentata vinacea, new Adult males: Very similar to erythrina, but subspecies. upper parts slightly more bright and shin­ Type: ~ juv., Dyaul Island, 9th March 1962, ing red. coll. FINN SALOMONSEN during the Noona Dan Ex­ Juveniles: Differ distinctly from ery­ pedition, in Zoological Museum, Copenhagen, thrina in having breast and abdomen collector's number 1053. buffish grey, not rosy brown, but one out Adult males: Indistinguishable from lavon­ of six erythrina is not distinguishable from gai; upper parts more bright and shining lavongai. The two sexes differ in the same than in erythrina. way as in erythrina. Adult females: Virtually identical with Measurements: Distinctly larger pro­ the adult female of erythrina, perhaps slight­ portions than in erythrina. Wing length of ly darker and duller vinaceous red on five adult males 60-62.5 (average 61.1) under parts. mm, bill 17-18.2 (average 17.7) mm. Juveniles: Differ distinctly from the Range: New Hanover. juveniles of all other forms within the ery­ American Museum material: Five cJ cJ thrina group in being duller and darker ad., one cJ juv., two 9 9 juv. Coll.: A. F. throughout, having both upper and under ErcHHORN. parts of almost the same dark vinaceous colour, under parts only slightly lighter, ( 4) Myzomela cruentata cantans MA YR, 1955. more plum-coloured, and with throat only Adult males: Similar to erythrina, but upper slightly contrasting with breast and ab­ parts still darker and duller red, and under domen in coloration. parts slightly darker red. Measurements: Distinctly larger than Juveniles: Very much darker than ery­ the other subspecies. Wing length of three thrina and lavongai, upper parts being much adult males 63-65 (average 64.0) mm, darker vinaceous red, under parts dark bill 18-18.5 (average 18.3) mm. greyish brown with a vinaceous tinge and Range: Dyaul Island. with the carmine red throat strongly con­ Noona Dan material: Three cJ cJ ad. trasting. (no. 921, 1004, 1030, collected 2.-7. Measurements: Similar to those of March 1962, testis length 4-5 mm; bill lavongai. Wing length of eight adult males black, legs greyish brown, iris black; no. 59-63 (average 61.5) mm, bill 17-18 1004 and 1030 (with wing length 63 and (average 1 7.4) mm. 64, respectively) are first year birds with Range: Tabar Island in the Tabar the juvenile wings retained), one 9 ad. group. (no. 990, collected 5th March 1962, ripe American Museum material : Eigh t cJ cJ yolk in oviduct), one 9 juv. (no. 1053, ad., three O,d juv., one 9 juv. Coll.: collected 9th March 1962, oviduct straight, W. F. CouLTAs. MAYR (Zoe. cit.) refers to very thin). Coll.: F. SALOMONSEN.

MS received 1Oth April 1966