Pi ; ' -■-■; ^ :,v-: p.vp «. ■ovA'- pll|P|sp|I|SS3iif: nil "oP V^P Mra| pis* IM® mt :i®#si§§ - .. '•: - . . ■ ' -Af.-:-. - .-. -.w, .- . Ml nil SBfigjHi . Ittfl mm W$MM '{• ' ! : so. -v; W- :- : . • iP ^ ' : V ■ mmmmm ^ ■ oisas^ ?4ri, -,;4o voo/’o - ;. ^33^:o:o-;;3ory'yoxs':oo:; ;: KppopP P ^ ' | ;; ■ ^ ■ ■.. > V ^ ' '• , . •• - . , ; . - ■ .- - ■ ■ ■ . ■■ ' ■■ ■■ - ; . . .■ -■ '/ . • - -=• - -. ‘ ,o : • . . ;• % v, : • ■' - pv.-- $ ' i .'• , - 4 . . - •• „ ' , 1 , PMlpiiP . >'vfC-W ' mm •J*ta8r BBS ma V SUPPLEMENT No. 2. THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA CHECK LIST OF THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA PART 2. Order PASSERIFORMES (Part). Showing under each genus and species every synonym at present known to the Author, with references to coloured plates in this work and in Gould’s folio Birds of Australia. \\ BY GREGORY M. MATHEWS E.R.S.E., Etc. H. F. & G. WITHERBY 326 HIGH HOLBORN LONDON 1923 CORRECTIONS TO MY CHECK LIST. M42 \c\\0 \ 0 t-Z SCWHRJ: PART I. No. 1. Add to the synonymy Dromiceius novcehollandice gunni Mathews, Austral Ay. Rec., Vol. IV., pt. 7, p. 175, March 7th, 1922. Substitute name for D. diemenensis Le Souef, 1907. No. 2. For Peronista peroni read Peronista diemenianus. Casuarius diemenianus Jennings, Ornith., p. 382, Nov. 1827 : Kangaroo Island. No. 5. For Eudyptes serresianus read Eudyptes cristatus. Aptenodytes crestata (sic) Miller, Var. subj. Nat. Hist., pt. 9, pi. 49, 1784 : Falkland Islands. No. 7. Add to the synonymy Megapodius tumulator Anon., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 1, Vol. IX., No. 58, p. 339, June 1842 : — Megapodius tumulorum, id., ib. Megapodius tumulificus, id., ib. All alternative names for Megapodius tumulus Gould. P. 5. To genus XII. add Ortyx Oken, Lehrb. der Nat. III. Zool., p. 611, 1816. New name for Turnix. No. 8. Add to the synonymy Leipoa penicillata “ Old Bushman ” (=W.H. Wheelwright), Bush Wander. Nat., p. 272, 1861, nude name. No. 16. For Austroiurnix pyrrhothorax read Alphaturnia pyrrhothorax, and put after No. 18. No. 19. Add to the synonymy Pedionomus ocellatus Pomper, Die Saug. Vogel u Amphib., p. 33 (pref. March), 1841, nude name. No. 21. Add to the synonymy Ptilinopus regina yorhi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. V., pt. i., p. 1, July 17th, 1922: Cape York; and read as a separate species Ptilinopus ewingi Gould. \\ No. 22. For Lamprotreron superba read Ptilinopus superbus. No. 37. Add to the synonymy Geophaps scripta peninsulce H. L. White, Emu, Vol. XXI., pt. hi., p. 163, Jan. 14th, 1922 : Cape York. No. 45. For melvillensis read melvilli. No. 48. Add to the synonymy of Porzana palustris Gould, Rallus minor Cotton, Tasm. Journ. Nat. Sc., Vol. III., p. 364, 1848, nude name. To Genus XLIII. add Gallinula Swainson, Illustr. Zool., 1st ser., text to pi. 173, Sept. 1821. Type (by original designation) Rallus porzana Linne. Not Gallinula Brisson, Ornith., Vol. VI., p. 2, 1760. Genus XLIV. Read Zaporina Forster, Pocket Encycl. Nat. Phen., p. 418, 1827. Type (by mono- typy) “ Little Crake ”= Rallus parvus Scopoli. ill. LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Genus XLV. Delete Gallinula, etc. Genus LIII. Read Colymbus Brisson, Omith., Vol. I., p. 50, Vol. VI., p. 33, 1760. Type (by tautonymy) Colymbus and (by subsequent designation, Reichenbach, Nat. Syst. Vogel, p. iii, 1852 (1853).) Colymbus cristatus Brisson, both of which equal Colymbus cristatus Linne. No. 59. For Tachybaptus ruficollis read Poliocephalus ruficollis. Genus LVII. Read Garrodia Forbes, Coll. Scient. pap. Garrod, 1881 (pref . Jan. 24th), p. 521, footnote. Type (by original designation) T. nereis. No. 65. For Reinholdia reinholdi read Reinholdia gavia. Procellaria gavia Forster, Descr. Anim. ed. Licht., p. 148 (pref. Jan. 1st), 1844 : Queen Charlotte’s Sound, New Zealand ; and add to the synonymy Reinholdia reinholdi montaguei Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. V., pt. i., p. 2, July 17th, 1922 : New Caledonia. No. 73. For Cookilaria cookii read Cookilaria leucoptera. The former does not occur in Australia. Add to the synonymy of Procellaria conspicillata Gould, Procellaria perspicillata, ex Eyre’s Journ. Exped. Centr. Austr., Vol. I., p. 447, 1845, nude name. Genus LXIX. For Petrella read Daption ; and add to the synonymy Calopetes Sundervall, Meth. Nat. Av. Disp. Tent., p. 142 (before June 12th), 1873. New name for Daption. No. 76. Add to the synonymy Halobcena murphyi Brooks, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harv., Vol. 61, p. 146, June 1917 : South Georgia. No. 84. For Thalassogeron chlororhynchos bassi read Diomedea bassi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 206, June 31st, 1912 : New South Wales. No. 97. Add to the synonymy Onychoprion fuscatus glauerti Mathews, Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club, Vol. 43, p. 14, Oct. 27th, 1922 : West Australia ; and read Sterna gouldii Reichenbach, Synops. Avium leones, pi. xxn., fig. 829, 1845 : New South Wales. No. 102. Add to the synonymy Larus erythrorhynchus Burton, Cat. Coll. Mamm. Birds, Fort Pitt, Chatham, p. 46 (pref. April 1st), 1838: New South Wales. Larus australis Reichenbach, Synops. Av. leones, based on pi. lxv b, fig. 1077, 1845: New South Wales. No. 108. For Hcematopus niger read Hcematopus unicolor Forster, Descr. Anim. ed. Licht. (pref. Jan.), 1844: New Zealand. No. 111. Add to the synonymy of Lobivanellus personatus Gould, Lobivanellus minor Cotton, as above, p. 364, nude name. No. 115. For Cirrepidesmus bicinctus read Nesoceyx bicinctus. Genus CVIII. Read Leptorhynchus Du Bus, L’lnstitut, Vol. III., No. 103, p. 138, April 29th, 1835. No. 123. Read Leptorhynchus pectoralis Du Bus, ib. No. 132. Add to the synonymy Tringa hypoleucoides Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. V., pts. 2-3, p. 44, Feb. 21st, 1923. Substitute name for T. hypoleucus Linne. IV. CORRECTIONS TO MY CHECK-LIST. No. 136. For Crocethia leucophcea read Crocethia alba. Trynga alba Vroeg (ex Pallas MS.), Catal. d’Ois., adumb. p. 7 (before Sept. 22nd), 1764 : Europe. No. 139. For Erolia ferruginea read Erolia testacea. Scolopax testacea Vroeg (as above), p. 6 : Europe. Genus CXXV. For Ganutus read Calidris, same author and reference. No. 140. For Canutus canutus read Calidris canutus. Genus CXXIII. Add to synonymy Pratincola Pennant, Brit. Zool., 4th ed. (4to), p. 648 ; 8vo ed. p. 759, 1776. Type (by monotypy) Pratincola krameria Pennant = Hirundo pratincola Linne. No. 165. Add to the synonymy Arden solitaria Cotton, as above, p. 364, nude name. No. 176. Add to the synonymy Chenogeranus australis Brown, Rep. Council, Manchester Nat. Hist. Soc., p. 4, Jan. 1842, nude name. Genus CLXIX. Add to the synonymy Rhynchoplatus Berthold, Naturl. Fam. Thierr. (Latreille), p. 84, 1827 (pref. Aug. 30th, 1826). Type (by monotypy) Anas clypeata Linne. No. 192. Add to the synonymy Nyroca fusca Cotton, as above, p. 365, nude name. No. 196. For Hypoleucus varius read Hypoleucus perthi, as being a distinct species from II. varius. No. 202. Read Sulita serrator as of Gray in Dieffenbach’s Travels New Zealand, Vol. II., App., p. 20 (middle March), 1843, for the Australian bird. No. 209. For Circus approximans read Circus juxta, Peale same reference, but p. xv. ; and to the synonymy of Circus gouldi Bp. add Astur palustris Cotton as above, p. 361, nude name. No. 212. Add to the synonymy Falco camus Strickland, Ornith. Syn., p. Ill, Nov. 1st, 1855. No. 213. Add to the synonymy Falco striatus, id., ib. Genus CXCV. For the authority of Blagrus read Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, Vol. XV., p. 369, 1846. Type (by monotypy) Blagrus dimidiatus (Raffles)=Fafco leucogaster Gmelin. No. 217. Add to the synonymy Falco aquilus Strickland as above, p. 53. Genus CXCIX. For Gypoictinia read Hamirostra Brown, Illustr. Gen. Birds, pt. 8, April 3rd, 1846. Type (by monotypy) H. montana. No. 222. For Gypoictinia melanosterna read Hamirostra melanosterna ; and add to the synonymy II. montana Brown, ib. : South-west Australia. No. 226. Add to the synonymy Falco subbuteoides Strickland as above, p. 89. No. 232. Add to the synonymy Pandion hallcetos var. australis Burmeister, Verz. Zool. Mus. Halle, p. 24, 1850 (after March 15th, pref. and before Sept. 15th). New name for P. leucocephalus Gould. No. 233. Add to the synonymy Strix novcehollandice Strickland as above, p. 165. No. 252. Add to the synonymy Psittacus niger Jennings, Ornith., p. 399, Nov. 1827. New name for P. cookii Temminck, 1821 (not Psittacus niger of Gmelin, p. 336, 1788). V. LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. No. 281. Add to the synonymy Psephotus narethce H. L. White, Emu, Vol. 21, pt. 2, p. 81, Oct. 1921 : Naretha, East of West Australia. Genus CCLII. Read Mgothdes Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc., Vol. XV., pt. i., p. 194, Eeb. 17th, 1826. Type (by monotypy) Caprimulgus cristatus White. Genus CCLIII. Read Hirundolanius Buller, Man. Birds, New Zealand, p. 7 (pref. Jan. 2nd), 1882. Type (by monotypy) H. cceruleus. No. 301. Add to the synonymy Hirundolanius cceruleus Buller, ib. : Westport, New Zealand. No. 305. For Dacelo gigas read Dacelo novceguinece. Alcedo novceguinece Hermann, Tab. Aff. Anim., p. 192, 1783 : New South Wales. Genus CCLXVI. Add to the synonymy Pallenia Bonaparte, Cat. Ois. d’Eur. (Parzudaki), p. 25 (before Nov. 10th), 1856. Type (by monotypy) P. caudacuta (Latham). Genus CCLXVII. Add to the synonymy Apodium Rafinesque, Princ. fond. Somiol., p. 29, 1814. New name for Apus Cuv.=Scopoli. No. 321. For Cacomantis rubricatus read Cacomantis rufulus. No. 323. Add to the synonymy Vidgenia yorki Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. 5, pt. i., p. 4, July 17th, 1922 : Cape York. No. 332. Add to the synonymy Polophilus phasianinus highami Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XLIII., p. 13, Oct. 27th, 1922 : Ashburton River, Mid-west Australia. No. 333. Add to the synonymy Menura edwardi Chisholm, Emu, Vol. XX., pt. iv., p.223, April 23rd, 1921 : Stanhope, South Queensland P. 109. For Fregettornis read Cymodroma Ridgway. Type (by monotypy) P. grallaria Vieillot. Type designation and the designation of the type locality of species and subspecies in this work can be accepted unless proved wrong. The following men described the species in this part of the List. Gould, 131. Latham, 43. Vigors and Horsfield, 18 Mathews, 14. Vieillot, 12. Ramsay, 9. Quoy et Gaimard, 7. North, 5. Shaw, 5. Swainson, 5. Temminck et Laugier, 5. De Vis, 4. Gmelin, 4. Dr. J. White, 4. Campbell, 3. Gray, 3. Lesson, 3. Linne, 3. Milligan, 3. Dumont, 2. Hartert, 2. Jardine and Selby, 2. Lewin, 2. Lesson et Garnot, 2. Reichenbach, 2. Shaw and Modder, 2. Ashby. Bechstein. Blyth. Castelnau and Ramsay. Daudin. Drapier. Hall. Hartlaub. Horsfield. Hombron et Jacquinot. Sharpe. Stephens, Wallace. Kittlitz. Masters. McCoy. Muller. Paykull. Ranzani. RiippelJ . Salvadori Iredale. J ardine. King. Weatherill. H. L. White. Salvadori and D’Albertis. VI. APPENDIX. The following are the dates of the works in which the names appear : a * indicates that Mr. T. Iredale and a f Mr. T. Carter are part authors. 1907. Exhibition of a series of paintings of Queensland Birds. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXI., pp. 13-14, Oct. 29th. 1908. Handlist of the Birds of Australasia. Emu, Vol. VII., Supplement and Index, pp. 1-123, January 1st. On a new species of Wren from North-west Australia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXI., pp. 100-101, May 30th. Remarks on the difference between Ptistes erythropterus (Gmelin) and Ptistes coccineopterus Gould. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXI., p. 110, July 1st. A note on Oreoscopus gutturalis. Emu, Vol. VIII., p. 34, plate A, July 1st. Exhibition of a new species of Waxbill. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXIII., pp. 24-25, November 6th. 1909. Notes on Malurus dulcis. Emu, Vol. VIII., pp. 113-114, Plate B, January 1st. On the Birds of North-west Australia, Part I. Emu, Vol. IX., pp. 1-16, July 12th. On the Birds of North-west Australia, Part II. The Birds of the Alexander District, Northern Territory. Emu, Vol. IX., pp. 53-69, October 1st. Additions to the Handlist of the Birds of Australasia. Emu, Vol. IX., p. 92, October 1st. Forgotten Feathers, Emu, Vol. IX., p. 98, October 1st. Description of two new subspecies of Australian Birds. On changes in the Nomenclature of certain Australian Birds. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXV., p. 24, Nov. 30th. 1910. Addition to the Handlist of the Birds of Australasia. \ Remarks on Dromceus peroni Rothschild versus D. parvulus Gould. On a new subspecies of Grass-Wren. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXV., p. 34, January 1st. On a new subspecies of Honey-eater from Tasmania. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXV., p. 85, March 31st. A List of Birds observed on Parry’s Creek, North-west Australia. Remarks on Eopsaltria jacksoni. Emu, Vol. IX., pp. 238-241, and p. 246, April 1st. On a new subspecies of Honey-eater from Tasmania. Remarks on an example of Meliphaga phrygia from Tasmania. Bulletin of the British Ornithologist’s Club, Vol. XXV., p. 100, May 12th. Note on Rhipidum phasiana, Emu, Vol. X., p. 1, Plate C, July 1st. Additions to the Handlist of the Birds of Australia. Emu, Vol. X., p. 57, July 1st. Vll. LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Remarks on the Ornithological Congress at Berlin. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXV., pp. 117-118, July 2nd. Birds of Australia, Vol. I., part 1, October 31st. Reviewed Ibis, 1911, pp. 176-178 ; Auk, 1911, pp. 135-136. On the Birds of North-west Australia, Part III. Emu, Vol. X., pp. 103-110, October 1st. On a new subspecies of Creeper from the Warren River, S.W. Australia. On a new species of Ground Bird from West Australia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXVII., pp. 16-17, November 4th. On a new subspecies of Weaver Pinch from Northern Territory. On a new subspecies of Parroquet from Broome Bay, North-west Australia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXVII., p. 28, December 1st. On some necessary alterations in the Nomenclature of Birds. Notes on Meliornis novcehollandice. Novitates Zoologicse, Vol. XVII., pp. 492-503, December. On a new subspecies of Shearwater from Sunday Island, Kermadecs. Remarks on Eopsaltria hilli Campbell. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXVII., pp. 40-41, December 31st. 1911. On a new subspecies of Grass-Wren from West Australia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXVII., p. 48, January 23rd. Birds of Australia, Vol. I., pt. 2, January 31st. Reviewed Ibis, 1911, pp. 391-392 ; Auk, 1911, p. 289. On a new subspecies of Owl from North Queensland. On a new subspecies of Squeaker from Leigh’s Creek, South Australia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXVII., p. 62, March 3rd. On a new subspecies of Grass Finch from North-west Australia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXVII., p. 68, March 28th. Alterations in the Nomenclature of “ Handlist of the Birds of Australia.” Description of the nest and eggs of Gerygone cinerascens. Emu, Vol. X., pp. 317-326, 341, April 1st. Description of two new subspecies of Australian Birds. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXVII., p. 87, April 27th. Birds of Australia, Vol. I., pt. 3, April 29th. Reviewed Ibis, 1911, pp. 570-571 ; Auk, 1911, p. 376. Remarks on Poephila aurantiirostris . Description of new subspecies of Australian Birds. On a new name for Acanthiza tenuiroslris Zeitz. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXVII., pp. 95-97, May 26th. On some necessary alterations in the Nomenclature of Birds, Part II. Two new Australian Birds. Novitates Zoologicse, Vol. XVIII., pp. 1-23, June. Nomenclature of Australian Avifauna. Emu, Vol. XI., pp. 52-58, July 1st. Descriptions of new species and subspecies of Australian Birds. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXVII., pp. 99-101, July 13th. Birds of Australia, Vol. I., pt. 4, August 9th. Reviewed Ibis 1911, pp. 764-765 ; Auk, 1911, pp. 503-504. Notes on Falcunculus frontatus whitei. Emu, Vol. XI., p. 105, Plate D, October 1st. Birds of Australia, Vol. I., pt. 5, October 31st. Reviewed Ibis 1912, pp. 197-199 ; Auk 1912, pp. 124-125. Ylll. APPENDIX. 1912. Remarks on Brisson’s Genera. Ibis, pp. 212-215, January 1st. Austral Avian Record, Vol. I., pt. i., January 2nd. Notes on Australian Cuckoos. Dates of Issue of Lear’s Psittacidae and Muller’s Nat. Gesch. Land- en Volk. Birds of Australia, Vol. I., pt. 6, January 31st. Reviewed Ibis, 1912, pp. 675-676 ; Auk, 1912, pp. 549-551. A Reference List to the Birds of Australia. A List of the Birds of the Phillipian sub -region. Index to above. Novitatis Zoologicse, Vol. XVIII., pp. 171-455 ; 627-656, January 21st. Notes on Shaw’s Zoology of Holland, 1794. Emu, Vol. XI., pp. 255-257, April 1st. Austral Avian Record, Vol. I., pt. 2, April 2nd. Additions to the Reference List to the Birds of Australia. Descriptions of some eggs of Australian Birds. *Perry’s Arcana. An overlooked work. Victorian Naturalist, Vol. 29, pt. i., pp. 7-16, May 9th. Birds of Australia, Vol. II., pt. 1, May 30th. Reviewed Ibis, 1912, pp. 673-676; Auk, 1912, pp. 549-551. Austral Avian Record, Vol. I., pt. 3, June 28th. Notes on the Australian Cassowary. Notes on Diggles’s New Species of Australian Birds. Additions to the Reference List to the Birds of Australia. Notes on Lewin’s Birds of New Holland, 1808. Emu, Vol. XII., pp. 49-51, July 1st. On the late J. G. Keulemans. British Birds, Vol. VI., pt. 2, July 1st. Birds of Australia, Vol. II., pt. 2, July 31st. Reviewed Ibis, 1912, pp. 673-676 ; Auk, 1912, pp. 549-551. Austral Avian Record, Vol. I., pt. 4, September 18th. Additions to the Reference List to the Birds of Australia. On the Generic name of the Barn Owl. Birds of Australia, Vol. II., pt. 3, September 20th. Reviewed Ibis, 1913, pp. 147-148 ; Auk, 1913, pp. 124-125. Birds of Australia, Vol. II., pt. 4, November 1st. Reviewed Ibis, 1913, pp. 147-148 ; Auk, 1913, pp. 124-125. Austral Avian Record, Vol. I., pt. 5, December 24th. New Generic names and additions to the Reference List to the Birds of Australia. Geographic relationship of the Birds of Lord Howe, Norfolk and Kermadec Islands. A new Bird for Australia; A Changed Name; New Birds; Substitute-names; Additional Notes. 1913. On the generic names Ibis and Egatheus. Auk, Vol. XXX., pp. 92-95, January 1st. Notes on Epthianura lovensis. Emu, Vol. XII., pp. 204-206, Plate E, January 1st. Birds of Australia, Vol. II., p. 5, January 31st. Reviewed Auk, 1913, pp. 443^445. Remarks on the type of Psephotus assimilis Collett. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXXI., pp. 55-56, Feb. 27th. VOL. X. IX. LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Austral Avian Record, Vol. I., parts 6 and 7, February 28th. A List of the Species of Australian Birds, described by John Gould, with the location of the type specimens (with W. Stone). Austral Avian Record, Vol. I., part 8, March 20th. Additional species described by John Gould (with W. Stone). The genus name Meliphaga. Additions to the Reference List to the Birds of Australia. New Genera. Description of new subspecies of Australian Birds. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXXI., p. 68, March 29th. The Hooded Parrakeet. Avicultural Magazine, Vol. IV. (3rd Series), pp. 151-153, March. *A Reference List of the Birds of New Zealand. Ibis, pp. 201-263, April 1st and pp. 402-452, July 1st. Birds of Australia, Vol. III., pt. 1, April 2nd. Reviewed Auk, 1913, pp. 443^45. Birds of Australia, Vol. III., pt. 2, May 2nd. Reviewed Ibis, 1913, pp. 692-694 ; Auk, 1913, pp. 443-445. Austral Avian Record, Vol. II., pt. i., August 2nd. Additions to the Reference List of the Birds of Australia. Notes on Mattingleya inornata. New Genera and Species. Birds of Australia, Vol. III., pt. 3, August 18th. Reviewed Ibis, 1914, pp. 145-147 ; Auk, 1913, pp. 596-597. Austral Avian Record, Vol. II., parts 2 and 3, October 23rd. *Notes on Billberg. Dates of Publication of Plates of the Ornithology of the Coquille. New Generic Names and Additions to the Reference List of the Birds of Australia. Austral Avian Record, Vol. II., part 4, December 24th. New Species and Subspecies of Australian Birds. A List of the Birds of Australia, December 31st. Birds of Australia, Vol. III., part 4, December 31st. Reviewed Ibis, 1914, pp. 514-515 ; Auk, 1914, p. 267. 1914. Notes on some Binary Generic Names. Auk, Vol. XXXI., pp. 86-91, January 1st. A List of the Birds of Melville Island, Northern Territory, Australia. Ibis, pp. 91-132, January 1st. Birds of Australia, Vol. III., pt. 5, March 26th. Reviewed Ibis, 1914, pp. 514-515 ; Auk, 1914, p. 410. *Description of a strange New Zealand Woodhen. Ibis, pp. 293-297, with plate, April 1st. Additions to a List of the Birds of Australia. Notes on Platycereus hcematogaster Gould, pp. 12-13. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. I., pt. 2, pp. 15-17, April 1st. Birds of Australia, Vol. III., pt. 6, June 25th. Reviewed Ibis, 1915, pp. 171-172 ; Auk, 1914, p. 552. Notes on two new Genera of Parrots for Australia. Three New Subspecies of Birds. Emu, Vol. XIV., p. 1, Plate F and p. 60, July 1st. Notes on the new Genera of Parrots. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. I., pt. 3, p. 18, July 1st. x. APPENDIX. Austral Avian Record, Vol. II., pt. 5, September 24th. Additions to the List of the Birds of Australia. New Genera. * Notes on some birds from Kermadec Islands. Plurdage changes of Elseyornis melanops. Birds of Australia, Vol. IV., pt. 1, October 6th. Reviewed Ibis, 1915, pp. 171-172 ; Auk, 1915, p. 116. Austral Avian Record, Vol. II., pt. 6, December 19th. Notes on the genus Fregata. Remarks on Aphelocephala pectoralis (Gould) and A. nigrocincta North. Remarks and Notes on New Frigate Birds. Bulletin British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXXV., pp. 35-37, Dec. 29th, 1915. Notes on a recent ornithological discovery in Australia. Ibis, pp. 76-85, January 1st. Birds of the Cairns District, Queensland, Part I. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 2, pt. i., pp. 15-20, January 1st. Austral Avian Record, Vol. II., pt. 7, January 28th. Additions to the List of the Birds of Australia. Notes on some Australian Types. Diggles and his Works. Dates of Publication of Vieillot Galerie des Oiseaux. Birds of Australia, Vol. IV., pt. 2, Feb. 17th. Reviewed Ibis, 1915, pp. 624-625 ; Auk, 1915, pp. 512-513. Discussion on “ Coloration as a Factor in Family and Generic Differentiation. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXXV., pp. 81-82, Feb. 27th. Remarks on Phcethon catesbyi. Auk, Vol. XXXII., pp. 195-197, April 1st. Birds of the Cairns District, Queensland. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 2, pt. 2, pp. 29-33, April 1st. Description of the eggs of some Australian Birds. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXXV., p. 121, May 26th. Birds of Australia, Vol. IV., pt. 3, June 23rd. Reviewed Ibis, 1915, pp. 789-791 ; Auk, 1915, pp. 512-513. Austral Avian Record, Vol. III., pt. 1., June 30th. Notes on Columba pallida Latham. *On the Ornithology of the Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles (Levrault). Notes on Raperia godmance and two new subspecies of birds. Birds of the Cairns District, Queensland. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 2, pt. 3, pp. 56-62, July 1st. *On some Petrels from the North-east Pacific Ocean. Ibis, pp. 572-609, July 1st. Notes on Lewin’s Birds of New South Wales. Emu, Vol. XV., p. 33, July 1st. Austral Avian Record, Vol. II., pt. 8, Aug. 16th. Index to Vols. I. and II. Birds of the North and North-west of Australia. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 2, pt. 4, pp. 83-87, Oct. 1st. The admission of Colour Genera. Emu, Vol. XV., pp. 118-130, October. Birds of Australia, Vol. V., pt. 1, November 5th. Reviewed Ibis, 1916, pp. 171-172 ; Auk, 1916, p. 91. Xl. LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Austral Avian Record, Vol. III., pt. 2, November 19th. Notes on Certhia atricapilla Latham. *Notes on “ Table des Planches Enlum.” Boddaert. Additions to the Reference List to the Birds of Australia. Notes on Pluvialis dominions fulvus. 1916. Birds of the North and North-west of Australia. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 2, pt 5, pp. 109-113. January 1st. Remarks on the proposed Second Edition of the Official Check-List of the Birds of Australia Emu, Vol. XV., pp. 171-176, January 1st. Description of a new subspecies of Petrel from Australia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXXVI., p. 48, Eeb. 3rd. Description of a new subspecies of Kingfisher from Queensland. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXXVI., p. 61, Feb. 22nd. Birds of Australia, Vol. V., pt. 2, Eeb. 29th. Reviewed Ibis, 1916, pp. 510-511 ; Auk, 1916, p. 336. On some New Guinea Bird Names. Ibis, pp. 295-313, April 1st. Austral Avian Record, Vol. III., pt. 3, April 7th. Additions to the List of the Birds of Australia. Description of a new subspecies of Swiftlet from Queensland. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXXVI., p. 77, April 27th. Birds of Australia, Vol. V., pt. 3, May 23rd. Reviewed Ibis, 1916, pp. 648-650 ; Auk, 1916, p. 445. Additions to the List of the Birds of Australia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXXVI., pp. 82-83, May 25th, and p. 89, July 7 th. Changes in names to be made to the List of the Birds of Australia. Emu, Vol. XVI., pp. 34-36, July 1st. Birds of the North and North-west of Australia. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 2, pt. 7, pp. 170-178, July 1st. Descriptions of new subspecies of Australian Birds. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXXVI., pp. 89-92, July 7th. Birds of Australia, Vol. V., pt. 4, August 30th. Reviewed Ibis, 1916, pp. 101-102, ; Auk, 1916, p. 445. Birds of the North and North-west of Australia. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 2, pt. 8, pp. 200-204, Oct. 1st. fOn some new subspecies of Birds from Dirk Hartog Island. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXXVII pp. 6-7, Oct. 24th. Birds of Australia, Vol. VI., pt. 1, Nov. 22nd. Reviewed Ibis, 1917, pp. 253-255, Auk, 1917, pp. 288-289. 1917. Birds of the North and North-west of Australia. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 3, pt. 1, pp. 12-17, January 1st. Some new Australian Birds. Emu, Vol. XVI., pp. 180-185, January 1st. Birds of Australia, Vol. VI., pt. 2, Eeb. 6th. Reviewed Ibis, 1917, pp. 253-255 ; Auk, 1917, pp. 352-354. Birds of the North and North-west of Australia. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 3, pt. 2, pp. 34-38, April 1st. Xll. APPENDIX. Birds of Australia; Vol. VI., pt. 3, April 17th. Reviewed Ibis, 1917, pp. 445-447 ; Auk, 1917, pp. 352-354. Birds of Australia, Vol. VI., pt. 4, June 27th. Reviewed Ibis, 1917, pp. 626-627 ; Auk, 1917, p. 492. Birds of the North and North-west of Australia. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 3, pt. 3, pp. 68-75, July 1st. Austral Avian Record, Vol. III., pt. 4, July 21st. New subspecies and notes on species and new genera. The re-discovery of two lost birds. Notes on some extra-limital Parrot names. On a collection of Birds from the Maclean Museum, Sydney. Sylvester Diggles, Ornithologist, with Portrait. Birds of Australia, Vol. VI., pt. 5, September 11th. Reviewed Ibis, 1918, pp. 161-162 ; Auk, 1918, p. 97. The Nestlings of Australian Pinches ; What do we know about them ? Emu, Vol. XVII., pp. 100-103, Oct. 1st. f Nomenclature and Remarks on the Birds of Dirk Hartog Island. Ibis, pp. 564-611, October 1st. Birds of the North and North-west of Australia. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 3, pt. 4, pp. 109-113, Oct. 1st. Birds of Australia, Vol. VI., pt. 6, Dec. 11th. Reviewed Auk, 1918, p. 246. Austral Avian Record, Vol. III., pt. 5, December 28th. * Avian Nomenclatorial Notes. Additions to the List of the Birds of Australia. 1918. The Platycercine Parrots of Australia. Ibis, pp. 115-127, January 1st. * Letter to the Auk, January 1st. Correspondence. Emu, Vol. XVII., pp. 157-159, January 1st. Birds of the North and North-west of Australia. South Australian Ornithologist Vol. 3, pt. 5, pp. 137-141, January 1st. Birds of Australia, Vol. VII., pt. 1, March 4th. Reviewed Ibis, 1918, pp. 505-507 ; Auk, 1918, p. 368. On a new subspecies of Babbler from South Australia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXXVIII., pp. 48-49, March 4th. Birds of the North and North-west of Australia. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 3, pt. 6, pp. 174-180, April 1st. Birds of Australia, Vol. VII., pt. 2, May 15th. Reviewed Ibis, 1918, pp. 732-734; Auk, 1918, pp. 490-491. Austral Avian Record, Vol. III., No. 6, June 25th. A. J. North, Ornithologist, with Portrait. On Pachycephala melanura Gould. On T urdus maxillaris Latham. *A forgotten Ornithologist. *The Validity of some generic terms. Additions to the List of the Birds of Australia. Birds of the North and North-west of Australia. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 3, pt. 7, pp. 205-208, July 1st. Birds of Australia, Vol. VII., pt. 3, August 26th. Reviewed Ibis, 1919, pp. 136-138 ; Auk, 1919, pp. 129-130. xm. LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. What are Australian Petrels ? Emu, Vol. XVIII., pp. 82-88, Oct. 1st. Birds of the North and North-west of Australia. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 3, pt. 8, pp. 225-229, Oct. 1st. On some new subspecies of Australian birds. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XXXIX., pp. 23-24, Nov. 30th. Birds of Australia, Vol. VII., pt. 4, December 19th. Reviewed Ibis, 1919, pp. 345-347 ; Auk, 1919, pp. 299-300. 1919. Birds of Australia, Vol. VII., pt. 5, July 10th. Reviewed Auk, 1919, pp. 603-605. Austral Avian Record, Vol. III., pt. 7, December 3rd. S. A. White, Ornithologist, with Portrait. T. Carter, Ornithologist, with Portrait. W. D. K. Macgillivray, Ornithologist, with Portrait. On some new subspecies of birds from West Australia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XL., pp. 44-45, Dec. 8th. 1920. Ornithological Nomenclature, its History and Reason. South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. 5, pt. i., pp. 17-24, January 1st. On some new subspecies of Australian Birds. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XL., pp. 75-77, January 30th. Birds of Australia Supplement, pt. i., Feb. 16th. Reviewed Ibis, 1920, pp. 503-504. Austral Avian Record, Vol. III., No. 8, Feb. 13th. Index to volume. On some new subspecies of Australian Birds. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XL., pp. 105-107, March 31st. fOn a new subspecies of Bower Bird from West Australia. Ibis, p. 499, with plate, April 1st. On some changes in the names of Australian Birds. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XL., p. 121, April 30th. Birds of Australia, Vol. VIII., pt. 1, May 5th. Ibis, 1920, p. 946-948 ; Auk, 1920, pp. 470-471. Austral Avian Record, Vol. IV., pt. 1, May 27th. Dates of Ornithological Works. What are Australian Petrels ? Australian Crows. Emu, Vol. XIX., pp. 296-297 ; 297-298, May 29th. Birds of Australia, Vol. VIII., pt. 2, June 17th. Reviewed Ibis, 1920, pp. 946-948 ; Auk, 1920, p. 609. ^ ■{•Nomenclature and Remarks on some Western Australian Birds. Ibis, pp. 679-719, July 1st. Austral Avian Record, Vol. IV., parts 2 and 3, July 28th. * Avian Taxonomy. *Name List of the Birds of New Zealand. *Name List of the Birds of Australia. Recent Figures of AcantMza. Emu, Vol. XX., pp. 30-31, Aug. 17th. xiv. APPENDIX. Birds of Australia, Vol. VIII., pt. 3, August 18th. Reviewed Ibis, 1921, pp. 163-165 ; Auk, 1920, p. 609. Birds of Australia, Vol. VIII., pt. 4, Oct. 13th. Reviewed Ibis, 1921, pp. 163-165 ; Auk, 1921, p. 143. New Species of Australian Birds since the time of John Gould. Emu, Vol. XX., p. 96-98, Oct. 1st. On some new Genera of Australian Birds. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Vol. XLL, p. 35, Nov. 30th. Birds of Australia, Vol. VIII., pt. 5, December 15th. Reviewed Ibis, 1921, pp. 328-329 ; Auk, 1921, pp. 295-296. * Austral Avian Record, Vol. IV., parts 4 and 5, December 16th. Name List of the Birds of Australia. Forgotten Bird-Artists. Snipe and Sandpipers, a Rearrangement Sherborn and the Systematise 1921. "[•Nomenclature and Remarks on some Western Australian Birds. Ibis, January 1st, pp. 48-81. Birds of Australia, Vol. IX., pt. 1, Feb. 15th. Reviewed Ibis, 1921, pp. 555-556 ; Auk, 1921, pp. 294-295. *A Manual of the Birds of Australia, March 9th. Birds of Australia, Vol. IX., pt. 2, April 15th. Reviewed Ibis, 1921, pp. 555-556 ; Auk, 1921, p. 475. *The Nature of the New Zealand Avifauna. Emu, Vol. XX., pp. 210-221, April 23rd. Birds of Australia, Vol. IX., pt. 3, June 20th. Reviewed Ibis, 1921, pp. 737-738. Austral Avian Record, Vol. IV., pt. 6, August 1st. * Sherborn and the Systematist. Additions and Corrections to my previous Lists. *Notes of Interest. Birds of Australia, Vol. IX., pt. 4, Oct. 19th. Reviewed Ibis, January 1922, pp. 202-203 ; Auk, 1922, pp. 123-124. Birds of Australia, Vol. IX., pt. 5, December 15th. Reviewed Ibis, 1922, pp. 360-362 ; Auk, 1922, p. 436. 1922. Birds of Australia, Vol. IX., pt. 6, Feb. 15th. Reviewed Ibis, 1922, pp. 360-362 ; Auk, 1922, p. 436. Austral Avian Record, Vol. IV., pt. 7, March 7th. Additions and Corrections to my Check List. *An Extraordinary Bird Book. *Captain Thomas Brown. Birds of Australia, Vol. IX., pt. 7, April 4th. Reviewed Ibis, 1922, pp. 584-585 ; Auk, 1922, p. 436. Austral Avian Record, Vol. IV., pt. 8, May 22nd. Index to Vol. IV. Birds of Australia, Vol. IX., pt. 8, May 22nd. Reviewed Ibis, Oct. 1922, pp. 725-726 ; Auk, 1922, pp. 579-580. Austral Avian Record, Vol. V., pt. i., July 17th. Additions and Corrections. *Notes of Interest. *Jarrocki Again. *Thomas Watling, Artist. XV. LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Birds of Australia, Vol. IX., pt. 9, Aug. 3rd. Reviewed Ibis, Jan. 1923, pp. 173-176 ; Auk, 1922, pp. 579-580. Birds of Australia, Vol. X., pt. 1, September 28th, 1922. Reviewed Ibis, Jan. 1823, pp. 173 to 176 ; Auk, 1923, pp. 155-156. Descriptions of New Birds from Australia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Union, Vol. XLIII., pp. 13-14, Oct. 27th. Birds of Australia, Vol. X., pt. 2, Dec. 12th. Reviewed Ibis, July 1923, pp. 546-547 ; Auk, 1923, Vol. 40, p. 349. xvi. LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Order PASSERIFORMES. Family PITTIDZE. CCLXXX. Genus AUSTROPITTA. Austropitta Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 2-3, p. 62, Oct. 23rd, 1913. Type (by original designation) : Pitta versicolor Swainson. New name for Coloburis Cabanis und Heine, 1860. Coloburis Cabanis und Heine, Mus. Heineanum, Vol. II., p. 3 (after Jan. 20th), 1860. Type (by subsequent designation, Salvadori, Orn. Pap. e. Mol.. Yol. II., p. 377, 1881) : Pitta strepitans= Pitta versicolor Swainson. Not Colobura Billberg, Enum. Insect., p. 19, 1820, nor Coloburus Dumeril in Inst, de la Mem., Voh XXIII., p. 399, 1853. 335. AUSTROPITTA VERSICOLOR. NOISY PITTA. Gould, Vol. IV., pi. 1 (pt. vi.), March 1st, 1842. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. i., pi. 371, May 5th, 1920. Pitta versicolor Swainson, Zool. Journ., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 468, Jan. 1825 : New South Wales. Pitta strepitans Temminck et Laugier, Planch. Color. d’Ois., 56e livr. (Vol. III., pi. 333), April 16tli, 1825 : New South Wales. Pitta australis " Gray,” Griffith and Pidgeon, Anim. Kingdom (Cuvier), Vol. VI., p. 401, “ 1829” : New Holland = New South Wales. Pitta simillima Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1868, p. 76, June 1st : Cape York, Queensland. Pitta kreffti Salvadori, Atti Soc. Ital. Sci. Nat., Vol. XII., 1869, p. 551, Feb. 1870 : Cape York, Queensland. Pitta assimilis D’Albertis, Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova, Vol. X., p. 12 (after May 3rd), 1877. Nom. nud. Error for simillima Gould ; id., Ibis, 1877, p. 368, pt. 3, July. Nom. nud. Pitta versicolor intermedia Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 298, Jan. 31st, 1912: Bellenden Ker, Queensland. Distribution. Eastern Australia, from Cape York to New South Wales. CCLXXXI. Genus ERYTHROPITTA. Erythropitta Bonaparte, Ateneo Italiano, Vol. II., No. 11, p. 317 (Consp. Volucr. Aniso., p. 7), August (before 28th), 1854. Type (by subsequent designation, Gray, Cat. Gen. Subgen. Birds, p. 144, April 1855) : Pitta macklotii Temminck et Laugier. 336. ERYTHROPITTA MACKLOTII. BLUE-BREASTED PITTA. Gould, Suppl., pi. 29 (pt. v.), Aug. 1st, 1869. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. i., pi. 372, May 5th, 1920. Pitta macklotii Temminck et Laugier, Planch. Color. d'Ois., 92e livr. (Vol. V., pi. 547), July 26th, 1834 : Baie de Lobo, Nouvelle Guinee. Pitta digglesi Krefft, Ibis, July 1869, p. 350 : Cape York or New Guinea (=New Guinea). Pitta strenua “ Gould MS.” Elliot, Ibis, 1870, p. 410 : “ New Guinea representative of P. mackloti.” Pitta macklotii aruensis Rothschild and Hartert, Nov. Zool., Vol. VIII., p. 63, Feb. 25th, 1901 : Wokan, Aru Islands. Pitta macklotii yorki Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 299, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Cape York, Queensland. Distribution. North Queensland, from Cape York to Cardwell, New Guinea, Aru Islands. CCLXXXII. Genus PULCHRIPITTA. Pulehripitta Elliot, Monogr. Pittidse, 2nd ed., pt. 5, p. xviii. of Introd., Jan. 1895. Type (by monotypy) : Pitta ins Gould. 337. PULCHRIPITTA IRIS. RAINBOW PITTA. Gould, Vol. IV., pi. 3 (pt. vi.), March 1st, 1842. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. i., pi. 371, May 5th, 1920. Pitta iris Gould, Birds Austr., pt. 6 (Vol. IV., pi. 3), March 1st, 1842 : Port Essington, Northern Territory. Pulehripitta ms keatsi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 5, p. 129, Jan. 28th, 1915 : Port Keats, Northern Territory. Pulehripitta iris melvillensis Mathews, ib. : Melville Island, Northern Territory. Distribution. Northern Territory, North-west Australia. VOL. X. 117 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Family ATRICHORNITHIDiE. CCLXXXIII. Genus ATRICHORNIS. AtriChornis Stejneger, Standard Nat. Hist. (Kingsley), Vol. IV., p. 462 (after July), 1885. Type (by monotypy) : Atrichia rufescens Ramsay. 338. ATRICHORNIS RUFESCENS. RUFOUS SCRUB-BIRD. Gould, Suppl., pi. 26 (pt. iv.), Dec. 1st, 1867. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. i., pi. 373, May 5th, 1920. Atrichia rufescens Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1866, p. 438, April 1st, 1867 : Richmond River, New South Wales. Atrichornis rufescens tweedi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 4, p. 71, July 21st, 1917 : Tweed River, New South Wales. Atrichornis rufescens jacksoni H. L. White, Emu, Vol. XIX., pt. 4, p. 258, May 29th, 1920 : Macpherson Range, S. Queensland. Distribution. Northern New South Wales as far south as the Bellinger River, and Southern Queensland. CCLXXXIV. Genus RAHCINTA. Rahcinta Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 3, p. 58, April 7th, 1916. Type (by original designation) : Atrichia clamosa Gould. Atrichia Gould, Birds Austr., pt. xiv. (Vol. III., pi. 34), March 1st, 1844. Type (by monotypy) : Atrichia clamosa Gould. Not Atrichia Schranck, Fauna Boica, Vol. III., p. 54 (pref. Nov. 8th, 1802), " 1803.” 339. RAHCINTA CLAMOSA. NOISY SCRUB-BIRD. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 34 (pt. xiv.), March 1st, 1844. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. i., pi. 373, May 5th, 1920. Atrichia clamosa Gould, Birds Austr., pt. xiv. (Vol. III., pi. 34), March 1st, 1844 : between Perth and Augusta, West Australia. Atrichornis clamosus campbelli Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXXVI., p. 83, May 25th, 1916 : King George's Sound, South-west Australia. Distribution. South-west Australia only. Apparently extinct. Family HIRUNDINIDyE. CCLXXXV. Genus HIRUNDO. Hirundo Linne, Syst. Nat., 10th ed., p. 191, Jan. 1st, 1758. Type (by subsequent designation, Gray, 1840, p. 8) : Hirundo rustica Linne. Ghelidon Forster, Synopt. Cat. Brit. Birds, p. 17, Dec. 1817. Type (by monotypy) : Hirundo rustica LinnA 340. HIRUNDO NEOXENA. WELCOME SWALLOW. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 13 (pt. ix.), Dec. 1st, 1842. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. i., pi. 374, May 5th, 1920. Hirundo neoxena Gould, Birds Austr., pt. ix. (Vol. II., pi. 13), Dec. 1st, 1842 : Tasmania. Hirundo pacifica “ Gray,” Griffith and Pidgeon, Animal Kingdom (Cuvier), Vol. VII., pi. to page 96, “ 1829 ” : New Holland. Not Hirundo pacifica Latham, Index. Orn. Suppl., p. lviii., 1801. Cotyle familiaris Gould, Grey’s Journ. Two Exped. Disc. Austr., Vol. II., App., p. 416, 1841. Nom. nud. Chelidon javanica carteri Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 300, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Broome Hill, West Australia. Distribution. Australia and Tasmania. LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. CCLXXXVL Genus CHERAMCEGA. Cheramceea Cabanis, Mus. Heine, Vol. I., p. 49 (after Oct. 23rd), 1851. Type (by monotypy) : Hirundo leucosternus Gould. 341. CHERAMCECA LEUCOSTERNUM. BLACK AND WHITE SWALLOW. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 12 (pt. ix.), Dec. 1st, 1842. Mathews, Yol. VIII., pt. i., pi. 374, May 5th, 1920. Eirundo leucosternus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p. 172, July 1841 : Namoi River, New South Wales. Cheramoeca leucosternum marngli Mathews, Nov. Zool., Yol. XVIII., p. 301, Jan. 31st, 1912: Fitzroy River, North- west Australia. Cheramceea leucosternum stonei Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 118, Dec. 24th, 1912: Warialda, New South Wales. Distribution. Australia. Not Tasmania. CCLXXXVII. Genus HYLOCHELIDON. Hylochelidon Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 110, Dec. 1865. Type (by monotypy): Hirundo nigricans Vieillot. Antrochelidon Baldamus, Journ. fur Ornith., Dec. 1869, p. 406=1870. Type (by monotypy): Hirundo nigricans Vieillot. 342. HYLOCHELIDON NIGRICANS. TREE-MARTIN. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 14 (pt. ix.), Dec. 1st, 1842. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. i., pi. 375, May 5th, 1920. Hirundo nigricans Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., nouv. ed„ Vol. XIV., p. 523, Sept. 13th, 1817 : Hobart Town, Tasmania. Hirundo pyrrhonota Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 190, Feb. 17th, 1827 : New South Wales. Not Hirundo pyrrhonota V ieillot, Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., nouv. ed., Vol. XIV., p. 519, Sept. 13th, 1817. Collocalia arhorea Gould, Birds Austr., pt. ix. (Vol. II., pi. 14), Dec. 1st, 1842 : Tasmania. Hirundo pyrrhonota australis Temminck und Schlegel, Fauna Japonica. Aves, p. 35, 1850 : Tasmania. Herse pygialis “ Temm.” Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Avium, Vol. I., p. 340, 1850 (before Feb. 3rd, 1851) : In synonymy. Petrochelidon nigricans neglecta Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 301, Jan. 31st, 1912 : (Fitzroy River) North- west Australia. Petrochelidon nigricans distinguenda Mathews, ib. : East Murchison, West Australia. Petrochelidon nigricans rogersi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 38, April 2nd, 1912 : Port Darwin, Northern Territory. Petrochelidon nigricans caleyi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pts. 2-3, p. 65, Oct. 23rd, 1913 : Albury, New South Wales. Distribution. Australia and Tasmania. CCLXXXVIII. Genus LAGENOPLASTES. Lagenoplastes Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 112, Dec. 1865. Type (by original designation) : Collocalia ariel Gould. 343. LAGENOPLASTES ARIEL. FAIRY MARTIN. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 15 (pt. ix.), Dec. 1st, 1842. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. i., pi. 375, May 5th, 1920. Collocalia ariel Gould, Birds Austr., pt. ix. (Vol. II., pi. 15), Dec. 1st, 1842 : New South Wales. Petrochelidon ariel conigravi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 3, p. 75, June 28th, 1912 : Wyndham, North-west Australia. Distribution. Australia and Tasmania. 119 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Family MUSCICAPIDZE. COLXXXIX. Genus MICRCECA. Microeca Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p. 172, July 1841. Type (by monotypy) : Microeca assimilis Gould. 344. MICRCECA LEUCOPH^EA. BROWN FLYCATCHER. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 93 (pt. xxxii.), Sept. 1st, 1848. Gould, Birds New Guinea, Vol. II., pi. 10 (pt. xi.), Feb. 1st, 1880. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. i., pi. 376, May 5th, 1920. Sylvia leucophsea Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. lv. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales (Sydney). Myiagra macroptera Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 254, Feb. 17th, 1827: New South Wales (Sydney). Muscicapa platyrliyncha Quoy et Gahnard, Voy. de l’Astrol. Zool., Vol. I., p. 178 (pref. June 29th), 1830 : New South Wales (Sydney). Microeca assimilis Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p. 172, July 1841 : Western Australia. Microeca fascinans Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 258, 1865, and of most recent authors. Not Loxia fascinans Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. xlvi., 1801. Microeca pallida De Vis, Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensland, Vol. I., pt. in., p. 159 (after Sept.), 1884 : Norman River, Queensland. Microeca fascinans victories Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 302, Jan. 31st, 1912 : (Parwan) Victoria. Microeca fascinans subpallida Mathews, ib. : Napier Broome Bay, North-west Australia. Microeca fascinans howei Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. i„ p. 8, Aug. 2nd, 1913 : Kow Plains, Victoria. Microeca fascinans barcoo S. A. White, Trans. Roy. Soc. South Austr., Vol. 41, p. 455, Dec. 24th, 1917 : Cooper's Creek, Central Australia. Distribution. Australia. Not Tasmania. 345. MICRCECA BRUNNEICAUDA. BROWN-TAILED FLYCATCHER. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. i., pi. 376, May 5th, 1920. Microeca brunneicauda Campbell, Emu, Vol. II., pt. n., p. 85, Oct. 1st, 1902: (Port Darwin) Northern Territory. Microeca brunneicauda tormenti Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 2, p. 58, April 7th, 1916 : Point Torment, North-west Australia. Distribution. North-west Australia. Northern Territory. CCXC. Genus KEMPIA. Kempia Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 109, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) : Microeca flavig aster Gould. 346. KEMPIA FLAVIGASTER. LEMON-BREASTED FLYCATCHER. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 94 (pt. xxi.), Dec. 1st, 1845. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. i., pi. 376, May 5th, 1920. Microeca flavigaster Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1842, p. 132, Feb. 1843 : Port Essington, Northern Territory. Microeca flaviventris Salvadori, Ann. Mus. Av. Genova, Vol. XII., p. 324, 1878 : Nom. emend, only. Microeca flavigaster terroeregince Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 303, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Cairns, North Queensland. Microeca flavigaster melvillensis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 39, April 2nd, 1912 : Melville Island, Northern Territory. Microeca flavigaster loetissima Rothschild, Bull. Brit. Om. Club, Vol. XXXVII., p. 4, Oct. 4th, 1916 : Cardwell, Queensland. Distribution. North Queensland, Northern Territory. 120 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. CCXCI. Genus PET ROIC A. Petroica Swainson, Zool. Illus., 2nd Ser.,Vol. I., p. 39, “ 1829.” Type (by monotypy) : Muscicapa multicolor Gmelin. 347. PETROICA MULTICOLOR. SCARLET-BREASTED ROBIN. [ Muscicapa multicolor Gmelin, Syst. Nat., pt. ii., p. 944, April 20th, 1789 : Norfolk Island. Extra-limital.] Gould, Vol. III., pi. 3 (pt. viil), Sept. 1st, 1842. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 2, pi. 377, June 17 th, 1920. Muscicapa boodang Lesson, Journ. aut Globe “ Thetis,” Vol. II., p. 322, “ 1837 ” (ack. B.F., Feb. 24th, 1838) : Sydney, New South Wales. Petroica coccinea Peale, United States Expl. Exped., Vol. VIII., p. 92, 1848 (in or before October) : Sydney, New South Wales. Petrceca leggii Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 165, March 26th, 1879 : “ Australia,” i.e. Tasmania. Petrceca campbelli Sharpe, Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club, Vol. VIII., p. xxii., Dec. 31st, 1898 : (near Albany) West Australia. Petrceca leggii (subsp. halmaturina) A. G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. V., pt. 3, p. 140, Jan. 1st, 1906 : Kangaroo Island. Petroica multicolor frontalis Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 303, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Parwan, Victoria. Petroica multicolor samueli Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 89, Sept. 18th, 1912 : Kangaroo Island. Distribution. Extra -tropical Australia and Tasmania. CCXCII. Genus WHITEORNIS. Wkiteornis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 101, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) : Muscicapa goodenovii Vigors and Horsfield. 348. WHITEORNIS GOODENOVII. RED-CAPPED ROBIN. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 5 (pt. m), Sept. 1st, 1842. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 2, pi. 379, June 17th, 1920. Muscicapa goodenovii Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 245, Feb. 17th, 1827 : South Australia. Petrceca ramsayi Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 172, March 26th, 1879 : Shark’s Bay, Mid-west Australia. Petroica goodenovii quoyi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 305, Jan. 31st, 1912 : (Narawa) New South Wales. Petroica goodenovii ruficapilla Mathews, ib. : Broome Hill, South-west Australia. Petroica goodenovii alexandrce Mathews, ib. : Alexandra, Northern Territory. Distribution. Australia. Not Tasmania. \ \ CCXCIII. Genus LITTLERA. Littlera Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 109, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) : Muscicapa chrysoptera. Not of Quoy and Gaimard = Petroica phoenicea Gould. 349. LITTLERA PHOENICEA. FLAME-BREASTED ROBIN. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 6 (pt. vm.), Sept. 1st, 1842. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 2, pi. 378, June 17th, 1920. Petroica phoenicea Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. i., pi. (7), Jan. 1st, 1837 : New South Wales (Sydney). Petroica phoenicea albicans Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 304, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Bayswater, Victoria. Petroica chrysoptera addenda Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 89, Sept. 18th, 1912 : Goulburn, New South Wales. Littlera phoenicea tasmanica Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. V., pt. I., p. 5, July 17th, 1922 : Tasmania. Distribution. New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania. 121 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. CCXCIV. Genus ERYTHRODRYAS. Erythrodryas Gould, Birds Austr., pt. viii. (Vol. III., pi. 1), Sept. 1st, 1842. Type (by subsequent designation, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1842, p. 112, Jan. 1843) : Saxicola rodinogaster Drapiez. 350. ERYTHRODRYAS RODINOGASTER. PINK-BREASTED ROBIN. Gould, Yol. III., pi. 1 (pt. viii.), Sept. 1st, 1842. Mathews, Yol. VIII., pt. 2, pi. 378, June 17th, 1920. Saxicola rodinogaster Drapiez, Ann. Gen. des Sci. Phys. Bruxelles, Vol. II., p. 341, 1819 : Maria Island, Tasmania. Muscicapa lathami Vigors, Zool. Journ., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 410, pi. 13, Jan. 1825 : Tasmania. Not Muscicapa lathami Stephens in Shaw's Gen. Zool., Vol. X., pt. 2, p. 336, 1817. Muscicapa chrysoptera Quoy et Gaimard, Voy. de l’Astrol. Zool., Vol. I., p. 177, pi. 4, fig. 2 (pref. June 29th) 1830 : Hobart, Tasmania. Petroica rodinogaster incxpectata Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 304, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Gippsland, Victoria. Distribution. Tasmania, Victoria (? South Australia), Islands of Bass Strait. CCXCV. Genus BELCH ERA. Belchera Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 109, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) : Petroica rosea Gould. 351. BELCHERA ROSEA. ROSE-BREASTED ROBIN. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 2 (pt. viii.), Sept. 1st, 1842. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 2, pi. 377, June 17th, 1920. Petroica rosea Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1839, p. 142, March 1840 : Hunter River, New South Wales. Belchera rosea queenslandica Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 3, p. 59, April 7th, 1916 : North Queensland. Distribution. Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria. CCXCVI. Genus MELANODRYAS. Melanodryas Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 283, Dec. 1865. Type (by monotypy) : Muscicapa cucullata Latham. 352. MELANODRYAS CUCULLATA. HOODED ROBIN. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 7 (pt. vm.), Sept. 1st, 1842. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 2, pi. 379, June 17th, 1920. Muscicapa cueullata Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. li. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales. (Enanthe pectoralis Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., nouv. ed., Vol. XXI., p. 436, May 30th, 1818 : “ Timor,” error=New South Wales. Grallina bicolor Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 233, Feb, 17th, 1827 : Prospect Hill, New South Wales. Saxicola jardinii Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 236, note, Feb. 17th, 1827 : =$ New South Wales. Melanodryas picaia Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 285, Dec. 1865 : North-west Coast Australia. Petroica cucullata vigorsi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 305, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Frankston, Victoria. Petroica cucullata westralensis Mathews, ib., p. 306 : Perth, West Australia. Petroica cucullata subpicata Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 306, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Alexandra, Northern Territory. Petroica cucullata melvillensis Zietz, South Austr. Ornith., Vol. I., pt. I., p. 15, Jan. 1st, 1914 : Melville Island, Northern Territory. Distribution. Australia. Not Tasmania. 122 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. CCXCVII. Genus AMAURODRYAS. Amaurodryas Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 286, Dec. 1865. Type (by monotypy) : Muscicapa vittata Quoy et Gaimard. 353. AMAURODRYAS VITTATA. DUSKY ROBIN. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 8 (pt. vni.). Sept. 1st, 1842. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 2, pi. 380, June 17th, 1920. Muscicapa vittata Quoy et Gaimard, Voy. de l'Astrol. Zool., Vol. I., p. 173 (pref. June 29th), 1830 : “ King George Sound, West Australia ” error = Tasmania. Petroica fusca Gould, Birds Austr., pt. vra. (Vol. HI., pi. 8), Sept. 1st, 1842 : Tasmania. Amaurodryas vittata Jcingi Mathews, Austral Av. Bee., Vol. II., pt. 5, p. 92, Sept. 24th, 1914 : King Island, Bass Straits. Amaurodryas vittata bassi Mathews, ib. : Barren Island, Flinders Group, Bass Straits. Distribution. Tasmania and islands of Bass Straits. CCXCVIIL Genus SMICRORNIS. Smicrornis Gould, Proe. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1842, p. 133, Feb. 1843. Type (by monotypy) : Smicrornis flavescens Gould. Subsmicrornis Campbell and others, Emu, Vol. XII., pt. 3, Suppl., p. 15, January 1913. Type (by monotypy) : Smicrornis brevirostris flavescens Gould. 354. SMICRORNIS BREVIROSTRIS. TREE-TIT. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 103 (pt. xxxrv.), Dec. 1st, 1848 ; Vol. II., pi. 104 (pt. xxi.), Dec. 1st, 1845. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 2, pi. 381, June 17th, 1920. Psilopus brevirostris Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., pi. (61), April 1st, 1838 : New South Wales (Sydney). Smicrornis flavescens Gould, Proe. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1842, p. 134, Feb. 1843 : Port Essington, Northern Territory. Smicrornis occidentalis Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Av., Vol. I., pt. IT,, p. 293, Feb. 3rd, 1851 : West Australia. Nom. nud. Smicrornis brevirostris pallescens Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 306, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Inkerman, Queensland. Smicrornis brevirostris viridescens Mathews, ib., p. 307 : Tailem Bend, South Australia. Smicrornis brevirostris occidentalis Mathews, ib. : Broome Hill, West Australia. Smicrornis brevirostris subflavescens Mathews, ib. : Alexandra, Northern Territory. Smicrornis brevirostris mungi Mathews, ib. : Mungi, Interior North-west Australia. Smicrornis brevirostris rogersi Mathews, ib. : (Napier Broome Bay) North-west Australia. Smicrornis brevirostris stirlingi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 39, April 2nd, 1912 : Stirling Ranges, South-west Australia. Smicrornis brevirostris melvillensis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 39, April 2nd, 1912 : Melville Island, Northern Territory. Smicrornis brevirostris matliewsi S. A. White, Trans. Proe. Roy. Soc., South Austr., Vol. XXXIX., p. 749, Dec. 1915 : Wantapella Swamp, Central Australia. Smicrornis brevirostris mallee Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. VIII., pt. 2, p. 132, June 17th, 1920 : Mallee, Victoria. Smicrornis brevirostris bonapartei Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. V., pt. i., p. 5, July 17th, 1922. New name for S. b. occidentalis Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. VIII., p. 443, i.e., p. 131 : Broome Hill, South-west Australia. Distribution. Australia. Not Tasmania. CCXCIX. Genus GERYGONE. Gerygone Gould, Grey’s Journ. Two Exped. Disc. Austr., Vol. II., App., p. 417, note, 1841. New name for Psilopus Gould, 1838. Type (by subsequent designation, Gray, 1840, p. 22): Psilopus albogularis Gould — P. olivaceus Gould. Psilopus Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., pi. (61), April 1st, 1838. Type as above : P. olivaceus Gould. Not Psilopus Meigen Syst. Beschr. Zweifl. Insekt, Vol. IV., p. 35, 1824. Ostiarius Gistel, Naturg. Thierr. fur hohere Schulen, p. x. (pref. Easter 1847), 1848. New name for Psilopus Oken, i.e., Gould. 123 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 355. GERYGONE OLIVACEA. WHITE-THROATED FLY-EATER. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 97 (pt. xxix.), Dec. 1st, 1847. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 2, pi. 381, June 17th, X 920. Psilopus olivaeeus Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., pi. (61), April 1st, 1838 : New South Wales (Sydney). Psilopus albogulciris Gould, ib. : New South Wales. Acanthiza flavigasta Giggles, Trans. Philos. Soc. Queensl., 1876, p. 11 : Normanton, Queensland. Gerygorw albigularis rogersi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 23, June 17th, 1911 : Derby North-west Austraha. Gerygone albigularis queenslandica Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 308, Jan. 31st, 1912 ■ Inkerman Queensland. Distribution. New South Wales, Queensland (not Cape York), Northern Territory, North-west Australia. CCC. Genus WILSON AVIS. Wilsonavis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 110, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) : Psilopus fuscus Gould, i.e., of 1846, not of 1838= Wilsonavis jusca richmondi Mathews. 356. WILSONAVIS RICHMONDI. BROWN FLY-EATER. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 98 (pt. xxv.), Dec. 1st, 1846. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 2, pi. 332, June 17th, 1920. Gerygone jusca Gould, Birds Austr., pt. xxv. (Vol. II., pi. 98), Dec. 1st, 1846 : New South Wales. Not Psilopus fuscus Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. ry., April 1838. Wilsonavis jusca richmondi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 7, p. 129, Jan. 29th, 1915 : Richmond River, New South Wales. Wilsonavis richmondi gouldiana Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. VIII., pt. 2, p. 143, June 17th, 1920 : Gosford, New South Wales. Distribution. New South Wales. CCCI. Genus ETHELORNIS. Ethelornis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 110, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) : Gerygone magnirostris Gould. 357. ETHELORNIS MAGNIROSTRIS. LARGE-BILLED FLY-EATER. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 100 (pt. xxxn.), Sept. 1st, 1848. Mathews, Vol. VII., pt. 3, pi. 383, Aug. 18th, 1920. Gerygone magnirostris Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Bond.), 1842, p. 133, Feb. 1843 : Greenhill Island, Port Essington, Northern Territory. Gerygone magnirostris melvillensis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 39, April 2nd, 1912 ■. Melville Island, Northern Territory. Distribution. Northern Territory, Melville Island. 358. ETHELORNIS CAIRNSENSIS. ALLIED FLY-EATER. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 3, pi. 384, Aug. 18th, 1920. Gerygone magnirostris cairnsensis Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 309, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Cairns, North Queensland. Ethelornis cairnsensis robini Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. VIII., pt. 3, p. 151, Aug. 18th, 1920 : Cape York, North Queensland. Distribution. North Queensland (Cape York to Cardwell district). 359. ETHELORNIS TENEBROSUS. DUSKY FLY-EATER. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 2, pi. 382, June 17th, 1920. Pseudog ery gone tenebrosa Hall, Victorian Nat., Vol. XVIII., No. 5, p. 79, Sept. 1901 : Fitzroy River, North-west Australia. 124 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Gerygone tenebrosa christophori Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 311, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Carnarvon, Mid- west Australia. Ethelornis magnirostris whitlocki Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. i., p. 24, June 30th, 1915: Port Hedland, Mid-west Australia. Distribution. West Australia, from Carnarvon to the Fitzroy River. 360. ETHELORNIS CHLORONOTUS. GREEN-BACKED FLY-EATER. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 102 (pt. xx.). Sept. 1st, 1845. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 2, pi. 382, June 17th, 1920. Gerygone ehloronotus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1842, p. 133, Feb. 1843 : Port Essington, Northern Territory. Gerygone chloronota darwini Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 40, April 2nd, 1912 : Parry's Creek, North-west Australia. Gerygone chloronota apsleyi Mathews, ib. : Melville Island, Northern Territory. Distribution. Northern Territory, North-west Australia. 361. ETHELORNIS LEVIGASTER. BUFF-BREASTED FLY-EATER. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 101 (pt. xxxiv.), Dec. 1st, 1848. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 3, pi. 385, Aug. 18th, 1920. Gerygone levigaster Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1842, p. 133, Feb. 1843 : near Port Essington, Northern Territory. Gerygone Icevigasler broomei Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 89, Sept. 18th, 1912 : Napier Broome Bay, North-west Australia. Ethelornis levigaster intermissus Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. VIII., pt. 3, p. 160, Aug. 18th, 1920 : Buchanan’s Islet, Melville Island, Northern Territory. Ethelornis levigaster perconfusus Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. VIII., pt. 3, p. 161, Aug. 18th, 1920 : (Derby) North-west Australia. Distribution. Northern Territory, North-west Australia. 362. ETHELORNIS CANTATOR. SINGING FLY-EATER. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 3, pi. 384, Aug. 18th, 1920. Pseudogerygone cantator Weatherill, Queensl. Nat., Vol. I., p. 74, Sept. 30th, 1908 : Moreton Bay, Queensland. Ethelornis cantator weatherilli Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. VIII., pt. 3, p. 164, Aug. 18th, 1920 : near Brisbane, Queensland. Distribution. South Queensland. 363. ETHELORNIS MOUKI. QUEENSLAND FLY-EATER. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 3, pi. 384, Aug. 18th, 1920. Gerygone pallida North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., pt. m., p. 196, April 27th, 1903 : Boar Pocket, Bellenden Ker Range, North Queensland. Not Gerygone pallida Finsch., Notes Leyden Mus., Vol. XX., p. 134, 1898. Gerygone levigaster mouki Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 310, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Cairns, Queensland. Distribution. North Queensland, Cairns district. 364. ETHELORNIS MASTERSI. GULF FLY-EATER. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 3, pi. 384, Aug. 18th, 1920. Gerygone simplex Masters, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. I., p. 52, Feb. 1876 : (Norman River) Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland. Not Gerygone simplex Cabanis, Joum. fur Ornith., 1872, p. 316. Pseudogerygone mastersi Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 224, footnote, March 26th, 1879. New name for Gerygone simplex Masters : Norman River, Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland. Gerygone levigaster mungi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 310, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Mungi (Interior), North- west Australia. Ethelornis normantoni Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. VIII., pt. 3, p. 169, Aug. 18th, 1920. New name for " E. mastersi,” described on p. 167. Distribution. Interior Northern Australia, from Normanton, Queensland, to Mungi, North-west Australia. VOL. X. 125 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 365. ETHELORNIS FUSCUS. FUSCOUS FLY-EATER. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 99 (pt. xxix.), Dec. 1st, 1847. Mathews, Vol. VIII., p. 3, pi. 386, Aug. 18th, 1920. 6 Psilopus fuscus Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., pi. (61), April 1st, 1838 : Australia = Swan River, West Australia. Psilopus culicivorus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Bond.), 1840, p. 174, July 1841 : (Swan River) West Australia. Gerygone culicivora wayensis Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 308, Jan. 31st, 1912: Lake Wav West Australia. ’ Gerygone culicivora dendyi Mathews, ib., p. 309 : Mungi (Interior), North-west Australia. Gerygone culicivora exsul Mathews, ib. : Rutherglen, Victoria. Pseudogerygone jacksoni Campbell, Emu, Vol. XI., pt. iv., p. 247, April 1st, 1912 : Mogil Mogil district. New South Wales. Gerygone culicivora berneyi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 119, Dec. 24th, 1912 ; (Tambo) Queensland. Ethelornis culicivorus musgravi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 7, p. 130, Jan. 21st, 1915 : Musgrave Ranges, Central Australia. Distribution. Interior of Australia ; coastal in the west and north to Mungi, North-west Australia, north- east to Tambo, Queensland, and south-east to Rutherglen, Victoria. CCCII. Genus PSEUDOGERYGONE. Pseudogerygone Sharpe, Notes Leyden Mus., Vol. I., p. 29, Jan. 1879. Type (by original designation) : Gerygone personata Gould. 366. PSEUDOGERYGONE PALPEBROSA. BLACK-THROATED FLY-EATER. [' Gerygone palpebrosa Wallace, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1865, p. 475, Oct. 1st: Aru Islands. Extra-limital.] Gould, Suppl. pi. 14 (pt. iv.), Dec. 1st, 1867. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 3, pi. 387, Aug. 18th, 1920. Gerygone personata Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1866, p. 217, Oct. 1st : Cape York, Queensland. Gerygone flavida Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 53, July 1877 : Herbert River district, Queensland. Pseudogerygone personata johnstoni Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 3, p. 59, April 7th, 1916 : Johnstone River, North Queensland. Pseudogerygone personata watsoni Mathews, Austral Av. Roc., Vol. III., pt. 4, p. 71, July 21st, 1917 : Watson River, North Queensland. Distribution. North Queensland, from Cape York to Cairns. CCCIII. Genus 1REDALEORNIS. Iredaleornis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 127, Dec. 24th, 1912. New name for Heteromyias Sharpe. Type (by monotvpy) : Pcecilodryas (?) cinereifrons Ramsay. Heteromyias Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., pp. 114, 239, March 26th, 1879. Type (by monotypy) : Pcecilodryas (?) cinereifrons Ramsay. Not Heteromyia Say., Amer. Entom., Vol. II., pi. 35. 1825. 367. IREDALEORNIS CINEREIFRONS. ASHY-FRONTED FLY-ROBIN. Gould, Birds New Guinea, Vol. II., pi. 15 (pt. x.), Sept. 1st, 1879. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 3, pi. 388, Aug. 18th, 1920. Pcecilodryas (?) cinereifrons Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1875, p. 588, April 1st, 1876 : near Cardwell, Queensland. Heteromyias cinereifrons athertoni Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 7, p. 130, Jan. 28th, 1915 : Atherton, North Queensland. Distribution. North Queensland (Cardwell district). CCCIV. Genus POECILODRYAS. Poecilodryas Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 287, Dec. 1865. Type (by subsequent designation, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 240, 1879) : Petroica superciliosa Gould. 368. POECILODRYAS SUPERCILIOSA. WHITE-BROWED ROBIN. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 9 (pt. xxvi.), Dec. 1st, 1847. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 3, pi. 388, Aug. 18th, 1920. 126 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Petroica supereiliosa Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1846, p. 106, Jan. 26th, 1847 : near Burdekin Lakes, Queensland. Poecilodryas supereiliosa yorki Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXXVI., p. 83, May 25th, 1916 : Cape York, Queensland. Distribution. North Queensland (Cape York to Burdekin Lakes). 369. POECILODRYAS CERVINIVENTRIS. BUFF-SIDED ROBIN. Gould, Suppl., pi. 15 (pt. hi.), Sept. 1st, 1859. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 4, pi. 389, Oct. 13th, 1920. Petroica {I) eerviniventris Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1857, p. 221, Jan. 12th, 1858: Victoria River, Northern Territory. Pachycephala supereiliosa belcheri Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 40, April 2nd, 1912 : Napier Broome Bay, North-west Australia. Poecilodryas supereiliosa derbyii Mathews, ib., Vol. II., pt. 4, p. 75, Dec. 29th, 1913: Derby, North-west Australia. Poecilodryas supereiliosa gregori Mathews, ib., pt. 5, p. 93, Sept. 24th, 1914 : Gregory River, West Queensland. Distribution. North-west Australia to Western Queensland (Derby to Gregory River). CCCV. Genus TREGELLASIA. Tregellasia Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 110, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) : Eopsaltria capito Gould. 370. TREGELLASIA CAPITO. LARGE-HEADED ROBIN. Gould, Suppl., pi. 17 (pt. ii.), Sept. 1st, 1855. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 4, pi. 390, Oct. 13th, 1920. Eopsaltria capito Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1851, p. 285, June 14th, 1854 : Brisbane River, Queensland. Eopsaltria nana Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 372, June 1878 : Cardwell, Queensland. Tregellasia capito barroni Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 3, p. 59, April 7th, 1916: Barron River, Queensland. Distribution. New South Wales (north) to Queensland (Cairns). 371. TREGELLASIA LEUCOPS. WHITE-THROATED FLY-ROBIN. [Leucophantes leueops Salvadori, Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen., Vol. VII., p. 921, 1875 =1876: Arfak Mountains, New Guinea. Extra-limital.] Gould, Birds New Guinea, Vol. II., pi. 18 (pt. xm.), 1882. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 4, pi. 390, Oct. 13th, 1920. \ Poecilodryas leueops albigularis Rothschild and Hartert, Nov. Zool., Vol. XIV., p. 459, Nov. 1st, 1907 : Cape York, Queensland. Tregellasia leueops paira Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 3, p. 59, April 7th, 1916 : Paira, North Queensland. Distribution. North Queensland (Cape York to Claudie River). CCGVI. Genus KEMPIELLA. Kempiella Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 1, p. 12, Aug. 2nd, 1913. Type (by original designation) : Kempiella kempi Mathews. 372. KEMPIELLA KEMPI. YELLOW-BREASTED ROBIN. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 4, pi. 390, Oct. 13th, 1920. Kempiella kempi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. I., p. 12, Aug. 2nd, 1913 : Cape York, Queensland. Distribution. North Queensland (Cape York to Claudie River). 127 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. CCCVII. Genus PACHYGEPHALA. Pachycephala Vigors, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XIV., pt. 3, p. 444 (before July), 1825. Type (by original designation) : Muscicapa pectoralis Latham. 373. PACHYCEPHALA PECTORALIS. WHITE-THROATED THICKHEAD. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 64 (pt. xxxii.), Sept. 1st, 1848 ; Vol. II., pi. 65 (pt. xvm.); March 1st, 1845. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 4, pi. 391, Oct. 13th, 1920. Turdus gutturalis Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. xli. (after May 30th), 1801 : Port Jackson, New South Wales. Not Turdus gutturalis P. L. S. Muller, Natursyst. Suppl., p. 144, 1776. Muscicapa pectoralis Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. li. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales (Port Jackson). Motacilla dubia Shaw and Nodder, Nat. Miscell., Vol. XXII., pi. 949, March 1st, 1811 : New South Wales (Sydney). Laniarius albicollis Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., nouv. ed„ Vol. XIII., p. 299, Sept. 13th, 1817 : “ Batavia ” error=New South Wales (Sydney). Turdus lunularis Stephens in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., Vol. XIII., pt. n„ p. 200, Feb. 18th, 1826 : New South Wales (Sydney). Pachycephala fusca Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 240, Feb. 17th, 1827 : New South Wales (Sydney). Pachycephala fuliginosa Vigors and Horsfield, ib., p. 241, South Australia = Port Lincoln. Pachycephala glaucura Gould, Birds Austr., pt. xvm. (Vol. II., pi. 65), March 1st, 1845 : Tasmania. Pachycephala occidentals Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 212, Jan. 1878 : West Australia = Albany. Pachycephala queenslandica Reichenow, Ornith. Monatsb., 1899, p. 8, Jan. : Bellenden Ker Range, North Queensland. Pachycephala meridionalis North, Rec. Austr. Mus., Vol. V., p. 126, Jan. 28th, 1904 : hills near Adelaide, South Australia. Not Pachycephala meridionals Biittikofer, Notes Leyden Mus., Vol. XV., p. 168, 1893. Pachycephala mestoni De Vis, Ann. Queensl. Mus., Vol. VI., p. 44, 1905 : Bellenden Ker Range, North Queensland. Pachycephala halmaturina A. G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. V., pt. in., p. 140, Jan. 1st, 1906 : Kangaroo Island. Pachycephala intermedia “ North,” A. G. Campbell, ib., p. 142 : Kangaroo Island. Not Pachycephala intermedia Layard, Ibis, 1876, p. 54. Pachycephala gutturalis ashbyi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 313, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Blackhall Ranges, South Queensland. Pachycephala gutturalis youngi Mathews, ib. : (Lai Lai) Victoria. Pachycephala temporalis Mathews, Emu, Vol. XV., pt. ii., p. 128, Oct. 1st, 1915 : Error only. Pachycephala pectoralis bettingtoni Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. VIII., pt. 4, p. 221, Oct. 13th, 1920 : Bellbird Bore, Mallee, Victoria. Pachycephala pectoralis myponga Mathews, ib., p. 222 : Myponga, Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. Pachycephala pectoralis interjecta Mathews, ib. : Stirling Ranges, South-west Australia. Distribution. Extra-tropical Australia and Tasmania. Not interior, but apparently as far north as Bellenden Ker Range, Queensland. 374. PACHYCEPHALA ROBUSTA. BIG-BILLED THICKHEAD. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 4, pi. 392, Oct. 13th, 1920. Pachycephala robusta Masters, Pro. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. I., p. 49, Feb. 1876 : Cape York, Queensland. Eopsaltria hilli Campbell, Emu, Vol. X., pt. in., p. 168, Dec. 1st, 1910: Hecla Island, Parry Harbour, North-west Australia. Pachycephala gutturalis consobrina Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 3, p. 76, June 28th, 1912: Buchanan Island, Northern Territory. Pachycephala gutturalis violetae Mathews, ib. : (Daly River) West Northern Territory. Pachycephala gutturalis longirostris Zietz, South Austr. Ornith., Vol. I., pt. I., p. 15, Jan. 1st, 1914: Melville Island, Northern Territory. Not Pachycephala longirostra Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. m., pi. (55), 1838. Pachycephala robusta borroloola Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 6, p. 137, June 25th, 1918 : (Borroloola) McArthur River, Northern Territory. Pachycephala robusta intercedens Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. VIII., pt. 4, p. 227, Oct. 13th, 1920 : Normanton, Queensland. Distribution. Northern Tropical Australia from Parry Harbour, North-west Australia, to Cape York, Queensland. 128 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 375. PACHYCEPHALA MELANURA. BLACK-TAILED THICKHEAD. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 66 (pt. xxxii.), Sept. 1st, 1848. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 4, pi. 393, Oct. 13th, 1920. Pachycephala melanura Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1842, p. 134, Feb. 1843 : North-west Coast =Derby, North- west Australia. Pachycephala melanura bynoei Mathews, Austral Av. Ree., Vol. III., pt. 6, p. 136, June 25th, 1918 : Port Head- land, Mid-west Australia. Distribution. Mid- and North-west Australia from Point Cloates to Derby. CCCVIII. Genus LEWINORNIS. Lewinornis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pts. 2 & 3, p. 57, Oct. 23rd, 1913. Type (by original designation) : Sylvia rufiventris Latham. 376. LEWINORNIS RUFIVENTRIS. RUFOUS-BREASTED THICKHEAD. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 67 (pt. iv.), Sept. 1st, 1841 ; Vol. II., pi. 68 (pt. xxxi.), June 1st, 1848. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 4, pi. 394, Oct. 13th, 1920. Turdus prasinus Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. xli. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales. Not Turdus prasinus Sparrman, Mus. Carlson, fax. IV., No. 86-87, 1789. Sylvia rufiventris Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. liv. (after May 30th, 1801) : New South Wales (Sydney). Turdus pectoralis Lewin, Birds New Holland, pi. viii., 1808 : New South Wales. Not Muscicapa pectoralis Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. li., 1801. Nor Turdus pectoralis Latham, Index Ornith., p. 357, 1790. Laniariusruhrigaster Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat.,nouv. ed., Vol. XIII., p. 300, Sept. 13th, 1817: “ Africa " = New South Wales. Pachycephala striata Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 240, Feb. 17th, 1827 : New South Wales. Lanius macularius Quoy et Gaimard, Voy. de l'Astrol. Zool., Vol. I., p. 257 (pref. June 29th), 1830 : New South Wales. Pachycephala falcata Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1842, p. 134, Feb. 1843 : Port Essington, Northern Territory. Pachycephala pallida Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 224, May 1878 : Gulf of Carpentaria, Queens- land. Pachycephala rufiventris colletti Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 41, April 2nd, 1912 : Parry’s Creek, North-west Australia. Pachycephala rufiventris minor Zietz, South Austr. Ornith., Vol. I., pt. i., p. 15, Jan. 1st, 1914 : Melville Island, Northern Territory. Lewinornis rufiventris maudece S. A. White, Trans. Proc. Roy. Soc. South Austr., Vol. XXXIX., p. 749, Dec. 1915 : Everard Ranges, Central Australia. Lewinornis rufiventris didimus Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 6, p. 159, June 25th, 1918 : South-west Australia. Lewinornis rufiventris dulcior Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. VIII., pt 5, p. 244, Dec. 15th, 1920 : Watson River, Cape York Peninsula, North Queensland. Lewinornis rufiventris gawlerensis Mathews, ib. : Wataker, Gawler Ranges, South Australia. Lewinornis rufiventris waddelli Mathews, ib. : Warunda Creek, Eyre’s Peninsula, South Australia. Distribution. Australia (also through the interior). Not Tasmania. CCCIX. Genus GILBERTORNIS. Gilbertornis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 110, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) : Pachycephala rufogularis Gould. 377. GILBERTORNIS RUFOGULARIS. RED-LORED THICKHEAD. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 70 (pt. xvm.), March 1st, 1845. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 5, pi. 395, Dec. 1 5th, 1920. Pachycephala rufogularis Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p. 164, July 1841 : South Australia (within two miles of Adelaide). Gilbertornis rufogularis zanda Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 3, p. 59, April 7th, 1916 : Bolton’s Crab- hole, Mallee, Victoria. Distribution. Adjoining parts of Victorian and South Australian Mallee. 129 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 378. GILBERTORNIS INORNATUS. BLACK-LORED THICKHEAD. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 71 (pt. xxvm.), March 1st, 1845. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 5, pi. 395, Dec. 15th, 1920. Pachycephala inornata Gould, Proe. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p. 164, July 1841 : South Australia. Pachycephala gilbertii Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Loud.), 1844, p. 107, Oct. : Western Australia (York district). Gilbertornis gilberti mallee Mathews, Austral Av. Ree., Vol. II., pt. 7, p- 130, Jan. 28th, 1915 : Gerahmin, Mallee Victoria. Distribution. South-west Australia ; Mallee of South Australia and Victoria (New South Wales ?). CCOX. Genus ALISTERORNIS. Alisterornis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. Ill, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) : Pachycephala lanioides Mathews. 379. ALISTERORNIS LANIOIDES. WHITE-BELLIED THICKHEAD. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 69 (pt. xvn.), Dec. 1st, 1844. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 5, pi. 396, Dec. Pachycephala lanioides Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1839, p. 142, March 1840 : North-west Coast Australia= Derby, North-west Australia. Pachycephala fretorum De Vis, Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensl., Vol. VI., pt. 5, p. 237, 1889 : Kimberley =Normanton, Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland. Pachycephala lanioides buchanani Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 3, p. 77, June 28th, 1912 : Buchanan Islet, Northern Territory. Alisterornis lanioides carnarvoni Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 4, p. 75, Dec. 29th, 1913 : Carnarvon, Mid-west Australia. Distribution. From Carnarvon, Mid-west Australia, northwards (coastal in mangroves) to the Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland. CCCXI. Genus TIMIXOS. Timixos Blyth, Joum. As. Soc. Bengal, Vol. XI., p. 194 (after Feb. 26th), 1842. Type (by monotypy) : Timixos meruloides Blyth = Pachycephala olivacea Vigors and Horsfield. 380. TIMIXOS OLIVACEUS. OLIVE THICKHEAD. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 73 (pt. xxn.), March 1st, 1845. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 5, pi. 396, Dec. 15th, 1920. Pachycephala olivacea Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 241, Feb. 17th, 1827 : No locality = Tasmania. Timixos meruloides Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, Vol. XI., p. 195 (after Feb. 26th), 1842 : Locality unknown = Tasmania. Pachycephala olivacea tregellasi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 315, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Olinda, Victoria. Pachycephala olivacea macphersonianus H. L. White, Emu, Vol. XIX., pt. iv., p. 273, April lst=May 29th, 1920: Macpherson Range, Queensland. Distribution. Tasmania and islands of Bass Straits ; Victoria, New South Wales, South Queensland. CCCXIX. Genus MATTINGLEYA. Maftingleya Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. Ill, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) : Pachycephala peninsulas Hartert. 381. MATTINGLEYA GRISEICEPS. GREY THICKHEAD (ROBIN). [Pachycephala griseiceps Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1858, p. 178, July 13th : Aru Islands. Extra-limital.] Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 5, pi. 397, Dec. 15th, 1920. Eopsaltria (?) inornata Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1874, p. 604, April 1st, 1875: Rockingham Bay, Queensland. Pachycephala peninsulas Hartert, Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club, Vol. VIII., p. xxxiii., Feb. 27th, 1899 : Cape York, Queensland. 130 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Pachycephla enidce Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 317, Jan. 31st, 1912. New name for Eopsaltria (?) inornata Ramsay. Distribution. North Queensland (Cape York to Rockingham Bay). CCCXIII. Genus MU SC IT RE A. Muscitrea Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, Vol. XVI., pt. i„ p. 121, Feb. 1847. Type (by monotypy) : Tephrodornis grisola Blyth. Hyloterpe Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Av., Vol. I., pt. i„ p. 329, June 1850. Type (by monotypy) (Of. Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., p. 57, 1913, Hyloterpe, Cabanis Archiv. fur Nat. Wiegman, 1847, p. 321 (after Nov.), being a nomen nudum) : Pachycephala orpheus Jardine. MllSCiterpe. Gen. Nov. Type Pachycephala simplex Gould, 382. MUSCITREA SIMPLEX. BROWN THICKHEAD. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 72 (pt. xxxi), June 1st, 1848. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 5, pi. 397, Dec. 15th, 1920. Pachycephala simplex Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Bond.), 1842, p. 135, Feb. 1843 : Port Essington, Northern Territory. Pachycephala grisola riordani Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 41, April 2nd, 1912 : Melville Island, Northern Territory. Distribution. Northern Territory. CCCXIV. Genus PENECENANTHE. Peneoenanthe Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. VIII., pt. 5, p. 273, Dec. 15th, 1920. Type (by original designation) : Eopsaltria leucura Gould. 383. PENECENANTHE LEUCURA. MANGROVE ROBIN. Gould, Suppl., pi. 18 (pt. v.), Aug. 1st, 1869. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 5, pi. 398, Dec. 15th, 1920. Eopsaltria leucura Gould, Birds Austr., Suppl., pt. v. (pi. 18), Aug. 1st, 1869, or Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. IV., Vol. IV., p. 108, Aug. 1st, 1869 : Cape York, Queensland. [Myiolestes pulverulentus Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Av., Vol. I., p. 358, Feb. 3rd, 1851. Nomen nudum.'] Poecilodryas cincreiceps Hartert, Nov. Zool., Vol. XII., p. 231, Feb. 11th, 1905 : near Hampton Harbour, Mid- west Australia. Pachycephala leucura alligator Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 312, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Alligator River, Northern Territory. Pachycephala leucura connectens Mathews, ib. : Point Torment error=Napier Broome Bay, North-west Australia. Pachycephla leucura greda Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. 1., pt. 2, p. 40, April 2nd, 1912 : Melville Island, Northern Territory. Quoyornis leucurus normani Mathews, ib., Vol. II., pt. 5, p. 93, Sept. 24th, 1914 : Norman River, North Queensland. Distribution. Coastal in mangroves throughout tropical Northern Australia. CCCXV. Genus QUOYORNIS. Quoyornis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. Ill, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) : Muscicapa georgiana Quoy et Gaimard. 384. QUOYORNIS GEORGIANUS. WHITE-BREASTED SHRIKE-ROBIN. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 13 (pt. xxiii.), June 1st, 1846. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 5, pi. 398, Dec. 15th, 1920. Muscicapa georgiana Quoy et Gaimard, Voy. de l’Astrol. Zool., Vol. I., p. 175 (pref. June 29th), 1830 : King George Sound, West Australia. Eopsaltria leucogaster Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1846, p. 19, May : Perth, West Australia. Quoyornis georgianus warreni Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. in., p. 59, Apl. 7th, 1916 : Warren River (South), West Australia. Distribution. South-west Australia. 131 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. CCCXVL Genus EOPSA LTRIA . Eopsaltria^Swm^cm^Fauna Boreal. Amer., p. 492, 1831= Feb. 1832. Type (by original designation) : Motacilla 385. EOPSALTRIA AUSTRALIS. YELLOW-BREASTED SHRIKE-ROBIN. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 11 (pt. xm.), Dec. 1st, 1843. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 5, pi. 399, Dec. 15th, 1920. Motacilla australis White, Journ. Voy. New South Wales, p. 239, pi. (before Aug.), 1790 : New South Wales. Todus flavigaster Latham, Index Ornith., Vol. I., p. 268 (before Dee. 9th), 1790 : New South Wales (Sydney). Muscicapa australis Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. 1. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales (Sydney). Muscicapa flavigastra Latham, ib., p. lii. .- New South Wales (Sydney). Sylvia flavigastra Latham, ib., p. liv. : New South Wales (Sydney). Todus xanthogaster Shaw, Gen. Zool., Vol. VIII., pt. i., p. 132, 1812 : emendation only. Sylvia chrysogastra Stephens, in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., Vol. X., p. 726, Sept. 1817 : emendation only. Muscicapa griseicapilla Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., nouv. ed„ Vol. XXI., p. 489, May 30th, 1818 : “ Timor ” errore=New South Wales (Sydney). Eopsaltria flavicollis Swainson, Classif. Birds, Vol. II., p. 250, July 1st, 1837 : based on Lewin’s pi. 23 : New South Wales (Sydney). Eopsaltria parvulus Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv„ App., p. 2, April 1st, 1838 : New South Wales (Sydney). Eopsaltria chrysorrhos Gould, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. IV., Vol. IV., p. 109, Aug. 1st, 1869 : eastern parts of New South Wales. Eopsaltria magnirostris Gould, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. IV., Vol. IV., p. 109, Aug. 1st, 1869 (ex Ramsay MS.) : Rockingham Bay, North Queensland. Eopsaltria jacksoni Le Souef, Emu, Vol. IX., pt. n., p. 70, pi. in., Oct. 1st, 1909: Herberton Range, North Queensland. Pachycephala australis viridior Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 316, Jan. 31st, 1912 : (Selby) Victoria. Eopsaltria coomooboolaroo Campbell, Emu, Vol. XII., pt. in., p. 191, Jan. 1st, 1913: Coomooboolaroo, Queensland. Eopsaltria australis austina Mathews, Emu, Vol. XIV., pt. i„ p. 60, July 1st, 1914 : Cobbora, New South Wales. Distribution. Eastern Australia from the Rockingham Bay district, Queensland, to Victoria. 386. EOPSALTRIA GRISEOGULARIS. GREY-BREASTED SHRIKE-ROBIN. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 12 (pt. xm.), Dec. 1st, 1843. Mathews, Vol. VIII., pt. 5, pi. 399, Dec. 15th, 1920. Muscicapa gularis Quoy et Gaimard, Voy. de l’Astrol. Zool., Vol. I., p. 176 (pref. June 29th), 1830 : King George Sound, West Australia. Not Muscicapa gularis Stephens in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., Vol. X., p. 392, 1817. Eopsaltria griseogularis Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., App., p. 2, April 1st, 1838 : Swan River, West Australia. Pachycephala australis rosinae Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 317, Jan. 31st, 1912: Eyre’s Peninsula, South Australia. Eopsaltria griseogularis wongani Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. VIII., pt. v., p. 299, Dec. 15th, 1920 : Wongan Hills, West Australia. Eopsaltria griseogularis quoyi Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. VIII., pt. v., p. 399, Dec. 15th, 1920 : Albany, West Australia. Distribution. South-west Australia to South Australia, from Perth, S.W.A., to Eyre’s Peninsula, S.A. CCCXVII. Genus RHIPIDURA. Rhipidura Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 246, Feb. 17th, 1827. Type (by subsequent designation, Gray, 1840, p. 32) : Muscicapa flabellifera Gmelin. Ripidicala Boie, Neues Staats Magazin (Schleswig), Vol. I., Heft 2, p. 489,1832. Type (by subsequent designation, Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 184, 1913) : Muscicapa flabellifera Gmelin. Rhipidicidura “ Boie ” Gray, Handl. Gen. Sp. Birds, B.M., pt. i., p. 330 (before Feb. 2nd, 1870), 1869. Nom. nud. (error for above ?); 132 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 386. RHIPIDURA FLABELLIFERA. FANTAIL. Muscicapa flabellifera Gmelin, Syst. Nat., pt. n., p. 943, April 20th, 1789 : Dusky Sound, New Zealand. Extra- limital.] Gould, Vol. II., pi. 83 (pt. i.), Dec. 1st, 1840. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. I., pis. 400, 401, Feb. 15th, 1921. Rhipidura albiscapa Gould, Birds Austr., pt. i. (Yol. II., pi. 83), Dec. 1st, 1840 : Tasmania. Rhipidura nassata “ 111.” Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Av., Vol. I., pt. I., p. 323, June 1850. Nom. nud : Tasmania. Rhipidura preissi Cabanis, Mus. Heine, Vol. I., p. 57 (after Oct. 23rd), 1851 : West Australia. Rhipidura saturata Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 311, March 26th, 1879 : Tasmania. Not Rhipidura saturata Salvadori, Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen., Vol. XII., p. 323, 1875. Rhipidura diemenensis Sharpe, Ibis, July 1879, p. 368. New name for R. saturata Sharpe. Rhipidura sharpei Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. IV., p. 318, Dec. 1st, 1879. New name for R. saturata Sharpe. Rhipidura albiceps Diggles, Ornith. Austr., pt. m., 1866. Error for albiscapa only. Rhipidura phasiana De Vis, Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensl., Vol. I., pt. hi., p. 156, after Sept. 1884 : Norman River, North-west Queensland. Rhipidura alhicauda North, Ibis, July 1895, p. 340 : Stokes’ Pass, Central Australia. Rhipidura albiscapa alisteri Mathews, Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club, Vol. XXVII., p. 87, April 27th, 1911 : Homebush, New South Wales. Rhipidura flabellifera victories Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 318, Jan. 31st, 1912 : (Ringwood) Victoria. Rhipidura flabellifera whitei Mathews, ib. : (Grange) South Australia. Rhipidura flabellifera subphasiana Mathews, ib., p. 319 : Derby, North-west Australia. Rhipidura flabellifera harterti Mathews, ib. : Inkerman, Queensland. Rhipidura flabellifera frerei Mathews, ib. : Bartle Frere, North Queensland. Rhipidura flabellifera buchanani Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 90, Sept. 18th, 1912 : Buchanan Island, Northern Territory. Distribution. Australia and Tasmania. CCCXVIII. Genus HOWE AVIS. Howeavis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. Ill, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation): Muscicapa rufifrons Latham. 387. HOWEAVIS RUFIFRONS. RUFOUS FANTAIL. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 84 (pt. xxni.), June 1st, 1846 ; Gould, Birds New Guinea, Vol. II., pi. 32 (pt. n.), Jan. 1st, 1876. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. i., pi. 402, Feb. 15th, 1921. Muscicapa rufifrons Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. 1. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales (Sydney). Rhipidura dryas Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1842, p. 132, Feb. 1843 : Port Essington, Northern Territory. Rhipidura intermedia North, Viet. Naturalist, Vol. XIX., p. 101, Nov. 6th, 1902 : Bellenden Ker Range, North Queensland. Rhipidura mayi Ashby, Emu, Vol. XI., pt. I., p. 41, July 1st, 1911 : Anson Bay, Northern Territory. Rhipidura rufifrons inexpectata Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 319, Jan. 31st, 1912 : (Dandenong Ranges) Victoria. Rhipidura rufifrons kempi Mathews, ib., p. 320, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Cape York, North Queensland. Rhipidura rufifrons parryi Mathews, ib. : (Parry’s Creek) North-west Australia. Distribution. Northern Tropical Australia and extending down the east coast into Victoria, but only to Napier Broome Bay on the west. COCXIX. Genus SETOSURA. Setosura Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pts. 2-3, p. 58, Oct. 23rd, 1913. Type (by original designation): Rhipidura setosa melvillensis Mathews. VOL. X. 133 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 388. SETOSURA SETOSA. NORTHERN FANTAIL. [Muscipeta setosa Quoy et Gaimard, Voy. de l’Astrol., Vol. I., p. 181, pi. 4, f . 4 (pref. June 29th), 1830 : New Ireland. Extra limital.] Gould, Yol. II., pi. 85 (pt. xxix.), Dec. 1st, 1847. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. i., pi. 403, Feb. 15th, 1921. Rhipidura is lira Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Pond.), 1840, p. 174, July 1841 : Port Essington, Northern Territory. Rhipidura superciliosa Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1874, p. 604, April 1st, 1875 : Rockingham Bay, Queen- land. Rhipidura setosa melvillensis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 41, April 2nd, 1912 : Melville Island, Northern Territory. Rhipidura setora [sic] tormenti Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 90, Sept. 18th, 1912: Point Torment, North-west Australia. Setosura setosa macgillivrayi Mathews, Bull. Brit. Om. Club, Vol. XXXVI., p. 90, July 7th, 1916 : Leichhardt River, Queensland. Setosura setosa davidi Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. IX., pt. I., p. 31, Feb. loth, 1921. New name for preceding. Distribution. Northern Tropical Australia (apparently missing from Cape York). CCCXX. Genus LEUCOCIRCA. Leucocirca Swainson, Naturalists’ Library (Jardine) Orn., Vol. X., Flycatchers, p. 126, pi. xi., May 19th, 1838. Type (by monotypy) : Leucocirca laticauda= Turdus leucophrys Latham. Sauloprocta ■ Cabanis, Mus. Heine, Vol. I., p. 57 (after Oct. 23rd), 1851. Type (by monotypy): Rhipidura mota- cilloides Vigors and Horsfield = Turdus leucophrys Latham. 389. LEUCOCIRCA LEUCOPHRYS. BLACK AND WHITE FANTAIL. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 86 (pt. xxxi.), June 1st, 1848. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. I., pi. 404, Feb. 15th, 1921. Turdus leucophrys Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. xlv. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales (Sydney). Muscicapa tricolor Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., nouv. ed., Vol. XXI., p. 490, May 30th, 1818: “Timor "error =New South Wales (Sydney). Rhipidura motacilloides Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 248, Feb. 17th, 1827 : George River, New South Wales. Leucocirca laticauda Swainson, Nat. Libr. (Jardine), Vol. X., Flycatchers, p. 130, pi. xi., May 19th, 1818 : No locality=New South Wales (Sydney). Rhipidura picata Gould, Introd. Birds Austr., 8vo ed., p. 40, Aug. 1st, 1848: Port Essington, Northern Territory. Rhipidura tricolor utingu Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 90, Sept. 18th, 1902 : Cape York, Queensland. Leucocirca leucophrys carteri Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. IX., pt. I., p. 41, Feb. 15th, 1921 : Broome Hill, South- west Australia. Distribution. Australia. Not Tasmania. CCCXXI. Genus MASTERSORNIS. Mastersornis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 4, p. 78, July 21st, 1917. Type (by original designation) : Todus rubecula Latham. Myiagra Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 250, Feb. 17th, 1827. Type (by subsequent designation. Gray, 1840, p. 32) : M. rubeculoides— Todus rubecula Latham. Not Myagrus Bois, Isis, 1826, Heft x., col. 973 = Myiagrus cf. Wied., 1831. 390. MASTERSORNIS RUBECULA. LEADEN FLYCATCHER. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 89 (pt. xxm.), June 1st, 1846 ; Vol. II., pi. 90 (pt. xxxi), June 1st, 1848. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. i., pi. 405, Feb. 15th, 1921. Todus rubecula Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. xxxii. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales (Sydney). Myiagra rubeculoides Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 253, Feb. 17th, 1827 : New South Wales (Sydney). 134 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Myiagra plumbea Vigors and Horsfield, ib. : New South Wales. Muscicapa leucogastra Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, Vol. XIII., p. 386, 1844, 1845 : “ Probably Malayan ” — New South Wales (Sydney). Muscicapa rubecula Blyth, ib. : No locality=New South Wales (Sydney). Myiagra concinna Gould, Birds Austr,, pt. xxxi. (Vol. II., pi. 90), June 1st, 1848 : Port Essington, Northern Territory. Myiagra grisea Pucheran, Voy. Pole. Sud., Vol. III., p. 78, Oct. 10th, 1853: Port Essington, Northern Territory. Myiagra rubecula yorki Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 321, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Cape York, Queensland. Myiagra rubecula ringwoodi Mathews, ib. : (Ringwood) Victoria. Myiagra rubecula melvillensis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 41, April 2nd, 1912 : Melville Island, Northern Territory. Myiagra rubecula broomei Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 90, Sept. 18th, 1912 : Napier Broome Bay, North-west Australia. Distribution. Northern Australia, extending down on the east coast into Victoria, but only as far as Napier Broome Bay on the west. 391. MASTERSORNIS CYANOLEUCUS. SATIN FLYCATCHER. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 91 (pt. xxxi.), June 1st, 1848. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. n., pi. 406, April 15th, 1921. Platyrhynchos cyanoleucus Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., nouv. ed., Vol. XXVII., p. 11, Dec. 26th, 1818 : “ Timor ” error=New South Wales (Sydney). Myiagra nitida Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., App., p. 1, April 1st, 1838 : New South Wales (Sydney). Myiagra nitida robinsoni Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 322, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Cooktown, North Queensland. Distribution. Eastern Australia, from North Queensland to Victoria and Tasmania. 392. MASTERSORNIS RUFICOLLIS. BROAD-BILLED FLYCATCHER. [. Platyrhynchos ruficollis Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., nouv. ed., Vol. XXVII., p. 13, Dec. 26th, 1818 : “ Nouvelle Hollands ” = Timor. Synonym : Myiagra latirostris Swainson, Naturalist’s Library (Jardine) Orn., Vol. X., Flycatchers, pp. 208 and 255, May 19th, 1838 : Loc. unknown ; in Paris Museum = Timor. Extra-limital.] Gould, Vol. II., pi. 92 (pt. xxxii.), Sept. 1st, 1848. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. n., pi. 406, April 15th, 1921. Myiagra latirostris Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p. 172, July 1841 : Port Essington, Northern Territory. Not Myiagra latirostris Swainson, 1838, as above. Myiagra latirostris kempi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 322, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Cape York, North Queensland. Myiagra latirostris cooperi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 42, April 2nd, 1912 : Melville Island, Northern Territory. Myiagra latirostris tormenti Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 91, Sept. 18th, 1912: Point Torment, North-west Australia. Distribution. Tropical Northern Australia. CCCXXXI. Genus MA CHAERIRH YNCH US. Machaerirhynchus Gould, Birds Austr. Suppl. (pt. i.), pi. 11, March 15th, 1851. Type (by monotypy) : M. flaviventer Gould. 393. MACHAERIRHYNCHUS FLAVIVENTER. YELLOW-BREASTED WHERRY-BILL. Gould, Suppl., pi. 11 (pt. i.), March 15th, 1851. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 2, pi. 407, April 15th, 1921. ^ Machaerirhynchus flaviventer Gould, Birds Austr. Suppl., pt. i. (pi. 11), March 15th, 1851 : Cape York, Queensland. Machaerirhynchus flaviventer secundus Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 322, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Bartle Frere North Queensland. ’ ’ Distribution. North Queensland (Cape York to Cardwell). 135 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. CCCXXIII. Genus SEISURA. Seisura Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 249, Feb. 17th, 1827. Type (by monotypy) : T urdus inquietus Latham. 394. SEISURA INQUIETA. RESTLESS FLYCATCHER. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 87 (pt. xxxii.), Sept. 1st, 1848. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 2, pi. 407, April 15th, 1921. Turdus inquietus Latham, Index Omith. Suppl., p. xl. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales (Sydney). Turdus dubius Latham, ib. : Same locality. Not Turdus dubius Bechstein, Gemein. Naturg. Deutschl., Vol. IV., p. 240 (pref. March), 1795. Turdus volitans Latham, ib., p. xli. : same locality. Turdus muscicola Latham, ib., p. xliii. : same locality. Seisura ruxna Gould, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. IV., Vol. VI., p. 224, Sept. 1st, 1870 : “ Northern Australia ” = Northern Territory (West). Seisura inquieta nea Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 323, Jan. 31st, 1912 : (Dawson River) Queensland. Seisura inquieta westralensis Mathews, ib. : Broome Hill, South-west Australia. Seisura inquieta rogersi Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. IX., pt. 2, p. 68, April 15th, 1921; Derby, North-west Australia. Distribution. Australia. Not Tasmania (straggler). CCCXXIV. Genus OPHRYZONE. Ophryzone Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1868, p. 383, Oct. 1st. Type (by monotypy) : Arses kaupi Gould. 395. OPHRYZONE KAUPI. BLACK-BREASTED FLYCATCHER. Gould, Suppl., pi. 10 (pt. i.), March 15th, 1851. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 2, pi. 408, April 15th, 1921. Arses kaupi Gould, Birds Austr. Suppl., pt. I. (pi. 10), March 15th, 1851 : North coast of Australia = Cairns, Queensland. Arses terraereginae Campbell, Proc. Roy. Soc. Viet., n.s., Vol. VII., p. 25, Jan. 1895: Bloomfield district. North Queensland. Distribution. North Queensland (Cairns district). CCCXXV. Genus PROSEISURA. Proseisura Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XLI., p. 35, Nov. 30th, 1920. Type (by original designation) : Arses lorealis De Vis. 396. PROSEISURA LOREALIS. FRILL-NECKED FLYCATCHER. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 2, pi. 408, April 15th, 1921. Arses lorealis De Vis, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Ser. II., Vol. X„ p. 171, Sept. 9th, 1895 : Cape York, Queensland. Arses candidior “ De Vis ” Le Souef, Ibis, July 1897, p. 397 : Cape York. Nomen nudum. Distribution. North Queensland (Cape York). CCCXXVI. Genus PIEZORHYNCHUS. Piezorhynehus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p. 171, July 1841. Type (by monotypy) : P. nitidus Gould = Drymophila alecto Temminck et Laugier subsp. 397. PIEZORHYNCHUS ALECTO. SHINING FLYCATCHER. [ Drymophila alecto Temminck et Laugier, Planch. Color. d’Ois., 72e livr. (Vol. IV., pi. 430), April 25th, 1827 : “ Celebes,” error =Ternate. Extra-limital.] Gould, Vol. II., pi. 88 (pt. xw.), March 1st, 1844. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 2, pi. 409, April 15th, 136 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Piezorhynchus nitidus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p, 171, July 1841 : North-west Coast of Australia = Port Essington, Northern Territory. Piezorhynchus nitidus wardelli Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXVII., p. 99, July 13th, 1911 : Cooktown, Queensland. Monarcha alecto melvillensis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 42, April 2nd, 1912 : Melville Island, Northern Territory. Monarcha alicto [sic] tormenti Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 91, Sept. 18th, 1912 : Point Torment, North-west Australia. Monarcha alecto campbelli Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 126, Dec. 24th, 1912 : Cape York, Queens- land. Distribution. Tropical Northern Australia. CCCXXVII. Genus SYMPOSIACHRUS. Symposiachrus Bonaparte, Comptes Rendus Acad. Sci., Paris, Vol. XXXVIII., p. 650, April (7th), 1854. Type (by original designation) : Drymophila trivirgata Temminck et Laugier. 398. SYMPOSIACHRUS TRIVIRGATUS. SPECTACLED FLYCATCHER. [Drymophila trivirgata Temminck et Laugier, Planch Color. d’Ois, 70® livr. (Vol. IV., pi. 418, fig. 1), Dec. 27th, 1829 : Timor Extra-limital.J Gould, Vol. II., pi. 96 (pt. xxxiii.), Dec. 1st, 1848 ; Suppl., pi. 13 (pt. v.), Aug. 1st, 1869. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 2, pi. 410, April 15th, 1921. Monarcha gouldii Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1860, p. 352, Oct. 1st : “ Australia ”=New South Wales. Monarcha albiventris Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1866, p. 217, Oct. 1st : Cape York, Queensland. Piezorhynchus medius Sharpe, Rep. Zool. Coll. “ Alert,” p. 14 (pref. June 20th), 1884 : Port Molle, Queensland. Symposiachrus trivirgatus stalkeri Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 3, p. 59, April 7th, 1916: Inkerman, Queensland. Distribution. Eastern Australia, from Cape York to New South Wales. CCCXXVIII. Genus CARTERORNIS . Carterornis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. Ill, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) : Monarcha leucotis Gould. 399. CARTERORNIS LEUCOTIS. WHITE-EARED FLYCATCHER. Gould, Suppl., pi. 12 (pt. 1), March 15th, 1851. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 2, pi. 410, April 15th, 1921. Monarcha leucotis Gould, in Jardine’s Contr. Ornith., 1850, p. 105* : Cape York, Queensland. Carterornis leucotis gracemeri Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 7, p. 130, Jan. 28th, 1915 : Gracemere, Queensland. \ Distribution. Queensland (New South Wales ?). CCCXXIX. Genus MONARCHA. Monarcha Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 254, Feb. 17th, 1827. Type (by mono- typy) : Muscipeta carinata Swainson = Muscicapa melanopsis Vieillot. 400. MONARCHA MELANOPSIS. BLACK-FACED FLYCATCHER. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 95 (pt. xxv.), Dec. 1st, 1846. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 2, plate 411, April 15th, 1921. Muscicapa melanopsis Vieillot, Nouv. Diet, d’ Hist. Nat., nouv.ed., Vol. XXI., p. 450, May 30th, 1818 : New South Wales (Sydney). Muscipeta carinata Swainson, Zool. Illustr., Series I., Vol. III. (pt. vi.), pi. 147 (April), 1823 : New South Wales (Sydney). Monarcha canescens Salvadori, Ann. Mus. Av. Genova, Vol. VII., p. 991, “ 1875 ” = 1876 : Cape York, Queensland. Monarcha kurandi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 7, p. 130, Jan. 28th, 1915 : Cape York, Queensland. 137 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Monarcha melanopsis pallida Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. Ill,, pt. 3, p. 60, April 7th, 1916 : Cape York, Queensland. Monarcha canescens claudia Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 4, p. 71, July 21st, 1917 : Claudie River, North Queensland. Distribution. Eastern Australia from Cape York, North Queensland, to New South Wales. Family CAMPOPHAGIDiE. CCCXXX. Genus PTEROPODOCYS. Pteropodocys Gould, Birds Austr., pt. xxv. (Vol. II., pi. 59), Dec. 1st, 1846. Type (by monotypy) : Graucalua phasianellus Gould = Ceblepyris maxima Riippell. 401. PTEROPODOCYS MAXIMA. GROUND CUCKOO-SHRIKE. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 59 (pt. xxv.), Dec. 1st, 1846. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 3, pi. 412, June 20th, 1921. Ceblepyris maxima Riippell, Mus. Senckenb., Vol. III., pt. i., p. 28, 1839 : “ New Holland ”=New South Wales. Graucalus phasianellus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond ), 1839, p. 142, March 1840 : Liverpool Plains, New South Wales. Pteropodocys maxima neglecta Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 325, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Broome Hill, South- west Australia. Pteropodocys maxima pallida Mathews, ib. : Alexandra, Northern Territory. Distribution. Australia. Not Tasmania. CCCXXXI. Genus GRAUCALUS. Graucalus Cuvier, Le Regne Animal, Vol. I., p. 341, “ 1817 ” = Dec. 7th, 1816. Type (by subsequent designation. Gray, 1840, p. 34) : Corvus papuensis Gmelin. Coracina Vieillot, Analyse nouv. Ornith., p. 37, April 14th, 1816. Type (by subsequent designation, Cabanis, Mus. Heine, Vol. I., p. 62, 1851) : “ Choueari ” = Corvus papuensis Gmelin. Not Coracinus Pallas Zoogr., Vol. III., p. 255, 1814. Corvina Hahn, Vogel aus Asien, Africa, etc., Vol. I., Heft XI., pi. 3, 1822. Error for Coracina Vieillot. Coronis Gloger, in Froriep’s Notizen, Vol. XVI., p. 277, March 1827. New name for “ Coracina Vieillot.” Not Coronis Latreille, Encyc. Method., Vol. X., p. 474, 1825. 402. GRAUCALUS NOVAEHOLLANDIAE. BLACK-FACED CUCKOO-SHRIKE. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 55 (pt. xix.), June 1st, 1845. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 3, pi. 413, June 20th, 1921. Turdus novaehollandiae Gmelin, Syst. Nat., Vol. I., pt. n., p. 814, April 20th, 1789: “Nova Hollandia ” = Adventure Bay, Tasmania. Corvus melanops Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. xxiv. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales (Sydney). Graucalus choueari Laugier, Cat. Birds Coll., p. 8, 1836 : New South Wales (Sydney). Graucalus melanotis Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., pi. (56), April 1st, 1838 : New South Wales (Sydney). Graucalus parvirostris Gould, ib. : “ New South Wales ”=Tasminia (?). Coracina melanops tasmanica Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXVII., p. 100, July 13th, 1911 : Tasmania. Coracina novaehollandiae westralensis Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 326, Jan. 31st, 1912: Wilson's Inlet, South-west Australia. Coracina novaehollandiae subpallida Mathews, ib. : (Strelly River) North-west Australia. Coracina novaehollandiae conneclens Mathews, ib. : Inkerman, Queensland. Coracina novaehollandiae didimus Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. u., p. 42, April 2nd, 1912 : Melville Island, Northern Territory. Distribution. Australia and Tasmania. 403. GRAUCALUS HYPOLEUCUS. WHITE-BELLIED CUCKOO-SHRIKE. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 57 (pt. xxxiii.), Dec. 1st, 1848. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 3, pi. 414, June 20th, 1921. 138 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Graucalus hypoleucus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1848, p. 38, Nov. 14th : Port Essington, Northern Territory. Coracina hypoleuca stallceri Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 327, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Cooktown, North Queensland. Coracina hypoleuca apsleyi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 42, April 2nd, 1912 : Melville Island, Northern Territory. Coracina hypoleuca parryi Mathews, Austral Av. Ree., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 43, April 2nd, 1912 : Parry’s Creek, North- west Australia. Distribution. Northern Tropical Australia. 404. GRAUCALUS ROBUSTUS. LITTLE CUCKOO-SHRIKE. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 56 (pt. xxxn.), Sept. 1st, 1848. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 3, pi. 415, June 20th, 1921. Lanins robustus Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. xviii. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales (Sydney). Corvus melanogaster Latham, ib., p. xxxv. : New South Wales (Sydney). Graucalus me.ntalis Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 217, Feb. 17th, 1827 : South Coast = South Australia. Ceblepyris ( Graucalus ) af finis Ruppell, Mus. Senckenb., Vol. III., pt. I., p. 38, 1839: “ Vermuthlick, Neu Holland ” =New South Wales (Sydney). Colluricincla concinna Hutton, Cat. Birds New Zeal., p. 15 (Introd. Sept.), 1871 : New Zealand (accidental). Colluricincla coccinea Giebel, Thes. Ornith., Vol. III., p. 797 (pref. March), 1897 : error for preceding. Coracina robusta Victoria Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 3, p. 60, April 7th, 1916 : Victoria. Distribution. Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia. CCCXXXII. Genus PARAGRAUCALUS. Paragraucalus Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pts. 2-3, p. 58, Oct. 23rd, 1913. Type (by original designation) : Ceblepyris lineatus Swainson. 405. PARAGRAUCALUS LINEATUS. BARRED CUCKOO-SHRIKE. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 58 (pt. xxhi.), June 1st, 1846. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 3, pi. 416, June 20th, 1 921 . Ceblepyris lineatus Swainson, Zool. Journ., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 466, Jan. 1825 : “ Australia ” = Queensland (Moreton Bay). Graucalus swainsonii Gould, Synops. Birds Austral., pt. iv., pi. (57), April 1st, 1838. New name for C. lineatus Swainson. Paragraucalus lineatus austini Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 3, p. 60, April 7th, 1916 : New South Wales. Distribution. Queensland, New South Wales (south to Lithgow). \\ CCCXXXIII. Genus METAGRAUCALU8. Metagrauealus Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pts. 2-3, p. 59, Oct. 23rd, 1913. Type (by original designation) : Graucalus tenuirostris Jardine. 406. METAGRAUCALUS TENUIROSTRIS. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 60 (pt. xxxiii.), Dec. 1st, 1848. 20th, 1921. CATERPILLAR-CATCHER. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 3, pi. 417, June Graucalus tenuirostris Jardine, Edinb. Journ. Nat. Geogr. Sc. (n.s.), Vol. III., p. 211 April 1831 =New South Wales. ' New Holland ” Ceblepyris jardinii Ruppell, Mus. Senckenb., Vol. III., pt. i„ p. 30, 1839. New name for G. tenuirostris Jardine. Coracina tenuirostris obscura Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 328, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Cairns, Queensland. Coracina tenuirostris melvillensis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 43, April 2nd, 1912 : Melville Island Northern Territory. ’ " ’ Distribution. Northern Tropical Australia and down the east coast into Victoria, but only to Nanier Broome Bay on the west. 1 139 r LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. CCCXXXIV. Genus LALAGE. Lalage Boie Isis, 1826, Heft X., col. 973 (October). Type (by monotypy) : Turdus orientalis Gmelin = Turdus niger Forster. Erucivora Swainson, Fauna Bor. Amer. Birds, p. 483, " 1831 ”= February 1832. Type (by monotypy) : T. orientalis Gmelin = T. niger Forster. 407. LALAGE TRICOLOR. CATERPILLAR-EATER. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 63 (pt. xxxiv.), Dec. 1st, 1348. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 3, pi. 418, June 20th, 1921. Ceblepyris tricolor Swainson, Zool. Joum., Vol. I., pt. iv„ p. 467, Jan. 1825 : " Australia " = New South Wales (Sydney). Ceblepyris humeralis Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., App., p. 2, April 1st, 1838 = New South Wales (Sydney). Lalage tricolor indistincta Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 328, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Wyndham, North-west Australia. Kama leucomela mayi Ashby, South Austr. Ornith., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 27, Oct. 1st, 1914 : Pine Creek, Northern Territory. Distribution. Australia. Not Tasmania (accidental). CCCXXXV. Genus KARUA. Kama Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pts. 2-3, p. 59, Oct. 23rd, 1913. Type (by original designation) : Campephaga leucomela Vigors and Horsfield. 408. KARUA LEUCOMELA. PIED CATERPILLAR-EATER. Gould, Vol. II., pi. 61 (pt. xxxi.), June 1st, 1848; Vol. II., pi. 62 (pt. xxxiv.), Dec. 1st, 1848. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 3, pi. 418, June 20th, 1921. Campephaga leucomela Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 215, Feb. 17th, 1827: Broad Sound, Queensland. Campephaga ( rufiventris ) Gray, Genera Birds, Vol. I., p. 283, June 1846 : based on Voy. Pole Sud., pi. 11 : Raffles Bay, Northern Territory. Lalage leucomela yorlci Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 329, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Cape York, North Queensland. Lalage leucomela gouldi Mathews, ib. : (Alligator River) Northern Territory. Distribution. Tropical Northern Australia and down the east coast into New South Wales. Family SPHECOTHERIDAJ CCCXXXVI. Genus SPHECOTHERES . Spheeotheres Vieillot, Analyse nouv. Ornith., p. 42, April 14th, 1816. Type (by monotypy) : 5. viridis Vieillot. Picnoramphus Rosenberg, Tijdschr. Nederl. Ind., Vol. XXIX., p. 143, 1866. Type (by monotypy) : P. cucullatus Rosenberg. 409. SPHECOTHERES VIEILLOTI. FIG-BIRD. Gould, Vol. IV., pi. 15 (pt. xxx.), March 1st, 1848. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 4, pi. 419, Oct. 19th, 1921. Spheeotheres vieilloti Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 215, Feb. 17th, 1827 : Keppel Bay, Queensland. Spheeotheres virescens Jardine and Selby, Illus. Ornith., Vol. II., pi. 79, July 1829 : New South Wales. Not Spheeotheres virescens Vieillot, Gal. d’Oiseaux, pi. 147, 1823. Sphecothera grisea Lesson, Traite d’Orn., livr. 5, p. 351 (Dec.), 1830 : “ Aux Terre Australes ” (part only). Lanius asturinus Lesson, ib. Spheeotheres canicollis Swainson, Anim. in Menag., p. 320, Dec. 31st, 1837 : " Australia ” = New South Wales. Spheeotheres maxillaris Gray, Genera Birds, Vol. I., p. 231, 1845, and recent authors, but not Turdus maxillaris Latham, Index Ornith., Suppl., p. xliii., 1801. Cf. Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 6, p. 139, pi. 6, 1918. Spheeotheres australis Gould, Birds Austr., pt. xxx. (Vol. IV., pi. 15), March 1st, 1848 : Queensland. Spheeotheres maxillaris boweri Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 5, p. 63, April 7th, 1916 : Cairns, North Queensland. Distribution. Eastern Australia from Cairns, North Queensland, to New South Wales. 140 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 410. SPHECOTHERES F1AVIVENTRIS. YELLOW-BELLIED FIG-BIRD. Gould, Suppl., pi. 37 (pt. i.), March 15th, 1851. Mathews, Yol. IX., pt. 4, pi. 420, Oct. 19th, 1921. Sphecotheres flaviventris Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1849, p. Ill (between Jan. and June), 1850 : Cape York, Queensland. Sphecotheres flaviventris audoni Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 436, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Cairns, North Queensland. Sphecotheres flaviventris ashbyi Mathews, ib. : Alligator River, Northern Territory. Distribution. North Queensland, Northern Territory. Note. — Sphecotheres stalkeri Ingram, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXI., p. 100, May 30th, 1908 : Mount Elliot, North Queensland, based on two males, has not since been recognised, but may be a plumage change of S. vieilloti above. Family ORTHONYCIDJE. CCCXXXVII. Genus ORTHONYX. Orthonyx Temminck, Manuel d’Om., 2nd ed., Vol. I., p. lxxxi., Oct. 21st, 1820. Type (by monotypy): founded on O. temminckii Ranzani. 411. ORTHONYX TEMMINCKH. SPINE-TAILED LOG-RUNNER. Gould, Vol. IV., pi. 99 (pt. xxx.), March 1st, 1848. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 4, pi. 421, Oct. 19th, 1921. Orthonyx temminckii Ranzani, Elem. di Zool., Vol. III., pt. hi., p. 19, April 3rd, 1822 : “ Oceanica ”=Hat Hill, New South Wales. Orthonyx maculatus Stephens in Shaw's Gen. Zool., Vol. XIV., p. 186 (end), 1826 : Same locality. Orthonyx temminckii Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 294, Feb. 17th, 1827 : Same locality. Orthonyx spinicaudus Temminck et Laugier, Planch. Color. d’Ois., 72e livr. (Vol. IV., pis. 428, 429), April 25th, 1827 : Same locality. Orthonyx temminckii chandleri Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 329, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Richmond River, New South Wales. Distribution. New South Wales, South Queensland. CCCXXXVIII. Genus MACRORTHONYX. Macrorthonyx Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. Ill, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) : Orthonyx spaldingi Ramsay. 412. MACRORTHONYX SPALDINGI. BLACK-HEADED LOG-RUNNER. Gould, Suppl., pi. 53 (pt. v.), Aug. 1st, 1869. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 4, pi. 422, Oct. 19th, 1921. Orthonyx spaldingi Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1868, p. 386, Oct. 1st : Rockingham Bay, Queensland. Macrorthonyx spaldingi albiventer Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 7, p. 130, Jan. 28th, 1915: Atherton, North Queensland. Distribution. North Queensland (Cairns district). Family CINCLOSOMATID.E. CCCXXXIX. Genus CINCLOSOMA. Cinclosoma Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 219, Feb. 17th, 1827. Type (by mono- typy) : Turdus punctatus Latham = Shaw. 413. CINCLOSOMA PUNCTATUM. SPOTTED GROUND-BIRD. Gould, Vol. IV., pi. 4 (pt. i.), Dec. 1st, 1840. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 4, pi. 423, Oct 19th, 1921. VOL. X. 141 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Turdus punetatus Shaw, Zool. New Holland, pt. 3, pi. 9, 1795 (pi. dated Sept. 10th, 1794) : New South Wales (Sydney). Turdus punctate Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. xliv. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales (Sydney). Cinebsoma punetatum neglectum Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 330, Jan. 31st, 1912: Frankston, Victoria. Cinebsoma punetatum dovei Mathews, ib. : Tasmania. Distribution. Eastern Australia from Moreton Bay, Queensland, to Spencer’s Gulf, South Australia and Tasmania. 414. CINCLOSOMA CASTANOTUM. CHESTNUT-BACKED GROUND-BIRD. Gould, Vol. IV., pi. 5 (pt. i.), Dec. 1st, 1840. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 4, pi. 424, Oct. 19th, Cinebsoma castanotus Gould, Birds Austr., pt. I. (Vol. IV., pi. 5), Dec. 1st, 1840 : Belts of the Murray, South Australia. Cinclosoma castanotum dundasi Mathews, Nov. ZooL, Vol. XVIII., p. 330, Jan. 31st 1912 : Lake Dundas West Australia. Distribution. The Mallee, across Southern Australia from New South Wales and Victoria to West Australia. CCCXL. Genus 8 AMU EL A. Samuela Mathews, Austral Av. .Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 112, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) : Cinebsoma cinnamomeus Gould. 415. SAMUELA CINNAMOMEA. CINNAMON GROUND-BIRD. Gould, Vol. IV., pi. 6 (pt. xxv.), Dec. 1st, 1846; Suppl., pi. 32 (pt. ii.), Sept. 1st, 1855. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 5, pis. 425-426, Dec. 15th, 1921. Cinebsoma cinnamomeus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1846, p. 68, Oct. : Depot (Sturt’s), Interior of South Australia = North-western New South Wales. Cinebsoma castaneothorax Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1848, p. 139, June 1st, 1849 : Darling Downs, " N.S.W.” i.e., Queensland to-day. Cinebsoma erythrotliorax Sharpe, Ibis, 1881, p. 605, Oct. : emendation of castaneothorax only. Cinebsoma marginatum Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. VII., p. 336 (pref. July 1st), 1883 : “ North-west Australia” (not Elsey's birds), exact locality unknown. Now designated North-western New South Wales. Cinebsoma castaneothorax nea Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 331, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Day Dawn, West Australia. Samuela cinnamomea samueli Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 3, p. 60, April 7th, 1916 : Gawler Ranges. South Australia. Samueb cinnamomea todmordeni Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. V., pts. 2/3, p. 35, Feb. 21st, 1923: Todmorden. Central Australia. Distribution. The interior of Australia, ranging to Darling Downs on the north-east. Day Dawn on the south-west, and Gawler Ranges on the south. 416. SAMUELA ALISTERI. BLACK-BREASTED GROUND-BIRD. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 5, pi. 427, Dec. 15th, 1921. Cinclosoma alisteri Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXVII., p. 16, Nov. 4th, 1910 : (Waddilinia, Nullarbor Plains) West Australia. Cinclosoma alisteri nullarborensis Campbell, Emu, Vol. XXI., pt. 3, p. [161, pi. xxxii., Jan. 14th, 1922 : (Haig and Naretha) Nullarbor Plains, West Australia. Distribution. West Australia (Nullarbor Plains). CCCXLI. Genus DRY MODE 8. Brymodes Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p. 170, July 1841. Type (by monotypy) : D. brunneopygia Gould. HylodesG ray List Genera Birds, 2nd ed., p. 30, Sept. 1841 (ex Gould MS.). Type (by original designation): H. brunneopygia Gould. Not Hybdes Fitzinger, Neue Classif. Rept., pp. 38, 64, 1826. 142 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 417. DRYMODES BRUNNEOPYGIA. SCRUB-ROBIN. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 10 (pt. vin.), Sept. 1st, 1842. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 5, pi. 428, Dec. 15th, 1921. Drymodes brunneopygia Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p. 170, July 1841 : Belts of the Murray, South Australia. Drymaeodus pallidus Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. VII., p. 344 (pref. July 1st), 1883 : Shark’s Bay, West Australia. Drymodes brunneopygia victorice Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 332, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Kow Plains, Victoria. Drymodes brunneopygia intermedia Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. IX., pt. 5, p. 214, Dec. 15th, 1921 : (Venus Bay) South Australia (western). Distribution. — The Mallee of Southern Australia from Victoria to West Australia. 418. DRYMODES SUPERCILIARIS. NORTHERN SCRUB-ROBIN. Gould, Suppl., pi. 16 (pt. i.), March 15th, 1851 ; Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 5, pi. 429, Dec. 15th, 1921. Drymodes superciliaris Gould, in Jardine’s Contr. Ornith., 1850, p. 105 : Cape York, Queensland. Drymodes superciliaris colclouglii Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 5, p. 97, Sept. 24th, 1914 : Roper River, Northern Territory. Distribution. — North Queensland, Northern Territory. CCCXLII. Genus PYCNOPTILUS. Pyenoptilus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1850, p. 95, March 14th, 1851. Type (by monotypy) : P. floccosus Gould. 419. PYCNOPTILUS FLOCCOSUS. PILOT BIRD. Gould, Suppl., pi. 27 (pt. i.), March 15th, 1851. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 5, pi. 428, Dec. 15th, 1921. Pyenoptilus floccosus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1850, p. 95, March 14th, 1851: Interior of New South Wales = Blue Mountains. Pyenoptilus floccosus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1850, p. 279 (after Jan.), 1852 : Same specimen. Pyenoptilus floccosus sandlandi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 331, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Sassafras, Victoria. Distribution. New South Wales, Victoria. CCCXLIIa. Genus HYLACOLA. Hylaeola Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1842, p. 135, Feb. 1843. Type (by original designation) : Acanthiza pyrrhopygia Vigors and Horsfield. 420. HYLACOLA PYRRHOPYGIA. GROUND WREN. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 39 (pt. xiii.), Dec. 1st, 1843 ; Vol. III., pi. 40 (pt. xm.), Dec. 1st, 1843. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 5, pi. 430, Dec. 15th, 1921. Acanthiza pyrrhopygia Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 227, Feb. 17th, 1827 : New South Wales (near Sydney). Hylaeola cauta Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1842, p. 135, Feb. 1843 : Western belts of the Murray, South Australia. Hylaeola pyrrhopygia brevicauda Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 332, Jan. 31st, 1912 : (Underbooi) Victoria. Hylaeola pyrrhopygia halmaturina Mathews, ib., p. 333 : Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Hylaeola pyrrhopygia whitlocld Mathews, ib. : (Stirling Ranges) South-west Australia. Hylaeola pyrrhopygia belcheri Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 8, p. 191, March 20th, 1913: Anglesea, Victoria. Hylaeola pyrrhopygia magna Howe, Emu, Vol. XVIII., pt. i., p. 59, July 1st, 1918 : Cobbora, New South Wales. Distribution. Southern Australia, from New South Wales to South-west Australia. Not Tasmania. 143 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. CCCXLIII. Genus PSOPHODES. Psophodes Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., "ypy ■ P- crepitans (Latham ) = Corvus olivaceus Latham. p. 328, Feb. 17th, 1827. Type (by mono- 421. PSOPHODES OLIVACEUS. COACHWHIP-BIRD. G0Ul192201' 111-5 Pl* 15 (pt* nL)’ June lst’ 184L Mathews> Vo1- 1X-> Pt. 6, pi. 431, Feb. 15th, CorVUS 0livaceU3 Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. xxvi. (after May 30th), 1801 : Xew South Wales (Sydney). Muscicapa crepitans Latham, ib., p. li. : Xew South Wales (Sydney). Pica gularis Wagler, Syst. Avium Pica, sp. 13 (before Oct.), 1827 : Xew South Wales (Sydney). Dasyornis abeillei Lesson, Echo du Monde Savant, lle year, Xo. 49, June 23rd, 1844 : Xew South Wales ^Svdnevl Gf. Menegaux, Art. d’Ornith. Lesson, p. 117, 1913. v J y h Psophodes crepitans lateralis Xorth, Rec. Austr. Mus., Vol. III., p. 13, Jan. 7th, 1897 : Boar Pocket, Xorth Queens- i£tnci, Psophodes olivaceus scrymgeouri Mathews, Xov. Zooh, Vol. XVIII., p. 333, Jan. 31st, 1912 : (Gippsland) Victoria. Psophodes olivaceus sublaleralis Mathews, ib., p. 334 : Tweed River, (Xorth) Xew South Wales. Psophodes olivaceus magnirostris Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 92, Sept. 18th, 1912 : Rockhampton Queensland. n > Distribution. Eastern Australia from Queensland to Victoria. 422. PSOPHODES NIGROGULARIS. BLACK-THROATED COACHWHIP-BIRD. Gould, Vol. III., pl. 16 (pt. xv.), July lst, 1844. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 6, pl. 431. Feb 15th 1922. Psophodes nigrogularis Gould, Birds Austr., pt. xv. (Vol. III., pl. 16), July lst, 1844 ; Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1844, p. 5, July : Western Australia = Perth district. Psophodes nigrogularis pallida Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 3, p. 60, April 7th 1916 • South, west Australia = Cape Mentelle. Distribution. South-west Australia. Extinct (?). CCCXLIV. Genus POMATOSTOMUS. Pomatostomus Cabanis, Mus. Heine, Vol. I., p. 83 (after Oct. 23rd), 1851. Type (by subsequent designation. Gray, 1855, p. 45) : Pomatorhinus temporalis Vigors and Horsfield. 423. POMATOSTOMUS TEMPORALIS. BABBLER. Gould, Vol. IV., pl. 20 (pt. svi.), Sept, lst, 1844 ; Vol. IV., pl. 21 (pt. xxx.), March lst, 1848. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 6, pl. 432, Feb. 15th, 1922. Pomatorhinus temporalis Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 330, Feb. 17th, 1827 : Shoalwater Bay, Queensland. Pomatorhinus trivirgatus Temminck et Laugier, Planch. Color. d’Ois., 75e livr. (Vol. IV., pl 443), Jan. 5th, 1828 : Blue Mountains, Xew South Wales. Pomatorhinus rubeculus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1839, p. 144, March 1840 : Xorth-west Coast Australia= Port Essington, Xorthem Territory. Pomatorhinus jrivolus Sharpe, Hist. Coll. Xat. Hist. Brit. Mus., Vol. II., p. 137, 1906. Xot Turdus jrivolus Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. xlviii., 1801. Gf. Austral Av. Rec., Vol. V. pt 1 p. 28, pl. (4), July 17th, 1922. Pomatorhinus temporalis tregellasi Mathews, Xov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 334, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Frankston, Victoria. Pomatorhinus temporalis cornwalli Mathews, ib., p. 335 : Cairns, Xorth Queensland. Pomatorhinus temporalis nigrescens Mathews, ib. : Strelley River, Xorth-west Australia. Pomatorhinus temporalis intermedins Matthews, ib. : Alexandra, Xorthern Territory. Pomatorhinus temporalis bamba Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 43, April 2nd, 1912 : Melville Island, Xorthem Territory. Distribution. Australia, except South and South-west Australia. Xot Tasmania. 144 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. CCCXLV. Genus MOBGANOBNI S. Morganornis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 112, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) : Pomatorhinus superciliosus Vigors and Horsfield. 424. MORGANORNIS SUPERCILIOSUS. WHITE-BROWED BABBLER. Gould, Vol. IV., pi. 22 (pt. xvi.), Sept. 1st, 1844. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 6, pi. 433, Feb. 15th, 1922. Pomatorhinus supereiliosus Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 330, Feb. 17th, 1827 : South Australia. Pomatorhinus superciliosus ashbyi Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXVIII., p. 87, April 27th, 1911 : Broome Hill, South-west Australia. Pomatorhinus superciliosus gilga'tidra Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 336, Jan. 31st, 1912 : (Gilgandra) Northern New South Wales. Pomatorhinus superciliosus gwendolence Mathews, ib. : Carnarvon, West Australia. Distribution. Southern Australia to Northern New South Wales on the east, and Carnarvon district in the west. Not Tasmania. 425. MORGANORNIS RUFICEPS. CHESNUT-CROWNED BABBLER. Gould, Suppl., pi. 38 (pt. n.), Sept. 1st, 1835. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 6, pi. 433, Feb. 15th, 1922. Pomatorhinus ruficeps Hartlaub, Rev. Mag. de Zool., 1852 (July No.), p. 316, published August: “Adelaide, South Australia ” = Broken Hill, New South Wales. Pomatorhinus pileatus Blyth, Journ. As. Soc., Bengal, Vol. XXXII., p. 453, 1863, 1864, ex Melbourne Inst.= Broken Hill, New South Wales. Pomatostomus ruficeps bebba Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 3, p. 60, April 7th, 1916 : South Queens- land. Pomaiosiomus ruficeps parsoni Mathews, Bull. Brit. Om. Club, Vol. XXXVIII., p. 48, March 4th, 1918 : Pun- gonda, South Australia. Distribution. Adjoining portions of interior of South Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. CCCXLVI. Genus GALAMANTHUS. Calamanthus Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., App., p. 4, April 1st, 1838. Type (by original designation) : Anthus fuliginosus Vigors and Horsfield. Praticola Swainson, Classif. Birds, Vol. II., p. 243, July 1st, 1837. Type (by monotypy) : P. anthoides Swainson = Anthus fuliginosus Vigors and Horsfield. Not Praticola Kaup, Skizz. Entwick. Geseh. Nat. Syst., p. 114, 1829. Eremianthus Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. IX., pt. 6, p. 295, Feb. 15th, 1922. Type (by original designation) : Calamanthus campestris wayensis Mathews. 426. CALAMANTHUS FULIGINOSUS. STRIATED FIELD-WREN. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 70 (pt. xvi.), Sept. 1st, 1844. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 6, pi. 434, Feb. 15th, 1922. Anthus fuliginosus Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 230, Feb. 17th, 1827 : Tasmania (North). Praticola anthoides Swainson, Anim. in Menag., p. 343, -Dec. 31st, 1837 ; Classif. Birds, Vol. II., p. 244, July 1837, nom. nud. : Tasmania (North-west). Calamanthus albiloris North, Viet. Naturalist, Vol. XIX., p. 106, Nov. 6th, 1902 : Victoria. Calamanthus diemenensis North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat., No. 1, Vol. I., pt. iv., p. 354, July 11th, 1904 : Waratah, North-west Tasmania. Calamanthus fuliginosus obscurior Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. V., pts. 2-3, p. 35, Feb. 21st, 1923: New South Wales. Distribution. Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales. 145 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 427. CALAMANTHUS MONTANELLUS. ROCK FIELD-WREN. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 6, pi. 434, Feb. 15th, 1922. Calamcmthus raontanellus Milligan, Emu, Vol. II., p. 200, April 1st, 1903 : Stirling Ranges, South-west Australia. Calamanthus fuliginosus carteri Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 337, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Broome Hill South- west Australia. ' Calamanthus campestris hartogi Carter, Bull. Brit. Om. Club, Vol. XXXVII., p. 6, Oct. 24th, 1916 : Dirk Haring Island, West Australia. 6 Calamanthus montanellus ashbyi Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. IX., pt. 6, p. 287, Feb. 15th, 1922 : Wongan Hills West Australia. a Calamanthus montanellus leakei Mathews, Bull. Brit. Om. Club, Vol. XLIII., p. 13, Oct. 27th, 1922 : Woolundra, Gold Fields Railway, Interior of South-west Australia. Distribution. West Australia. 428. CALAMANTHUS CAMPESTRIS. FIELD-WREN. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 71 (pt. xvi.), Sept. 1st, 1844. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 6, pi. 435, Feb. 15th, 1922. Praticola campestris Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p. 171, July 1841 : Near Adelaide, South Australia. Calamanthusi sabellinus North, Rep. Horn Sc. Exped. Cent. Austr., Vol. II., Zool., p. 85, Feb. 1896 : Central Australia. Calamanthus howei Mathews, Bull. Brit. Om. Club, Vol. XXV., p. 24, Nov. 30th, 1909 : Kow Plains, Victoria. Calamanthus campestris eihelrc Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 337, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Eyre’s Peninsula, South Australia. Calamanthus campestris macgillivrayi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. I., p. 8, Aug. 2nd, 1913 : Broken Hill, New South Wales. 1 1 6 Distribution. Interior of Southern Australia from Broken Hill, New South Wales, to Eyre’s Peninsula, South Australia. 429. CALAMANTHUS RUBIGINOSUS. RUSTY FIELD-WREN. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 6, pi. 435, Feb. 15th, 1922. Calamanthus rubiginosis Campbell, Viet. Naturalist, Vol. XVI., p. 3, May 4th, 1899 : near Point Cloates, West Australia. Calamanthus campestris dorrie Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 337, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Dorrie Island, West Australia. Calamanthus campestris wayensis- Mathews, ib„ p. 338 : Lake Way, Mid-Westralia. Calamanthus campestris peroni Mathews, Ibis, 1917, p. 586, Oct. 10th : Peron Peninsula, West Australia. Distribution. West Australia. COCXLVII. Genus CINCLOBHAMPHUS. Cincloramphus Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., App., p. 4, April 1st, 1838. Type (by original designation) : Megalurus cruralis Vigors and Horsfield. Ptencedus Cabanis, Mus. Heine, Vol. I., p. 39 (after Oct. 23rd), 1851. New name for Cincloramphus Gould. Type as above : Megalurus cruralis Vigors and Horsfield. 430. CINCLORHAMPHUS CRURALIS. BROWN SONG-LARK. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 74 (pt. xix.), June 1st, 1845 ; Vol. III., pi. 75 (pt. xxviil), Sept. 12th, 1847. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 6, pi. 436, Feb. 15th, 1922. Megalurus cruralis Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 228, Feb. 17th, 1827 : New South Wales (near Sydney). Cincloramphus catatoris Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1842, p. 135, Feb. 1843 : South Australia = Port Phillip, Victoria. Cincloramphus cantillans Gould, Birds Austr., p. xxviii. (Vol. III., pi. 75), Sept. 1st, 1847 : emendation of preceding name only. Cincloramphus cruralis ctMandi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 338, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Perth, West Australia. Cincloramphus cruralis rogersi Mathews, ib. : Derby, North-west Australia. Distribution. Australia. Not Tasmania. 146 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. CCCXLVIII. Genus MACLENNANIA . Maclennania Mathews, Austral Av. Ree., Vol. III., pt. 5, p. 127, Dec. 28th, 1917. Type (by original designation): Cincloramphus mathewsi Iredale. 431. MACLENNANIA MATHEWSI. RUFOUS SONG-LARK. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 76 (pt. xsvi.), March 1st, 1847. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 7, pi. 437, April 4th, 1922. Anthus rufescens Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 230, Feb. 17th, 1827 : “ New South Wales.” Not Anthus rufescens Temminck, Manuel d’Omith., 2nd ed., Vol. I., p. 267, 1820. Cincloramphus rufescens mathewsi Iredale, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXVII., p. 97, May 26th, 1911 : Yalgoo, West Australia. Cincloramphus mathewsi alisteri Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 339, Jan. 31st, 1912 : East Murchison, West Australia. Cincloramphus mathewsi subalisteri Mathews, ib. : Parry’s Creek, North-west Australia. Cincloramphus mathewsi liorsfieldi Mathews, ib. : Alexandra, Northern Territory. Cincloramphus mathewsi vigorsi Mathews, ib. New name for Anthus rufescens Vigors and Horsfield : New South Wales. Poodytes gramineus normani (error) Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 5, p. 97, Sept. 24th, 1914 : Normanton, North Queensland. Ptencedus mathewsi normani Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pi. 7, p. 133, Jan. 28th, 1915 ; correction of preceding : Normanton, North Queensland. Distribution. Australia. Not Tasmania. Family TURDIDAE. CCCXLIX. Genus OREOCINCLA. Oreoeincla Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. rv., App., p. 3, April 1st, 1838. Type (by original designation and monotypy) : Turdus varius Horsfield, not Vieillot — Turdus horsfieldi Bonaparte. 432. OREOCINCLA LUNULATA. GROUND THRUSH. Gould, Vol. IV., pi. 7 (pt. xxx.), March 1st, 1848. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 7, pi. 438, April 4th, 1922. Turdus lunulatus Latham, Index Omith. Suppl., p. xlii. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales (Sydney). Oreoeincla novcehollandice Gray, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Vol. IX., p. 192, March 1843, in synonymy of T. lunulatus Latham ; Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., App., p. 3, April 1st, 1838, nom. nud. Oreoeincla macrorhyncha Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., App., p. 3, April 1st, 1838: ‘‘New Zealand or Van Diemen’s Land ”=Tasmania. Turdus australasianus Cotton, Tasm. Joum. Nat. Sc., Vol. III., p. 363, 1848, nude name. Oreoeincla heinei Cabanis, Mus. Heine., Vol. I., p. 6 (after Oct. 23rd), 1851. “ Japan ” error = Queensland. Oreoeincla iodura Gould, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. IV., Vol. IX., p. 401, May 1st, 1872 : Queensland. Geocichla cuneata De Vis, Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensl., Vol. VI., pt. v., p. 242 (1889), 1890: Herberton, North Queensland. Geocichla lunulata subsp. halmaturina, A. G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. V., p. 140, Jan. 1st, 1906 : Kangaroo Island. Turdus lunulatus dendyi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 340, Jan. 31st, 1912 : (Sassafras) Victoria. Distribution. Eastern Australia from North Queensland to South Australia, Tasmania, Kangaroo Island. CCCL. Genus EPTHIANURA. Epthianura Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., App., p. 3, April 1st, 1838. Type (by original designation) : Acanthiza albifrons Jardine and Selby. Ginura Brehm, Isis, 1845, Heft 5, col. 358, May. Type (by monotypy) : Cinura torquata Brehm —Acanthiza albifrons Jardine and Selby. 433. EPTHIANURA ALBIFRONS. WHITE-FRONTED CHAT. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 64 (pt. vi.), March 1st, 1842. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 7, pi. 439, April 4th, 147 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Acanthiza albifrons Jardine and Selby, Illus. Omith., Yol. II., pi. 56, Nov. 1828 : New South Wales. Fluvicola Icucocephala Lesson, Echo du Monde Savant, 11th year, No. 12, col. 275 Au v > p ^ Megalurus alisteri alisteri Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 345, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Napier Broome Bay, North- west Australia. Megalurus alisteri dulciei Mathews, ib. : Cooktown, North Queensland. Megalurus alisteri oweni Mathews, ib. : New South Wales. Megalurus alisteri melvillensis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 92, Sept. 18th, 1912 : Melville Island, Northern Territory. Dulciornis alisteri mayi Ashby, South Austr. Ornithologist, Vol. I., pt. 4, p, 27, Oct. 1st, 1914 : Pine Creek, Northern Territory. Megalurus galactotes Vigors and Horsfield, and most recent writers. Not Malur us galactotes Temminck et Laugier, Planch. Color. d’Ois., livr. 11, pi. 65. June 1821. Distribution. Tropical Northern Australia. 150 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. CCCLIX. Genus EREMIORNIS. Eremiornis North, Viet. Naturalist, Vol. XVII., No. 4, p. 78, Aug. 9th, 1900. Type (by monotypy) : Eremiornis carteri North. 442. EREMIORNIS CARTERI. SPINIFEX BIRD. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 8, pi. 446, May 22nd, 1922. Eremiornis carteri North, Viet. Naturalist, Vol. XVII., No. 4, p. 79, Aug. 9th, 1900 : North-west Cape, (Mid) West Australia. Eremiornis carteri assimilis Montague, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 8, p. 181, March 20th, 1913 : Hermite Island, Monte Bello Group, Mid-west Australia. Eremiornis carteri rogersi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 8, p. 192, March 20th, 1913 : Hall's Creek, Kimberley Gold Fields, North-west Australia. Distribution. Mid- and North-west Australia ; Monte Bello Island and Barrow Island. CCCLX. Genus ORIGMELLA. Origrnella Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 4, p. 76, Dec. 29th, 1913. Type (by original designation) : Sylvia solitaria Lewin. Origma Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., App., p. 3, April 1st, 1838. Type (by original designation) : Sylvia solitaria Lewin. Spelt Orygma Des Murs in Chenu's Encycl. de Hist. Nat., Vol. IV., p. 39, 1854. Not Orygma Meigen, Syst. Beschr. Zweifl. Insekt, Vol. VI., p. 6, 1830. 443. ORIGMELLA SOLITARIA. ROCK-WARBLER. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 69 (pt. xxm.), June 1st, 1846. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 8, pi. 446, May 22nd, 1922. Sylvia solitaria Lewin, Birds New Holland, pi. xvi., 1808 (Sept. ? ): (near Parramatta) New South Wales. Origma solitaria 'pallida Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. Ill pt. 3, p. 60, April 7th, 1916 : Blue Mountains, New South Wales. * Origma rubricata Gould and recent authors. Not Sylvia rubricata Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. lv., 1801. Distribution. New South Wales. CCCLXI. Genus CHTHONICOLA. Ghthonicola Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1847, p. 31, April 27th. Type (by original designation) : Anthus minimus Vigors and Horsfield =$2/^® sagittata Latham. 444. CHTHONICOLA SAGITTATA. LITTLE FIELD-WREN. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 72 (pt. xxvii.), June 1st, 1847. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 8, pi. 446, May 22nd, 1922. \\ Sylvia sagittata Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. liv. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales (Sydney). Sylvia nitida Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., nouv. ed., Vol. XI., p. 197, June 21st, 1917, ex Temminck MS. : New South Wales (Sydney). Sylvia pyrrophys Vieillot, ib., p. 219 : New South Wales (Sydney). Anthus minimus Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 230, Feb. 17th, 1827 : New South Wales (Sydney). Calamanthus strigatus Gray, Genera Birds, Vol. I., p. 164, Aug. 1848, ex Lath. MS. New name for preceding. Ghthonicola sagittata inexpectata Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 346, Jan. 31st, 1912 : (Mitcham) Victoria. Ghthonicola sagittata queenslandica Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 119, Dec. 24th, 1912 : (Tambo) Queensland. Distribution. Eastern Australia from South Queensland to Victoria. South Australia (?). CCCLXII. Genus ACANTHIZA. Acanthiza Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 224, Feb. 17th, 1827. Type (by original designation) : Motacilla pusilla White. 6 Subacanthiza Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. IX., pt. 9, p. 449, Aug. 3rd, 1922. Type (by monotypy) : Acanthiza hneata Gould. 151 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 445. ACANTHIZA PUSILLA. BROWN TIT. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 53 (pt. xxyiii.), Sept. 1st, 1847 ( pusilla ) ; Vol. HI., pi. 54 (pt. xvil), Deo. 1st, 1844 ( diemenensis ) ; Vol. III., pi. 55 (pt. xvn.), Dec. 1st, 1844 ( ewingi ) ; Vol. III., pi. 57 (pt. xxvi.), March 1st, 1847 ( apicalis ) ; Vol. III., pi. 58 (pt. xxvttt.), Sept. 1st, 1847 ( pyrrhopygia ) ; Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 8, pis. 447 and 448, May 22nd, 1912 : pt. 9, pi. 451, Aug. 3rd, 1922. Motacilla pusilla White, Journ. Voy. New South Wales, p. 257 and plate (before Aug.), 1790: Sydney New South Wales. Malurus maculatus Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., nouv. ed., Vol. XX., p. 215, May 30th, 1818 : “ Nouvelle Hollande ”=New South Wales (Sydney). Saxicola macularia Quoy et Gabnard, Voy. de l’Astrol., Zool., Vol. I., p. 199 (pref. June 29th), 1830 : Western Port, Victoria. Acanthiza diemenensis Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., pi. (59), April 1st, 1838 : Tasmania. Accmthiza ewingii Gould, Birds Austr., pt. xvii. (Vol. III., pi. 55), Dec. 1st, 1844 : Tasmania. Acanthiza apicalis Gould, Birds Austr., pt. xxvi. (Vol. III., pi. 57), March 1st, 1847 : Swan River, West Australia. Acanthiza pyrrhopygia Gould, Birds Austr., pt. xxvm. (Vol. III., pi. 58), Sept. 1st, 1847 : Belts of the Murray, South Australia. Not Acanthiza pyrrhopygia Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 227, 1827. Acanthiza magnirostris A. J. Campbell, Emu, Vol. II., pt. 4, p. 202, April 1st, 1903 : King Island, Bass Straits. Not Acanthiza magnirostra Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., pi. (60), 1838. Acanthiza rufifrons A. J. Campbell, Emu, Vol. II., pt. 4, p. 203, April 1st, 1903 : King Island, Bass Straits. Acanthiza zietzi North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., pt. iv., p. 271, July 11th, 1904 : Kangaroo Island. Acanthiza albiventris North, ib., p. 276: (Dubbo) New South Wales. Acanthiza katherina De Vis, Annals Queensl. Mus., No. 6, p. 43, Sept. 1905 : Bellenden Ker Range, Queensland. Acanthiza halmaturina A. G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. V., p. 141, Jan. 1st, 1906 : Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Acanthiza whitlocki North, Viet. Naturalist, Vol. XXVI., p. 55, Sept. 9th, 1909 : Lake Way, Mid-west Australia. Acanthira (sic) archibaldi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVII., p. 501, Dec. 15th, 1910. New name for “A. magni- rostris Campbell.” Acanthiza albiventris hamiltoni Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXVII., p. 97, May 26th, 1911 : “New South Wales ” in error = Coonalpyn, South Australia. Acanthiza pusilla venus Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 348, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Venus Bay, South Australia. Acanthiza tanami Mathews, ib., p. 349 : Tanami (Interior), Northern Territory. Acanthiza pusilla arno Mathews, Austral Av. Ree., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 44, April 2nd, 1912 : Arno Bay, Eyre’s Peninsula, South Australia. Acanthiza pusilla consobrina Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 3, p. 78, June 28th, 1912 : Leigh’s Creek, Central (South) Australia. Acanthiza pusilla samueli Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 4, p. 76, Dec. 29th, 1913 : Myponga, Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. Acanthiza pusilla jayi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 5, p. 98, Sept. 24th, 1914 : Jay Waterhole, Mac- Donnell Ranges, Central Australia. Acanthiza pusilla peroni Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXXIX., p. 23, Nov. 30th, 1918 : Peron Peninsula, West Australia. Acanthiza pusilla bunya Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XL., p. 105, March 31st, 1920 : Bunya Mts., Queensland. Acanthiza pusilla nullarborensis H. L. White, Emu, Vol. XXI., pt. 3, p. 164, Jan. 14th, 1922 : Zanthus, Nullabor Plains, east of West Australia. Acanthiza pusilla cobborensis Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. IX., pt. 8, p. 412, pi. 447, May 22nd, 1922 : Cobbora, New South Wales. Acanthiza dovei Mathews, ib., p. 415 (pi. 451) : Hogan’s Track (Mount Arthur), Tasmania. Acanthiza pusilla leeuwinensis A. G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. XXII., pt. I., p. 63, July 1st, 1922 : Wilson’s Inlet, South-west Australia. Acanthiza pusilla cambrensis A. G. Campbell, ib., p. 84 : Cape Jervis (Fleurieu Peninsula), South Australia. Acanthiza pusilla dawsonensis A. G. Campbell, ib. : Rio Station, Dawson River, Queensland. Acanthiza apicalis erema A. G. Campbell, ib. : Kychering Soak, East-West Railway, South Australia. Acanthiza pusilla lingerandi Mathews, Birds Austr.,Vol. IX., pt. 9, p. 430, Aug. 3rd, 1922 : Lingerandi, Mallee, Victoria. Acanthiza pusilla dundasi Mathews, ib., p. 431 : Lake Dundas, West Australia. Acanthiza pusilla northi Mathews, ib. : Wilson’s Inlet, South-west Australia. Distribution. Eastern Australia, from North Queensland to Victoria, Tasmania and islands of Bass Strait, South Australia to West Australia, also across the Interior below the Tropics. 152 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 446. ACANTHIZA NANA. LITTLE TIT. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 60 (pi. xxiii.), March 1st, 1846. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 9, pi. 449, Aug. 3rd, 1922. Acanthiza nana Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 226, Feb. 17th, 1827 : New South Wales (Sydney). Acanthiza nana mathewsi Hartert, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXV., p. 82, March 31st, 1910 : Springvale, Victoria. Acanthiza pygmea Milligan, Emu, Vol. XII., pt. 3. p. 167, Jan. 1st, 1913 : Mallee, Victoria. Acanthiza nana dorothece Mathews, Emu, Vol. XIV., pt. i., p. 60, July 1st, 1914 : Lithgow, New South Wales. Acanthiza nana dawsoniana H. L. White, Emu, Vol. XVIII., pt. 2, p. 122, Oct. 1918 : Dawson River, Central Queensland. Acanthiza nana clelandi Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XL., p. 106, March 31st, 1920 : Bunya Mts., South Queensland. Not A. lineata clelandi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 349, 1912. Acanthiza nana burtoni Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XL., p. 121, April 30th, 1920. New name for pre- ceding. Acanthiza nana belltrees A. G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. XXII., pt. I., p. 64, July 1st, 1922 : Scone, New South Wales. Acanthiza nana flava H. L. White, Emu, Vol. XXII., pt. n., p. 97, Oct. 1922 : Herberton, North Queensland. Distribution. Eastern Australia from South Australia; Victoria, through New South Wales to the Dawson River, Queensland. 447. ACANTHIZA INORNATA. PLAIN-COLOURED TIT. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 59 (pt. xxiv.), Sept. 1st, 1846. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 9, pi. 449, Aug. 3rd, 1922. Acanthiza inornata Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p. 171, July 1841 : Swan River, West Australia. Acanthiza mastersi North, Agric. Gazette, N.S.W., Vol. XII., p. 1425, Nov. 1901 : King George's Sound, West Australia. Acanthiza inornata submastersi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 43, April 2nd, 1912 : Stirling Ranges, South-west Australia. Acanthiza inornata carnarvoni Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 4, p. 76, Dec. 29th, 1913 : Carnarvon, Mid-west Australia. Acanthiza inornata strellyi Mathews, ib. : Strelly River, Mid-west Australia. Distribution. West Australia, from the Stirling Ranges northward to Strelly River. 448. ACANTHIZA LINEATA. STRIATED TIT. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 61 (pt. xx.), Sept. 1st, 1845. 1922. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 9, pi. 450, Aug. 3rd, Acanthiza lineata Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv„ pi. (59), April 1st, 1838 : New South Wales* (Sydney). Acanthiza modesta De Vis, Annals Queensl. Mus., Vol. 6, p. 43, Sept. 1905 : Charleville, Queensland. Acanthiza lineata chandleri Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 349, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Olinda, Victoria. Acanthiza lineata clelandi Mathews, ib. : Mount Lofty, South Australia. Acanthiza lineata whitei Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 44, April 2nd, 1912 : Kangaroo Island South Australia. Acanthiza lineata goulburni Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 93, Sept. 18th, 1912 : Goulburn New South Wales. Acanthiza lineata whitei Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XL., p. 106, March 31st, 1920 : Bunya Mts., South Not A. 1. whitei above. Acanthiza lineata alberti Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XL., p. 121, April 30th, 1920 New name for precedmg. Distribution. Eastern Australia, from North Queensland (Charleville) to South Australia; Kangaroo 449. ACANTHIZA UROPYGIALIS. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 56 (pt. xxi.), Dec. 1st, 1845. 1922. CHESTNUT-RUMPED TIT. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 9, pi. 450, Aug. 3rd, 153 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Acanthiza uropygialis Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., pi. (60), April 1st, 1838 : New South Wales. Acanthiza^uropygialis ruthergleni Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 350, Jan. 31st, 1912 ; Rutherglen, Acanthiza uropygialis mellori Mathews, ib. : Eyre’s Peninsula, South Australia. Acanthiza uropygialis augusta Mathews, ib. : Port Augusta, South Australia. Acanthiza uropygialis nea, Mathews, ib. : Burracoppin, South-west Australia. Acanthiza uropygialis murchisoni Mathews, ib. : East Murchison, West Australia. Acanthiza uropygialis condor a Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 3, p. 78, June 28th, 1912 : Leigh’s Creek South (Central) Australia. ® ’ Geobasileus uropygialis moora A G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. XXII., pt. i., p. 65, July 1st, 1922 : Watheroo near ivioora, West Australia. Geobasileus uropygialis erema A. G. Campbell, ib. : Kychering Soak, East-West Railway, South Australia. Acanthiza uropygialis kycheringi Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XLIII., p. 14 Oct 31st 1922 New name for preceding, not Acanthiza apicalis erema A. G. Campbell before. ' Distribution. Southern extra-tropical Australia from East to West, in the dry districts only. 450. ACANTHIZA IREDALEI. THIN-BILLED TIT. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 9, pi. 451, Aug. 3rd, 1922. Acanthiza tenuirostris Zietz, Trans. Roy. Soc. South Austr., Vol. XXIV., pt. n„ p. 112, Dec 1900- Leivh’s Creek, Interior South Australia. ’ ' ° Not Acanthiza tenuirostris Lafresnaye, Revue Zool., 1841, p. 242. Acanthiza iredalei Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXVII., p. 97, May 26th, 1911 : Lake Way, West Australia. Acanthiza morgani Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXVII., p. 97, May 26th, 1911. New name for A tenuirostris Zietz. Acanthiza winiamida Wilson, Emu, Vol. XVI., pt. 3, p. 169, Jan. 15th, 1917 : Winiam East, 12 miles S E of Nhill Victoria. ' ’ Distribution. Across Central Australia from Shark’s Bay, West Australia, to the Victorian Mallee. CCCLXIII. Genus MILLIGANIA. Milligania Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 112, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) : Acanthiza robustirostris Milligan. 451. MILLIGANIA ROBUSTIROSTRIS. THICK-BILLED TIT. Mathews, Vol. IX., pi. 9, pi. 451, Aug. 3rd, 1922. Acanthiza robustirostris Milligan, Emu, Vol. III., pt. i., p. 71, July 1st, 1903 : Day Dawn, Murchison, West Australia. Acanthiza mariance S. A. White, South Austr. Ornith., Vol. II., pt. 2, p. 45, April 1st, 1915 : Moorilyanna, Everard Ranges, Central Australia. Milligania robustirostris liberia Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 3, p. 61, April 7th, 1916 : Liberia Soak, West Australia. Milligania. robustirostris moorilyanna Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXXVI., p. 90, July 7th, 1916 : Moorilyanna, Everard Ranges, Central Australia. Distribution. Central Australia, mostly western. CCCLXIV. Genus GEOBASILEUS. Geobasileus Cabanis, Mus. Heine, Vol. I., p. 32 (after Oct. 23rd), 1851. Type (by monotypy) : Saxicola chrysorrhoa Quoy et Gaimard. 452. GEOBASILEUS CHRYSORRHOUS. YELLOW-RUMPED TIT. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 63 (pt. xvi.), Sept. 1st, 1844. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 9, pi. 452, Aug. 3rd, 1922. Saxicola chrysorrhoa Quoy et Gaimard, Voy. de 1’ Astro], Zool., Vol. I., p. 198, pi. 10, f. 2 (pref. June 29th), 1830 : New South Wales. 154 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Acanthiza squamata De Vis, Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensl., Vol. VI., pt. 5, p. 248, 1889, 1890: Herberton, Queensland. Acanthiza pallida Milligan, Emu, Vol. III., pt. n., p. 112, Oct. 1st, 1903 : Yalgoo, Murchison, West Australia. Not Acanthiza pallida " Temm.” Finsch., Notes Leyden Mus., Vol. XX., p. 134, Sept. 1898. Acanthiza leighi Grant, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXIII., p. 73, May 7th, 1909 : Lithgow, New South Wales. Acanthiza chrysorrhoa sandlandi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 351, Jan. 31st, 1912 : (Blackburn) Victoria. Acanthiza chrysorrhoa leachi Mathews, ih. : Tasmania. Acanthiza chrysorrhoa perksi Mathews, ih. : (Mount Lofty) South Australia. Acanthiza chrysorrhoa multi Mathews, ib. : Wilson’s Inlet, South-west Australia. Acanthiza chrysorrhoa addenda Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 44, April 2nd, 1912 : Port Augusta, South Australia. Geobasileus chrysorrhous normantoni Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 4, p. 76, Dec. 29th, 1913 : Normanton, Queensland. Geobasileus chrysorrhous ferdinandi Mathews, Bull. Brit. Om. Club, Vol. XXXVI., p. 90, July 7th, 1916 : Musgrave Ranges, Central Australia. Geobasileus chrysorrhous alexanderi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. IV., pt. 6, p. 137, Aug. 1st, 1921. New name for Acanthiza pallida Milligan as above. Geobasileus chrysorrhous pallescens A. G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. XXII., pt. 1, p. 65, July 1st, 1922 : Levi Ranges, Central Australia. Geobasileus chrysorrhous westernensis A. G. Campbell, ib. : Watheroo, near Moora, West Australia. Geobasileus chrysorrhous mallee A. G. Campbell, ib., p. 66 : Mallee, Victoria. Distribution. Australia and Tasmania, except extreme north and north-west 453. GEOBASILEUS REGULOIDES. BUFF-RUMPED TIT. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 62 (pt. xxii.), March 1st, 1846. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 9, pi. 452, Aug. 3rd, 1922. Acanthiza reguloides Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 226, Feb. 17th, 1827 : Parra- matta, New South Wales. Geobasileus australis North, Austr. Mus. Sp. Cat., No. 1, Vol. I., pt. iv., p. 287, July 11th, 1904 : Woodside, near Adelaide, South Australia. Acanthiza reguloides connectens Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 352, Jan. 31st, 1912 : (Ringwood) Victoria. Geobasileus reguloides tarana Mathews, Emu, Vol. XIV., pt. i., p. 60, July 1st, 1914 : Tarana, New South Wales. Geobasileus reguloides cobbora Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 7, p. 130, Jan. 28th, 1915 : Cobbora New South Wales. Geobasileus reguloides nesa Mathews, Bull. Brit. Om. Club, Vol. XL., p. 106, March 31st, 1920 : Bunya Mts., South Queensland. Distribution. Eastern Australia, from South Queensland to South Australia. Not Tasmania. 454. GEOBASILEUS HEDLEYI. DARK BROWN TIT. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 9, pi. 453, Aug. 3rd, 1922. Acanthiza iredalei hedleyi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 3, p. 78, June 28th, 1912 : Meningie South Australia. 6 ’ Acanthiza rosince Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. i., p. 9, Aug. 2nd, 1913 : near Adelaide, South Australia. Distribution. Samphire country of southern South Australia. CCGLXV. Genus PYRRHOLAEMUS. Pyrrholaemus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p. 173, July 1841. Type (by monotypy) : P. brunneus 455. PYRRHOLAEMUS BRUNNEUS. RED-THROAT. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 68 (pt. xvii.), Dec. 1st, 1844. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt 9 pi 453 Aug. 3rd, 1922. 5 y ’ F ’ Pyrrholaemusjtjmnens Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p. 173, July 1841 : Belts of the Murray, South Sericormsb^unmapaUescens Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 353, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Bore Well, East Murchison, 155 LIST OF BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Pyrrholaemus brunneus milligani Mathews, Birds Austr., Vol. IX., pt. 9, p. 489, Aug. 3rd, 1922 : Wonsan Hil West Australia. Pyrrholaemus brunneus Icalgoorlie Mathews, ib. : Kalgoorlie, South-west Australia. Pyrrholaemus brunneus centra Mathews, ib. : (Musgrave Ranges) Central Australia. Distribution. Extra-tropical Australia from East to West in the dry districts only. CCCLXVI. Genus NEOSERICORNIS. Neoserieornis Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 353, Jan. 31st, 1912. Type (by monotypy) : Muscicapa lathami Stephens. 456. NEOSERICORNIS LATHAMI. YELLOW-THROATED SCRUB-WREN. Gould, Vol. III., pi. 46 (pt. xiv.), March 1st, 1844. Mathews, Vol. IX., pt. 9, pi. 453, Aug. 3rd, 1922. Muscicapa barbata Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. li. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales (Sydney). Not Muscicapa barbata Latham, Index Ornith., Vol. II., p. 488, 1790. Muscicapa lathami Stephens in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., Vol. X., p. 336, Sept. 1817. New name for Muscicapa barbata Latham, 1801 = Sydney, New South Wales. Sericornis citreogularis Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv. (pi. 58, f. 4), April 1st, 1838 : New South Wales. Sericornis lathami cairnsi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 354, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Caims, Queensland. Sericornis lathami intermedia Mathews, ib. : Blackall Ranges, Queensland. Distribution. Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria (?). Extra Australian genera, etc., described since Vol. VII. of my “ Birds of Australia ” was published : — Genera Amoropelia, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. IV., pt. 6, p. 164, Aug. 1st, 1921. Species Raperia godmance , ib., Vol. III., pt. I., p. 24, June 30th, 1915. Substitute Names, ib., Vol. V., pts. 2-3, p. 44, Feb. 21st, 1923 : — Gharadrius flavirostris for Charadrius hiaticula L. Turdus cantor for Turdus philomdus Brehm. (Not Turdus cantor Gmelin, Sept. Nat., Vol. I., p. 837, 1789.) . Motacilla rubricapilla for Motacilla atricapilla L. Subspecies Drymodes brunneopygia adjacens, Birds of Australia, Vol. IX., p. 218, Dec. 15th, 1921. Neonectris griseus missus. Ibis, 1915, p. 603 (July), (with T. Iredale). Emberiza compilator, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. IV., pts. 4-5, p. 131, Dec. 16th, 1920 {ib.). 156' THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA ■ . •• , ■ . ' i ■ ' J THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA BY GREGORY M. MATHEWS F.R.S.E. MEMBER OP THE ROYAL AUSTRALASIAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION AND THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION CORRESPONDING FELLOW OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION WITH HAND-COLOURED PLATES I VOLUME X. H. F. & G. WITHERBY 326 HIGH HOLBORN LONDON 1922—1923 m mrais 'mmmy&c0 • LOKDOK • CONTENTS AND LIST OE PLATES. Order PASSERIFORMES ( continued ) Family SYLVIIDJE ( continued ) Genus SERICORNIS ......... No. 544. Large-bllled Scrub-Wren, Sericornis magnirostris Plate 454 lettered Sericornis magnirostris, to face No. 545. Scrub-Wren, Sericornis frontalis .... Plate 455 (two middle figures) lettered Sericornis frontalis, to face No. 546. Buee-breasted Scrub-Wren, Sericornis Icevigaster - . Plate 455 (bottom right-hand figure) lettered Sericornis herbertoni, to face ......... No. 547. Little Scrub-Wren, Sericornis minimus Plate 455 (top figure) lettered Sericornis frontalis, to face No. 548. Spotted Scrub-Wren, Sericornis maculatus Plate 456 lettered Sericornis maculatus, to face Northern Scrub-Wren, Sericornis tyrannulus Genus TASMANORNIS No. 549. Brown Scrub-Wren, Tasmanornis Jiumilis Plate 457 lettered Tasmanornis humilis, to face . PAGE 1 3 3 * 7 7 * 15 7 • 17 7 * 20 20 > 29 31 31 , Y. THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. PAGE Genus OREOSCOPUS 39 No. 550. Fern-Wren, lettered Collared Scrub-Wren, Oreoscopus gutturalis 49 Plate 458 (top figure) lettered Oreoscopus gutturalis , to face . 40 Genus ACANTHORNIS No. 551. Scrub-Tit, Acanthornis magnus .... 43 Plate 458 (left-hand figure) lettered Acanthornis magnus, to face 40 Genus MALURUS .47 No. 552. Blue Wren, Malurus cyaneus 48 Plate 459 lettered Malurus cyaneus, to face . . .48 No. 553. Black-backed Wren, Malurus melanotus . . 61 Plate 460 (bottom figures) lettered Malurus melanotus, to face 61 No. 554. Banded Wren, Malurus splendens .... 70 Plate 460 (top figures) lettered Malurus splendens, to face . 61 Genus HALLORNIS 74 No. 555. White-winged Wren, Hallornis leuconotus . . 75 Plate 461 (left-hand figures) lettered Hallornis leuconotus, to face 75 Genus NESOMALURUS 85 No. 556. Black and White Wren, Nesomalurus leucopterus . 86 Plate 461 (right-hand figures) lettered Nesomalurus leucopterus, to face . . . . . . . , . 75* Genus LEGGEORNIS No. 557. Variegated Wren, Leggeornis lamberti ... 94 Plate 462 (bottom figures) lettered Leggeornis lamberti, to face 95 * No. 558. Red-winged Wren, Leggeornis elegans . . .103 Plate 462 (top figures) lettered Leggeornis elegans, to face . 95 No. 559. Lovely Wren, Leggeornis amabilis .... 106 Plate 463 (bottom figures) lettered Leggeornis amabilis, to face 106 No. 560. Blue-breasted Wren, Leggeornis pulcherrimus . . Ill Plate 463 (two top figures) lettered Leggeornis pulcherrimus, to face 106 Genus RYANIA 115 No. 561. Red -backed Wren, Ryania melanocephala . . . 116 Plate 464 (two top figures) lettered Ryania melanocephala, to face 116 vi. Contents. PAGE Genus ROSINA No. 562. Purple-crowned Wren, Rosina coronata . . . 125 Plate 464 (two bottom figures) lettered Rosina coronata , to face 116 - Genus STIPITURUS 130 No. 563. Emu-Wren, Stipiturus malachurus . . . .131 Plate 465 lettered Stipiturus malachurus , to face . . 131 - No. 564. Rufous-crowned Emu-Wren, Stipiturus ruficeps . 146 Plate 465 (top left-hand figure) lettered Stipiturus malachurus , to face ......... 131 Genus DASYORNIS 149 No. 565. Bristle Bird, Dasyornis brachypterus . . . 151 Plate 466 (middle figure) lettered Sphenura brachyptera, to face 151 No. 566. Long-billed Bristle-Bird, Dasyornis longirostris . 154 Plate 466 (top figure) lettered Sphenura longirostris , to face 151 Genus MACCOYORNIS ... 157 No. 567. Rufous Bristle-Bird, Maccoyornis broadbenti . . 158 Plate 466 (bottom figure) lettered Maccoyornis broadbenti , to face . . . . . • . . • .151 Genus DIAPHORILLAS 165 No. 568. Grass-Wren, Diaphorillas textilis .... 172 Plates 467 and 468 (bottom figures) lettered Diaphorillas textilis , to face ....... 172 and 183 * No. 569. Thick-Billed Grass- Wren, Diaphorillas modestus . 183 Plate 468 (top figures) lettered Diaphorillas modestus , to face 183 No. 570. Eastern Grass- Wren, Diaphorillas inexpectatus . \. 186 Plate 469 (two top figures) lettered Diaphorillas inexpectatus , to face ......... 186 * No. 571. Uniform Grass-Wren, Diaphorillas purnelli . . 190 Plate 472 (two lower figures) lettered Diaphorillas purnelli, to face 209 No. 572. Striated Grass-Wren, Diaphorillas striatus . . 193 Plate 470 (left-hand figures) lettered Mytisa striata, to face . 193 Chestnut-mantled Grass-Wren, Diaphorillas merrotsyi 198 Plate 469 (bottom left-hand figure) lettered Diaphorillas merrotsyi to face ......... 186 * No. 573. Rufous Grass-Wren, Diaphorillas whitei . . . 200 Plate 470 (right-hand figures) lettered Mytisa whitei, to face 193 * vn. THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. PAGE Genus EYRAMYTIS ......... 205 No. 574. Lake Eyre Grass-Wren, Eyramytis goyderi . . 206 Plate 471 lettered Eyramytis goyderi , to face . . . 206 Genus MAGNAMYTIS 208 No. 575. Black and White Grass-Wren, Magnamytis dorothece 209 Plate 472 (top figure) lettered Magnamytis dorothece , to face . 209 No. 576. White-throated Grass-Wren, Magnamytis woodwardi 211 Plate 473 lettered Magnamytis woodwardi, to face . . 211 No. 577. Black Grass- Wren, Magnamytis housei . . .213 Plate 474 lettered Amytornis housei , to face . . . 213 Family ARTAMIDiE 215 Genus ARTAMUS 215 No. 578. White-rumped Wood-Swallow, Artamus leucorhynchus 217 Plate 475 (bottom right-hand figure) lettered Artamus leucorhynchus, to face . . . . . . .217 Genus CAMPBELLORNIS 225 No. 579. Masked Wood-Swallow, Campbellornis personatus . 226 Plate 475 (top figures) lettered Campbellornis personatus, to face 217 No. 580. White-browed Wood-Swallow, Campbellornis super- cihosus ......... 235 Plate 476 (two top figures) lettered Campbellornis super ciliosus, to face ......... 235 Genus AUSTRARTAMUS 243 No. 581. Black-eaced Wood-Swallow, Austrartamus melanops 244 Plate 477 (two bottom figures) lettered A. cinereus and A. tregallasi, to face ........ 244 Genus ANGROYAN ......... 256 No. 582. Wood-Swallow, Angroyan cyanopterus . . . 257 Plate 476 (lower figure) lettered Pseudartamus cyanopterus, to face .......... 235 Genus MXCRARTAMUS 268 No. 583. Little Wood-Swallow, Micrartamus minor . . 269 Plate 477 (top figure) lettered Micrartamus minor, to face 244 vrn. CONTENTS. PAGE Family PRIONOPID.E 274 Genus COLLURICINCLA No. 584. Grey Shrike-Thrush, Colluricincla harmonica . Plate 478 lettered Colluricincla harmonica , to face No. 585. Brown Shrike-Thrush, Colluricincla brunnea Plate 479 lettered Colluricincla brunnea , to face No. 586. Buef-bellied Shrike-Thrush, Colluricincla rufiventris Plate 479 (top right-hand figure) lettered Colluricincla rufiventris, to face «•••••••• 276 278 278 * 290 290 295 290 Genus ALPHACINCLA 301 No. 587. Red-bellied Shrike-Thrush, Alphacincla woodwardi ,* 302 Plate 480 (lower figure) lettered Alphacincla woodwardi, to face 302 Genus CONIGRAVEA 304 No. 588. Little Shrike-Thrush, Conigravea parvula . . 306 Plate 480 (upper figure) lettered Conigravea parvula, to face 302 t Genus CALEYA 309 No. 589. Rufous-breasted Shrike-Thrush, Caleya megarhyncha 310 Plate 481 (upper figure) lettered Caleya megarhyncha, to face 310 Genus BOWYERIA .316 No. 590. Stripe-breasted Shrike-Thrush, Bowyeria boweri . 317 Plate 481 (lower figure) lettered Bowyeria boweri, to face . . 310 Genus GRALLINA 320 No. 591. Magpie-Lark, Grallina cyanoleuca .... 323 Plate 482 lettered Grallina cyanoleuca, to face . . . 323 Family CRACTICIDiE 334 Genus GYMNORHINA 336 No. 592. Black-backed Magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen . . 337 Plate 483 (upper figures) lettered Gymnorhina tibicen, to face . 337 - No. 593. White-backed Magpie, Gymnorhina hypoleuca . . 350 Plate 483 (lower figures) lettered Gymnorhina leuconota, to face 337 IX. THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Genus MELLORIA ..... No. 594. Black Butcher-Bird, Melloria quoyi Plate 484 lettered Melloria quoyi , to face Genus CRACTICUS No. 595. Black-throated Butcher-Bird, Cracticus nigrogularis Plate 485 lettered Cracticus nigrogularis , to face . Genus BULESTES ........ No. 596. Collared Butcher-Bird, Bulestes torquatus Plate 486 lettered Bulestes torquatus , to face No. 597. Black-backed Butcher-Bird, Bulestes mentalis Plate 487 lettered Bulestes Jcempi, to face Genus STREPERA ......... No. 598. Pied Crow-Shrike, Strepera graculina Plate 488 (bottom figure) lettered Strepera graculina , to face No. 599. Black- winged Crow-Shrike, Strepera melanoptera Plate 489 lettered Strepera melanoptera, to face . No. 600. Plate No. 601. Plate Black Crow-Shrike, Strepera fuliginosa 488 (top figure) lettered Strepera fuliginosa, to face Grey Crow-Shrike, Strepera versicolor 490 lettered Strepera versicolor, to face PAGE 365 366 366 374 374 383 384 384 398 398 401 406 . 406 413 413 418 406 423 423 x. PREFACE THIS, the end of Volume X., sees the close of my work in sight, that is to say, all the manuscript is prepared. This volume contains 123 figures, and 520 pages, of which 56 are taken up with the Check List, part n. (which is to be bound up at the beginning of the volume), bringing us up to the end of Volume IX. In this List I have brought part I. up to date, so that all the available literature is together in these pages, thus making it a useful book of reference. I have also prepared a Bibliography of Australian Ornithology, which I will publish later on. My correspondence with my fellow workers on the Royal Australasian Ornithologists’ Union Check List Committee goes far to show how close we are in general agreement, and I feel sure that the few remaining points will soon be satisfactorily settled. We shall then have an up-to-date and useful List on which to work. I am glad to record that Mr. H. L. White has been describing the nests, and eggs for some time and will continue to do so until the work is finished. I have to thank also all those who have contributed notes ; their names, are mentioned in the body of the work. I hope all who are interested will send me over any fresh piece of information that may be found. It is satisfactory to note that at a meeting of the Committee of the British Ornithologists’ Union on Nomenclature many of the corrections put forward in the Austral Avian Record were accepted, and it was decided that a larger number of genera should be used. GREGORY M. MATHEWS. Eoulis Court, Fair Oak, Hants. July ls£, 1923. xi. ' ■ . •• . Genus — S ERICORNIS. Sericornis Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv, pi. 58, April 1st, 1838. Type (by original designation) . . . Acanthiza frontalis Vigors and Horsfield. Gould described this new genus before he went to Australia, from specimens in his own Collection, naming as type Acanthiza frontalis Vigors and Horsfield and describing two new species S. parvulus and S. humilis. Small birds with long bills, long rounded wings, rounded tail, medium legs and small feet. The bill is as long as the head, straight and slender, laterally compressed, very slightly expanded at the base, the culmen very little curved, the tip slightly decurved with a slight posterior notch ; the nasal groove is less than half the length of the bill, the nostrils linear ; there are no nasal bristles and the rictal bristles are minute and obscure. The under mandible is as deep as the upper, the interramal space nearly half its length, the gonys appreciably ascending. The wing has the fourth, fifth and sixth primaries longest, the seventh and eighth very little shorter, the third less than the ninth, but longer than the secondaries which are however longer than the second primary ; the first primary is more than half the length of the second but not half the length of the third. The tail is long and slightly rounded. The legs are medium in length and strength for the size of the bird ; the front of the tarsus is booted and the hind part bilaminate ; the hind toe and claw is longer than the middle toe and claw, the hind toe stronger and the hind claw longer ; the anterior toes weak, the inner and outer toes subequal und the middle toe alone equal to the inner toe and claw. The species magnirostris is somewhat aberrant, the bill longer and the front of the tarsus obscurely scutellate ; in the form I have named S. m. Jceri the tarsus is clearly scutellate. In order to keep this in view, I propose the subgeneric name Megathiza and name iSericornis magnirostris keri Mathews as type, as MEGATHIZA KERI. It may be noted that Gould described this species as an Acanthiza at the time he introduced his new genus Sericornis. Campbell and Barnard also remark on this point. VOL. x. % 1 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Key to the Species. No white eyebrow White eyebrow Throat and breast distinctly spotted, bar on tail Throat only spotted, no bar on tail Throat white, distinct bar on tail Throat white, no bar on tail magnirostris maculatus frontalis Icevigaster minimus 2 H . Gr on void. . del SERICORNIS MAGN1ROSTRIS ( L A.R L ED SCRUB-WREN) Withe rhy & C° I Order PASSERIFORMES. Family SYLVIIDM. No. 544. SERICORNIS MAGNIROSTRIS. LARGE-BILLED SCRUB-WREN. (Plate 454.) Acanthiza magnirostra Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iy., pi. (60), April 1st, 1838: New South Wales. Acanthiza magnirostra Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., pi. (60), 1838. Sericornis magnirostris Gould, Birds Austr., pt. xx. (Vol. III., pi. 52), Sept. 1st, 1845 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 362, 1865; Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soo. (Lond.), 1875, p. 590 ; id., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 185, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. VII., p. 305, 1883 ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 9, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 26, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 247, 1901 ; Broadbent, Ibis, 1902, p. 381 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 302, 1904 ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 76, 1908 ; A. G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. X., p. 37, 1910 ; Mellor, ib., p. 209 ; Broadbent, ib., p. 237. Sericornis brevirostris Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1875, p. 590, April 1st, 1876 : ? lapsus for magnirostris or Smicrornis ? Sericornis magnirostris magnirostris Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol, XVIII., p. 355, 1912 ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 221, 1913. Sericornis magnirostris viridior Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 355, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Cairns, Queensland ; id., List Birds Australia, p. 221, 1913 ; Campbell and Barnard, Emu, Vol. XVII., p. 27, 1917. Sericornis magnirostris hoivei Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 355, Jan. 31st, 1912: Gippsland, Victoria; id., List Birds Austr., p. 221, 1913. Sericornis magnirostris bunya Mathews, Bull. Brit. Omith. Club, Vol. XL., p. 106, March 31st, 1920 : Bunya Mounts., South Queensland. Sericornis magnirostris heri Mathews, ib., Bellenclen Ker, North Queensland. Distribution. New South Wales ; Queensland ; Victoria. Adult male. General colour of the upper-surface ochreous-brown including the top of the head, entire back, upper tail-coverts, scapulars, and upper wing-coverts, with pale tips to the feathers of the bastard-wing and greater coverts ; outer aspect of flight- quills and tail-feathers inclining to rust-brown ; inner webs of flight-quills blackfsh ; sides of face, base of fore-head and throat buff, paler on the last ; breast and abdomen yellowish ; sides of body ochreous ; thighs and under tail-coverts fulvous ; axillaries and under wing-coverts yellowish-buff ; under-surface of flight-quills dark brown with pale edges ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface. Eyes brown, 3 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. bill black, feet flesh. Total length 100 mm. ; culmen 12, wing 56, tail 39, tarsus 20. Figured. Collected at Atherton Scrub, Cairns, North Queensland, in September 1908, and is the type of S. m. viridior. (top figure.) Adult female. Similar to the adult male. Adult. General colour of the upper-surface rust -brown including the top of the head, entire back, wings, and tail ; bastard- wing, primary-coverts, and inner webs of flight-quills dark brown ; sides of the face like the back ; the feathers on the fore-part of the head somewhat darker on the edges which gives a scalloped appearance ; throat buffy-white ; breast and abdomen ochreous-yellow ; sides of body, thighs, and under tail-coverts ochreous-brown ; axillaries and under wing-coverts similar to the sides of the body ; under-surface of flight-quills dark brown with pale edges ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface. Eyes brown ; bill black ; feet flesh. Total length 120 mm. ; culmen 12, wing 60, tail 46, tarsus 24. Figured. Collected at Bellenden Ker, North Queensland, in June 1889, and is the type S. m. Tceri. Immature. “ Young birds may be distinguished by having the upper parts olive-brown, the forehead and sides of the head buff, throat pale buff, and the remainder of the under-surface pale buff tinged with olive.” (North.) Nest. Oval in form with side entrance. Constructed of leaves, moss, etc., fined with feathers. Outside measurements 8 inches long by 4 or 5 wide. Eggs. Clutch three. Whitish or grey, finely spotted with brown especially at the larger end where a zone is formed. 18-19 mm. by 14-15. Breeding-season. August to January. This species was described as an Acanthiza by Gould before he went to Australia and his field notes are the first to be recorded which dealt mostly with the curious nest, the remainder reading : “ The Sericornis magnirostris is an inhabitant of the brushes of New South Wales, both those which clothe the gullies and sides of the mountain ranges of the interior, and those near the coast, such as occur at Illawarra and on the banks of the Hunter, the Clarence, the Macleay, and other rivers. Although it has nothing either in its form or colouring to recommend it to notice, it must always be an object of interest, from the very singular nest it constructs .... The large-billed Sericornis is a very active but shy bird, keeping much among the branches of the high trees, where it gains a plentiful supply of insect food ; it may, however, be easily enticed into view by imitating the squeak of its young. The sexes do not differ in external appearance, nor do the young when fully fledged offer any variation in colour from the adult.” Mr. J. W. Mellor states : “ This is fairly plentiful and widely distributed in northern New South Wales and Queensland. I have found it at Cooroy, Blackall Ranges, S. Queensland and on the Tugger ah district in New South Wales. It builds an exceptionally bulky nest for such a small bird, being one of the smallest of the genus. Its habits are more arboreal, it takes to the higher branches of low trees where it somewhat resembles a Tit ( Acanthiza ) from its 4 LARGE-BILLED SCRUB- WREN. coloration and mode of prying about in the branches of the trees and bushes and I have often mistaken the bird for that genus ; it goes about in small companies of three or four like some of the Tits.” Mr. Edwin Ashby wrote : “I collected a specimen in the deep tree fern gullies near Boolara, Gippsland, in July, 1886. I also found it nesting in the Blackall Range, Queensland.” Mr. A. G. Campbell also wrote me : “A bird which I have examined, shot from a flock of eight or ten at Loch, South Gippsland, Oct., 1897, is undoubtedly referable to this species. In its true home, the coastal scrubs of Queensland and New South Wales, this species is found to be a bird of some daring in that it frequently usurps another bird’s nest in which to rear its own offspring. The curious bulky moss-made nests of Sericornis lathami hanging among the pendent lawyer cane ( Calamus ) or other vines is most often coveted, and the rightful owners driven away just as they have completed their nest. It is even a matter of indifference if any eggs have been laid therein as this bird lays in addition and presumably hatches the lot. Mr. H. R. Elvery on the Richmond River told me he once took eight eggs out of a nest of which two belonged to Sericornis lathami, the original owner of the nest, and six of this species but these consisted of two distinct clutches of three each so that it appeared to be a case of the biter itself being bitten by another of the same species. Besides seizing newly-made nests of the larger species, this species frequently refurnishes and uses old nests which hang in the scrubs for several years, a common sight along most of the creeks and watercourses.” Up to the time I prepared my “ Reference List ” this species had not been critically examined, but I then easily noted three subspecies which I named as follows : Sericornis magnirostris magnirostris (Gould). New South Wales. \ Sericornis magnirostris viridior Mathews. “ Differs from S. m. magnirostris in being greenish above and almost uniformly green below, but especially greenish on the throat. Cairns, Queensland.” North Queensland. Sericornis magnirostris howei Mathews. “ Differs from S. m. magnirostris in its browner upper-surface, while the throat is buffish and the abdomen and flanks darker than in the typical form. (Gippsland) Victoria.” Victoria. Nothing was added until just recently when I received birds from the Bunya Mounts, South Queensland, which I named : Sericornis magnirostris bunya. 5 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. “ Differs from S. m. viridior Mathews in being distinctly paler, with the under- surface almost white (including the throat), the band over the bill is light buff.” I, at the same time described : Sericornis magnirostris keri. “ Differs from S. m. viridior Mathews, in its darker colour generally and in lacking the buff band over the bill and on the throat : it is also larger. Bellenden Ker, Queensland. This form is so distinct that it is probably a species.” Campbell and Barnard recorded a bird as Sericornis ( magnirostris ) viridior from North Queensland writing : “ This large-billed Scrub- Wren was occasionally met with, especially in dense scrub where lawyer canes grow. When seen in the open for the first time the bird reminds one more of an Acanthiza than a Sericornis, but its comparatively powerful legs put it away. The male has a slightly more yellowish tone of plumage than the female.” And if the genus Megathiza be used, the names will be Megathiza magnirostris. Megathiza magnirostris magnirostris. Megathiza magnirostris viridior. Megathiza magnirostris howei. Megathiza magnirostris hunya. Megathiza magnirostris keri. 6 H Gronvold- del Withe pbj & C° SERICORNIS FRONTALIS c 3 cr ub - wtee it) SERICORNIS HERBERTONI (HERBERT ON SCRUB ■'■WREN') (Lower Tig') Order PASSERIFORMES. No. 545. Family SYLVIIDM. SERICORNIS FRONTALIS. SCRUB-WREN. (Plate 455, 2 middle figures.) Acanthiza frontalis Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 226, Feb. 17th, 1827 : No locality ; here restricted to Sydney (New South Wales). Acanthiza frontalis Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 226, 1827. Saxicola longirostris Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. de l’Astrol. Zool., Vol. I., p. 200, pi. x., fig. 4 (pref. June 29th), 1830 : Western Port, Victoria. Sericornis frontalis Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., pi. 58, 1838 (April) ; id., Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1837, p. 133, Dec. 1838 ; id., Birds Austr., pt. xxi. (Vol. III., pi. 49), Dec. 1st, 1845 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 359, 1865 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 185, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. VII., p. 303, 1883 ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 9, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 26, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 245, 1901 ; H. E. Hill, Emu, Vol. II., p. 163, 1903 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 299, 1904; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral, p. 76, 1908 ; A. G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. X., p. 35, 1910 ; Ingle, ib., p. 123 ; Cleland, lb., Vol. XI., p. 86, 1911 (Food) ; S. A. White, ib., Vol. XIV., p. 141, 1915 ; Barrett, ib., Vol. XV., p. 190, 1916 ; Le Souef and Macpherson, ib., Vol. XX., p. 89, 1920. IV Sericornis parvvlus Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., pi. 58, April 1st 1838 : New South Wales ; id., Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1837, p. 134, Dec. 1838. Sericornis parvula parvula Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 354, 1912. Sericornis parvula Jiarterti Mathews, ib., Jan. 31st, 1912 : Cape Otway, Victoria ; id., Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., p. 59, 1912. Sericornis parvula rosince Mathews, ib : Mt. Lofty, South Australia ; id., Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., p. 44, 1912 (nest and eggs). Sericornis longirostris longirostris Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 220, 1913. Sericornis longirostris harterti Mathews, ib., p. 221 ; Belcher, Birds Geelong, p. 282, 1914. Sericornis longirostris rosince Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 221, 1913. Sericornis longirostris parvulus Mathews, ib. Sericornis frontalis frontalis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., p. 98, 1914. Sericornis frontalis longirostris Mathews, ib. THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Sericornis frontalis harterti Mathews, ib. Sericornis frontalis rosince Mathews, ib. Sericornis longirostris wyldei S. A. White, South Austr. Gmith., Vol. II., p. 169, July 1916 : Coorong, South Australia. Distribution. Eastern Australia (exactly unknown) ; Coastal South Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Adult male. Crown of head, sides of face, sides of neck, hind-neck, upper-back, and upper wing-coverts dusky brown ; bastard-wing and greater coverts tipped with white ; primary-coverts blackish ; inner webs of flight-quills dark brown edged with white ; lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts rust-brown ; tail dark brown ; lores and space below the eye blackish ; a white supraloral streak which extends to above the eye ; throat white streaked with blackish ; breast and abdomen pale sulphur- yellow ; sides of body, thighs and under tail-coverts smoke-brown ; axillaries and under wing-coverts pale buff ; under-surface of flight-quills dark brown with pale edges ; lower aspect of tail similar with whitish shafts. Eyes cream, bill horn, feet fleshy. Total length 124 mm. ; culmen 11, wing 57, tail 46, tarsus 23. Figured. Collected at Selby, Victoria, on the 15th of May, 1915. (right-hand figure.) Adult female from same locality has the lores brown. Adult female. General colour of the upper-surface dark smoke-brown, inclining to dark chestnut-brown on the upper tail-coverts and tail ; bastard-wing blackish fringed with white at the tips of the feathers like some of the greater coverts ; primary- coverts uniform blackish ; inner webs of flight-quills dark brown ; sides of face dusky brown, darker in front of the eye and speckled with white on the base of the forehead, lores and above and below the eye ; chin and throat white more or less speckled with blackish ; breast and abdomen ochreous-yellow ; sides of body, thighs, and under tail-coverts pale smoke-brown ; axillaries, under wing-coverts, and fringes of quills below greyish-buff, remainder of quill-lining dark hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail also dark hair-brown. Eyes whitish, bill very dark horn, feet brown. Total length 130 mm. ; culmen 10, wing 61, tail 48, tarsus 24. Figured. Collected at Cape Otway, Victoria, and is the type of S. f. harterti. (lower left-hand figure. ) Immature male. General colour of the upper-surface smoke-brown on the top of the head and hind-neck becoming chocolate-brown on the back, wings, and tail ; bastard- wing and some of the greater upper wing-coverts margined with white at the tips of the feathers ; primary coverts uniform blackish ; inner webs of flight-quills blackish-brown, slightly paler on the inner edges ; sides of face greyish-brown ; base of lores and eyelids greyish-white ; a dusky-brown spot in front of the eye ; fore-part of cheeks and chin whitish with blackish hair-like tips to the feathers ; an indicated line of white on each side of the throat ; middle of throat dusky-grey intermixed with white ; breast and abdomen pale sulphur-yellow ; sides of body, thighs, and under tail-coverts smoke-brown ; axillaries and under wing-coverts greyish-white ; under-surface of flight-quills hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail bronze-brown with pale shaft lines. Bill brown, eyes grey, feet fleshy. Collected at Selby, Victoria, on the 1st of February, 1914. Male juvenile. General colour of the upper-surface smoke-brown, including the crown of the head, back, wings and tail ; bastard- wing blackish-brown fringed with white at the tips of the feathers ; primary-coverts and inner- webs of flight-quills blackish- brown ; basal portion of tail inclining to blackish-brown ; sides of face similar to the top of the head ; base of lores and feathers above the eye whitish ; lower cheeks and throat greyish-white ; breast, sides of body, thighs, and under tail-coverts smoke- 8 SCRUB- WREN. brown ; under wing-coverts buffy-wliite ; under-surface of flight-quills and lower aspect of tail hair-brown. Eyes and feet brown, bill dark brown. Collected at Momington, Victoria, on the 17th of September, 1909. Nest. Domed, with side entrance. Loosely composed of bark, leaves, etc., and lined with feathers or other soft materials. Outside measurements about 6 inches wide by 8 deep. Eggs. Clutch three. Whitish stone or grey with a dark zone of purplish-brown at the larger end. 20-22 mm. by 15-16. Breeding-season. July to December. Vigors and Horsfield described this species without any remark whatever, even omitting any locality. When Gould proposed the new genus Sericornis for Vigors and Horsfield’s species he also added Sericornis par vulus, wdiich he later regarded as synonymous. His observations read : “ This little bird inhabits the brushes, and those humid situations which are clothed with thick underwood, such as the sides of creeks, gullies, etc. The locality in which it is most abundant is the south-eastern part of Australia, where it is very numerous in all the dense forests which stretch along the coast between Sydney and Moreton Bay ; and I believe I may safely state that its range does not extend westward of the 134th degree of East longitude, beyond which a nearly allied species is found; the species, therefore, inosculate about Spencer’s and St. Vincent’s Gulfs, in South Australia. Like the other members of the genus, this bird generally hops about the bottoms of the brushes, selecting in preference the most humid parts, where rotten wood and moss-covered stones afford some peculiar species of insect food, upon which it is destined to live. The present is one of the smallest species of its form yet discovered, and was always a favourite with me ; for in the inmost recesses of the forest the presence of this little bird, hopping about from stone to stone in search of its insect food, now and then broke the monotony of the scene with its inward warbling strain.” Soon after Vigors and Horsfield had described their Acanthiza frontalis , the French voyageurs Quoy and Gaimard figured and described from Western Port, Victoria, a bird under the name Saxicola longirostris. Whatever the reason, it was not recognised as this bird by Gould or G. R. Gray, although the illustration is quite a good one, and since I reinstated Quoy and Gaimard’s name there has been no question of its association with this species. Soon afterwards Gould named a number of species of this genus which have caused complications in this connection as will be seen. Captain S. A. White has sent me the following note : “ S. /. longirostris. This bird is very plentiful in many parts of Victoria I have visited and they are to be met with on the edges of the scrubs in the early mornings and evenings. VOL. X. 9 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Their ordinary note is a short ‘ cheep, cheep,’ but they also have a very sweet but short song. S. f. rosince. I was under the impression that this was a new species for some time but it was not until 1912 that I set out in search for it. This is now a common bird but keeps to the deep damp gullies. It is very silent, or so I found it, but it may be in the early mornings they utter the sweet song so common to the members of this genus. The nest resembles that of other Sericornis in shape, composed of dry grass and invariably placed in a mass of dry bracken fern in the deep dark gullies in the Mount Lofty Ranges.” At Mallacoota, Victoria, Captain White found it “ Very common in nearly all the damp gullies. They keep to the thick undergrowth during the middle of the day, but in the morning and evening they were seen hopping about on the short grass in search of insects. At the least sound they would dart into cover.” The confusion between S. frontalis and osculans in Victoria and South Australia has made the determination of the field notes published somewhat difficult. Thus H. E. Hill in his Notes from Geelong and Otway Districts has written : “ S. osculans and S. frontalis. Both of these birds are very abundant in the salt-bush scrub wherever it is found, and throughout the forest they are thick in the undergrowth if it is at all dense. Have seen the nests of S. frontalis only, although the other species no doubt breeds here too.” Mr. A. G. Campbell to whom I applied for accurate information on the subject of the Victorian forms wrote me fully as follows : “ One of the very commonest birds of the Victorian bush is Sericornis. From shore line to the tops of the highest mountains wherever there is any semblance of timber or brake of scrub, birds will be found. But the particular variety has long been a matter of question. Generally reference is made to S. frontalis as the commonest bird, but collections of skins I have made from many parts of the State point out S. osculans as being far more plentiful. In fact my opinion, based on observations, is that S. frontalis is rare. Gould in his Handbook sets down the difference in the two species as accurately as can be. He stated that an obscure dark subterminal band on the tail of S. osculans was the distinguishing feature of that species. Possibly observers have not given the full significance to the word 4 obscure’ for a cursory examination will often fail to show the band. If the feathers of the tail are widely separated the faint dark band can be traced on the inner webs of the outer feathers. There is not a continuous band clearly defined as in S. maculata, but the character holds good however. Examining Victorian skins with this in view it is found that Sericornis from most localities show the obscure subterminal band in the tail, while tails without such markings are few and far between. From my collection I have no hesitation in concluding that the common Sericornis is S. osculans ; this 10 SCRUB- WREN. species inhabitating the coastal tea-tree ( Leptospermum ) belts which fringe many parts of the coast, the freshwater tea-tree ( Melaleuca ) brakes which cover thousands of acres of swampy ground through Gippsland and all the scrub and lightly timbered lands that clothe Mornington Peninsula, many parts of Gippsland and in fact most parts of the State, the westward limits being the Pyrenees and the Grampians. The habitat of S. frontalis on the other hand seems to be restricted to the deep secluded gullies of the ranges — Dandenong and Healesville Ranges, South Gippsland and Otway Ranges and the Alps. No specimens have come under my notice from any but heavily timbered and mountainous country.” Mr. E. J. Christian under the name S. frontalis has written : “ This is very common in the thick tea-tree which borders the shores of Port Phillip Bay. It is found in the thickest and darkest clumps and does extremely good work in parts where no other birds seems to go. Often I have had to crawl on my hands and knees to get to the centre of a dark clump of trees to see a nest. It, of course, does not always stay in the thick clumps and is found in much higher timbered places and in low bushes. It has a loudish clear note and if disturbed, especially when nesting, keeps up an incessant noise which often betrays the owner’s nest. As a rule they are very early breeders and in 1905 I found them building on June 20th.” Mr. F. E. Howe has written : “Is confined to the thick scrubs that border the creeks. Their call is a rather pleasant one, but if a nest is close by is changed to a harsh scolding note. The breeding-season extends from July to December during what time two broods are hatched. At sixteen days old one youngster had the gape creamy white ; mouth, yellow ; irides, black.” Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley has also written: “ Young born naked and blind, colour of skin fleshy with dark tinge. The parents feed them every few minutes. The parents keep up harsh notes of danger if any enemy is near their nest, which I have known them to build in saplings leaning against a tree in a heap ; also in a potato sack hanging up in a tree.” Under the name S. frontalis Mr. J. W. Mellor has written me : “ Plentiful in the scrub country of Victoria and New South Wales. I have taken it at Tumbulgum on the Tweed River, and also in the Dandenong Ranges just out of Melbourne. This is its northern and southern limit I believe, but think it goes westward some distance from the eastern coast and although I have not seen the bird personally in South Australia I believe it is to be found in the south-eastern district towards Mount Gambier and the Victorian border.” Writing of the Birds of Sydney Le Souef and Macpherson have recorded : “ The White-browed Scrub-Wren ( Sericornis frontalis ) is found in many little gullies and secluded pockets of thick vegetation in the parks round the harbour. 11 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. When nesting it always gives away the situation by noisy protests when anyone comes near, but at other times it is full of curiosity and will come to within a few feet of the intruder.” This suggests that the type locality suggested for Vigors and Horsfield’s specimen, viz., Sydney, New South Wales, may be confirmed by a small series showing growth stages as hereafter noted. The type of Acanthiza frontalis is now preserved in the British Museum and is an immature specimen, now in very poor condition. When I compiled my “Reference List” I rejected it as applicable to the present species, but as it was a form of the present group, tentatively applied it to Legge’s form “ gularis .” I was induced to this course as Vigors and Horsfield had some birds from the Kent Group and I had no bird exactly agreeing with the type specimen. Since then I have received as a present, the type of gularis and found it was referable to the humilis series and not to the frontalis form with which alone Legge had compared it. I therefore reinstated frontalis for the group previously associated with it and have designated “ New South Wales (Sydney)” as the type locality. I herewith give my varied attempts to discover the truth about this species, but am confident that the results are not final as these little birds vary constantly in every locality. The authorities at the British Museum have been no less puzzled than Gould was, and Gould’s specimens preserved in that collection show his confusion whenever he received specimens ; these have been labelled two or three times differently. Thus specimens from Mount Gambier were first labelled “ new species near humilis ” then frontalis, and then ? osculans and left at that. Most of the fairly typical osculans were labelled frontalis and sometimes this was not altered while the Cape York birds he called minimus were at first called frontalis and then Icevigaster so that notwithstanding the clearness of his early published accounts nearly every additional form perplexed him. In the same way the British Museum authorities labelled the bird first “ osculans ” then “ frontalis ” and vice versa, and now simply put them away in the cabinets as “ Sericornis sp. undetermined.” Such indecision on the part of experts is my apology for my own attempts. I might add that at the present time the only birds included with the type of frontalis are Cape York birds, all the others being called osculans and Icevigaster. When I prepared my “ Reference List ” I concluded that Gould’s species osculans was a form of maculata, and that frontalis was not the correct name for this species. I therefore used Gould’s parvulus as the specific name and admitted six subspecies, viz. : — Sericornis parvula parvula Gould. New South Wales, Victoria. Sericornis parvula harterti Mathews. 12 SCRUB-WREN. “ Much richer in coloration above and below than the typical form, and also larger. Wing, $ 61 mm. : typical av. 54 mm.” Cape Otway, Victoria. Sericornis parvula rosince Mathews. “ Differs from S. p. harterti in having the throat striated and the head grey. Mount Lofty, South Australia.” South Australia. Sericornis parvula minima Gould. North Queensland. Sericornis parvula Icevigaster Gould. Mid- Queensland. Sericornis parvula Jierbertoni Mathews. “ Differs from S. p. Icevigaster in being browner above, and in having the tips of the tail-feathers white. Herbert on.” North Queensland, Herberton District. The following year I found that Saxicola longirostris of Quoy and Gaimard was applicable to this species and was the oldest name as I had not at that time received Legge’s gularis. I allowed that the Gippsland and Victoria bird was separable from the New South Wales form and that the Cape Otway bird was still different. I however considered that my Jierbertoni was the same as Gould’s Icevigaster and still ranged six subspecies with the names thus : Sericornis longirostris longirostris (Quoy & Gaimard). Victoria. Sericornis longirostris harterti Mathews. Cape Otway District, Victoria. Sericornis longirostris rosince Mathews. South Australia. Sericornis longirostris parvulus Gould. New South Wales. Sericornis longirostris Icevigaster Gould. North Queensland. Sericornis longirostris minimus G-ould. Cape York District, North Queensland. When I reinstated frontalis as the species name, the names became : Sericornis frontalis frontalis (Vigors and Horsfield). Sericornis frontalis longirostris (Quoy and Gaimard). Sericornis frontalis harterti Mathews. Sericornis frontalis rosince Mathews. Sericornis frontalis Icevigaster Gould. Sericornis frontalis minimus Gould, and Captain White added Sericornis frontalis wyldei in 1916. 13 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. I have now re-considered the whole of the available material and find one of the chief stumbling blocks to the above arrangement is the Cape York minimus and the Icevigaster forms. Campbell has pointed out that the eggs of minimus differ appreciably and apparently in a specific manner. The acceptance of tins would necessitate the recognition of at least three species : Sericornis minimus Cape York. Sericornis Icevigaster Rest of Queensland and Tweed River District, Yew South Wales. Sericornis frontalis Coastal Yew South Wales and East Victoria. Of the last named the above subspecies can be admitted, taking away Icevigaster and minimus, making a total of five. 14 Order PASSERIFORMES. No. 546. Family SYLVIIDJE. SERICORNIS LJWIGASTER. BUFF-BREASTED SCRUB-WREN. (Plate 455, bottom right-hand figure.)* Sericornis LiEViGASTER Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (London) 1847, p. 3, March 29th : Lawson Ranges, near Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland. Sericornis Icevigaster^ Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (London), 1847, p. 3; id. , Birds Austr., pt. xxvii. (Vol. III., pi. 50), June 1st, 1847; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 360, 1865 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., 185, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. VII., p. 307, 1883; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 9, 1888; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 26, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 249, 1901 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 300, 1904; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austr., p. 76, 1908 ; A. G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. X., p. 36, 1910 ; A. J. Campbell and Barnard, ib., Vol. XVII., p. 27, 1917. Sericornis parvula Icevigaster Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 355, March 31st, 1912. Sericornis parvula herbertoni Mathews, ib. : Herberton, North Queensland. Sericornis longirostris Icevigaster Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 221, 1913. Sericornis frontalis Icevigaster Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., p. 98, 1914. Distribution. North Queensland (Herberton) to Northern New South Wales. Adult female. General colour of the upper-surface ochreous-brown including the top of the head, sides of the face, sides of neck, hind-neck, back, wings, and tail ; some of the median upper wing-coverts blackish tipped with white like the bastard-wing ; primary-coverts uniform black ; inner webs of flight-quills blackish edged with whitish ; outer edge of wing greyish-white ; lateral tail-feathers broadly banded with black on the apical portion and tipped with white ; a white supraloral streak which extends over the eye and along the sides of the crown ; the feathers in front of and below the eye brownish ; chin and throat greyish- white with dark centres to some of the feathers ; breast, abdomen, sides of body, and under tail-coverts yellowish-white with dark bases to the last ; axillaries and lesser under wing- coverts yellowish-white ; greater series of under wing-coverts and under-surface of flight- quills dark brown with slightly paler margins to the latter ; lower aspect of tail bronze-brown with a broad blackish sub-apical band and greyish-white tips to the feathers. Eyes pale yellow, bill dark horn ; feet flesh. Total length 117 mm. ; culmen 11, wing 62, tail 47, tarsus 21. Figured. Collected at Herberton, North Queensland, on the 28th of November, 1910, and is the type of Sericornis herbertoni . Adult male has the toes blackish. * The Plate is lettered Sericornis herbertoni. | Also spelt loevigastra. 15 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Nest. “ Dome-shaped, situated near the ground in thick scrub ; composed chiefly of dried grasses, and warmly lined with feathers. External diameter top to bottom 5| inches by 4 inches across.” (H. L. White.) Eggs. “ Clutch two, oval in shape, surface of shell fine and rather glossy, ground-colour pale brownish, capped at the larger end with dark purplish-brown markings. 19 mm. by 14.” (ib.) Breeding-season. “ November to December.” (ib.) Gould’s account of this bird is as follows : “ This species, though nearly allied to the S. maculatus, is distinguished by the entire absence of spots on the throat and chest, and by having the tail-feathers largely tipped with white. The acquisition of a male and female is part of the results of Dr. Leichardt’s overland expedition from Moreton Bay to Port Essington, an example of each sex having been killed by Gilbert on the 30th of November, 1844 ; but there is no information whatever respecting them in his 4 Journal.’ ” This form appears to have been neglected ever since, but recently Messrs. Campbell and Barnard wrote : “ This northern Scrub- Wren was only seen on the table-land, chiefly along the Kirrama Creek, where families fossicked for food, after the fashion of frontalis .” From the Tweed River is a bird which is labelled Icevig aster which has a broad black bar across the tail but with no white tips. This can be called : Sericornis Icevigaster tweedi subsp. nov. One of Gould’s birds, a typical Icevigaster from “ New South Wales ” (= Queensland as this was before the northern State was partitioned off) is the Queensland bird, but was labelled frontalis by Gould. The forms admitted are : Sericornis Icevigaster Icevigaster Gould. Sericornis Icevigaster herbertoni Mathews. “ Differs from S. 1. Icevigaster in being browner above.” Sericornis Icevigaster tweedi Mathews. “ Differs from S. 1. Icevigaster in the absence of white tips to the tail-feathers.” Order PASSERIFORMES. No. 547. Family SYLVIID/E. SERICORNIS MINIMUS. LITTLE SCRUB-WREN. (Plate 455, top figure.) Sericornis minimus Gould, Birds New Guinea, pt. i. (Vol. III., pi. 7), Dec. 1st, 1875 : Cape York. Sericornis minimus Gould, Birds New Guinea, pt. 1. (Vol. III., pi. 7), Dec. 1st, 1875 : Cape York, Queensland; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 185, 1878 ; id., Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 9, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 26, 1899 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 300, 1904 ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 76, 1908 ; A. G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. X., p. 37, 1910 ; Barnard, ib., Vol. XI., p. 27, 1911 ; A. J. Campbell, ib., Vol. XIII., p. 67, 1913; Macgillivray, ib., p. 171, 1914; id., ib., Vol. XVII., p. 201, 1918. Sericornis brunneopygius Masters, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. I., p. 53, Feb. 1876 : Cape York, Queensland. Sericornis parvula minima Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 354, 1912. Sericornis longirostris minimus Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 221, 1913. Sericornis frontalis minimus Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., p. 98, 1914. Distribution. Cape York Peninsula, North Queensland. Adult male. Crown of head dark fulvous-brown ; back, scapulars, and upper wing\coverts olive ; bastard-wing and primary-coverts black tipped with white ; outer aspect of flight-quills olive-brown, inner webs dark brown with pale edges ; upper tail- coverts and tail rust-brown ; sides of face like the top of the head ; base of forehead, lores, and fore-part of eye-ring blackish ; remainder of eye-ring and loral streak, which extends over the eye white ; chin, cheeks, and throat white with a few dark specklings on the last ; breast, abdomen, lower flanks, and under tail-coverts whitish sulphur-yellow ; sides of body somewhat darker ; axillaries and under wing-coverts whitish ; under-surface of flight-quills hair-brown with pale buff edges ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface but paler. Eyes crimson ; bill pink with culmen brown ; feet pink. Total length 10 1 mm. ; culmen 11, wing 58, tail 40, tarsus 20. Figured., Collected at Piara Scrubs, Cape York, North Queens- land, on the 22nd of March, 1913. (Top figure.) Adidt female from same locality has lores brown. Immature female. General colour of the upper-surface ochreous-brown including the top of the head, entire back, wings, and tail ; bastard-wing and greater upper wing- YOL. X. 17 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. coverts blackish-brown margined with white ; primary coverts uniform blackish- brown ; inner webs of flight-quills hair-brown with pale edges towards the base ; sides of the face and lores rust-colour ; a pale supraloral line which extends to above the eye ; throat whitish ; breast, abdomen, sides of body, under tail-coverts, axillaries and under wing-coverts yellowish-white more or less tinged with rust- colour ; thighs uniform rust-colour ; under-surface of flight-quills dark hair-brown with pale edges ; lower aspect of tail ochreous-brown. Bill black, eyes brownish- grey, legs and feet brownish- white. Collected at Watson’s River, North Queensland, on the 4th of July, 1914. Immature. General colour of the upper-surface olive-brown including the head, back, wings, and tail ; bastard-wing and some of the greater coverts black tipped with white ; primary-coverts uniform black ; inner webs of flight-quills blackish-brown ; rictal bristles black ; a spot at the base of the bill, behind each nostril, and eyelids white ; sides of face similar to the crown of the head but rather paler ; chin and throat cream-white with minute dark fringes to the feathers ; breast, abdomen, sides of body, and under tail-coverts very pale lemon-yellow ; thighs pale rust-colour ; under wing-coverts cream- white, slightly tinged with lemon-yellow ; flight-quills below hair-brown with whitish margins ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper- surface. Eyes grey, feet pink, bill brown. Collected at Cape York, on the 12th of July, 1913. Juvenile. General colour of the upper-surface rust-brown including the head, back, wings and tail ; upper tail-coverts rust-colour ; bastard-w ing and greater upper wing- coverts black margined with white ; primary coverts uniform black ; inner webs of flight-quills dark brown with pale edges ; a supraloral streak, eyebrow, and eyelid whitish ; ear-coverts like the crown of the head ; under-surface white slightly tinged with yellow ; thighs pale rust-colour ; under wing-coverts and inner margins of flight-quills below pale buff ; quill lining dark brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface. Bill and eyes black, feet pink. Collected at Cape York, North Queensland, on the 4th of April, 1913. Nest. “ Dome-shaped, situated a few feet from the ground in a scrubby bush. Composed of leaves and rootlets and lined with fine tendrils and a few feathers. The entrance is very small, being § of an inch in diameter. The structure measures : internal depth, 3 inches ; external, 4 \ inches ; internal breadth, 1 £ inches ; external, 3 inches.” (H. L. White.) Eggs. “ Clutch, three, oval in shape, and of a faint reddish-brown, with light brown fleecy markings on the larger end, where they form a zone near the apex. There are no markings on the smaller end. 17-18 mm. by 14.” (ib.) Breeding-season. “ October to December.” (ib.) Writing of this bird, which Gonld described, he says : “ The nearest allies of this pretty little bird are the Sericornis frontalis of the eastern brashes of New South Wales and the Sericornis Icevigaster of the northern portion of Australia. From the former if differs in the markings of the face and eye stripes, from the latter in the total absence of any marks on the tips of the tail-feathers. Nothing has yet been recorded respecting the habits and economy of this species ; but judging from the sleek and silky texture of its feathers, it is an inhabitant of humid sterile places, among grasses and mossy stones, in the wilder portion of the forest.” 18 LITTLE SCRUB-WREN. Very little has been recorded about this species. The bird figured and described differs from Gould’s type in having the back olive and not brown, and may be called Sericornis minimus yorJci subsp. nov. Writing about eggs, A. J. Campbell observed : “ Some sets of the various Sericornes are very similar to each other, but whether or not Sericornis minimus is merely a northern form of S. frontalis, its eggs differ considerably from those of the southern bird. The lengthened and acorn-like eggs of S. citreigularis are exceedingly singular.” Macgillivray has recorded : “ The Little Scrub- Wren ( Sericornis minimus ) is numerous in the Cape York scrubs, where they fossick for food amongst the dead leaves and debris on the ground or amongst the masses of fallen vines and trees. They are easily approached. Average length of male, about 4| inches, irides deep orange-scarlet ; upper mandible pale brown, lower brownish- white. Stomach contents, insects.” 19 Order PASSERIFORMES. No. 548. Family SYLVIIDM. SERICORNIS MACULATUS. SPOTTED SCRUB-WREN. (Plate 456.) Sericornis MACULATUS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1847, p. 2, March 29th : (Albany), West Australia. Sericornis maculatus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1847, p. 2 ; id., Birds Austr., pt. xxvn. (Vol. III., pi. 51), June 1st, 1847 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 361, 1865 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 185, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. VII., p. 307, 1883 ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 9, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 26, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 249, 1901 ; Milligan, Emu, Vol. III., p. 17, 1903 (W.A.); Carter, id., ib., p. 40, (W.A.) ; Milligan, ib., Vol. IV., p. 9, 1904 (W.A.) ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat., No. 1, Vol. I., p. 304, 1904 ; Lawson, Emu, Vol. IV., p. 130, 1905 (W.A.) ; Ashby, ib., Vol. V., p. 27, 1905 (Kangaroo Island) ; A. G. Campbell, id., ib., p. 142 (Kangaroo Island) ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 77, 1908 ; Gibson, Emu, Vol. VIII., p. 66, 1908 (W.A.) ; A. G. Campbell, ib., Vol. X., p. 36, 1910 ; Cleland, ib., Vol. XI., p. 87, 1911 (Food) ; Whitlock, id., ib., p. 241, 1912 (W.A.) ; S. A. White, ib., Vol. XII., pp. 3, 7, 8, 1912 ; id., ib., p. 184, 1913 ; Orton, ib., Vol. XVIII., p. 101, 1918 ; Campbell, ib., p. 259, 1919 ; S. A. White, Emu, Vol. XX., p. 127, 1921 ; Ashby, id., ib., p. 134; Alexander, id., ib., p. 166. Sericornis osculans Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 184 7, p. 2, March 29th : South Australia ; id., Birds Austr., pt. xxvn. (Vol. III., pi. 48), June 1st, 1847 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 358, 1865 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc., N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 185, 1878; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. VII., p. 309, 1883; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 9, 1888; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 26, 1899; Campbell, Nests, Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol, I., p. 250, 1901 ; H. E. Hill, Emu, Vol. II., p. 163, 1903 ; A. G. Campbell, ib., Vol. VI., p. 120, 1907 ; Batey, ib., Vol. VII., p. 7, 1901 ; A. G. Campbell, ib., Vol. X., p. 35, 1910. Sericornis balstoni Grant, Bull. Brit. Omith. Club, Vol. XX III., p. 72, May 7th, 1909 : Bernier Island, West Australia ; Ibis, 1909, p. 677, pi. ix., f. 1. Sericornis maculata maculata Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 355, 1912 ; id. , List Birds Austr., p. 222, 1913. 20 H . (rr onvold . del SERICORNIS MACULATES. (SPOTTED 3 CHUB -WREN). Withe rhy & C° ■ SPOTTED SCRUB-WREN. Sericornis maculata warreni Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 356, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Warren River, South-west Australia ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 222, 1913 ; Carter, Ibis, 1921, p. 60. Sericornis maculata osculans Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 356, 1912 ; id. , List Birds Austr., p. 222, 1913 ; S. A. White, Emu, Vol. XVI., p. 75, 1916. Sericornis maculata mellori Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 356, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Eyre’s Peninsula, South Australia ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 222, 1913. Sericornis maculata asJibyi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVTII., p. 356, Jam. 31st, 1912 : Kangaroo Island ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 222, 1913. Sericornis maculata balstoni Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVJII., p. 356, 1912 ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 222, 1913. Sericornis halmaturina Campbell, Emu, Vol. XI., pt. 4, p. 246, April 1st, 1912 : Kangaroo Island. Sericornis maculatus rymilli S. A. White, Emu, Vol. XVI., pt. 1, p. 14, July 1, 1916 : Wedge Island, South Australia. Sericornis maculatus hartogi Carter, Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club, Vol. XXXVTL, p. 6, Oct. 24th, 1916 : .Dirk Hartog’s Island, West Australia; id., Ibis, 1917, p. 589; Whitlock, Emu, Vol. XX., p. 180, 1921. Sericornis maculatus geraldtonensis Mellor, South Austr. Ornithol., Vol. VI., pt. 2, p. 43, April 1st, 1921 : Geraldton District, Western Australia. Sericornis maculatus houtmanensis Zietz, ib., p. 44: Houtman’s Abrolhos, South-west Australia. Distribution. South Australia ; West Australia. Adult male. General colour of the upper-parts mouse-brown, including the tops of the head, ear-coverts, back, wings, and tail ; terminal portions of the bastard-wing, median, and greater upper wing-coverts black margined with wrhite ; primary-coverts uniform black ; inner web of flight-quills dark brown ; outer tail-feathers broadly banded with black sub-apically and fringed with white at the tips ; base of forehead and fore part of face black ; a supraloral streak which extends over the eye, and a portion of the ej^elids white ; throat, breast, abdomen, and under tail-cpverts pale yellow with blackish centres, or blackish bases to the feathers ; flanks and thighs dusky grey ; under wing-coverts greyish-white ; under-surface of flight-quills hair-brown with pale edges ; lower aspect of tail similar in pattern to its upper- surface but paler in colour. Bill horn, with lighter base of lower mandible, feet dark. Total length 124 mm. ; culmen 11, wing 56, tail 49, tarsus 23. Figured. Collected at Cambrutha Creek, Clive Ranges, Central Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, in June 1911, and is the type of S. m. mellori. (Bottom figure.) Adult female similar to the adult male, but with the lores brown, not black. Adult male. General colour above dark chocolate-brown, including the crown of the head, sides of the face, back, wings and tail ; outer median and greater upper wing- coverts blackish, tipped with white like the bastard-wing ; primary-coverts uniform black ; outer primaries grey along the outer webs ; inner webs of flight-quills dark hair-brown with whitish margins ; outer tail-feathers banded with black subtenninally and edged with greyish-white at the tips ; base of forehead, lores, and fore-part of eye-ring black ; a white supraloral streak which extends above the eye and includes the eye-ring ; chin and a moustacial streak whitish ; throat and fore-neck greyish- 21 THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. white with blackish pear-shaped centres to the feathers ; abdomen pale yellow ; sides of body and thighs ochreous-brown ; under tail-coverts similar with whitish tips ; axillaries, under wing-coverts, and inner edges of quills below buffy-white ; remainder of quill-lining dark hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail greyish-brown with a dark subterminal band and greyish-white edgings to the tips of the lateral feathers, shafts whitish. Total length 115 mm. ; culmen 10, wing 55, tail 47, tarsus 21. Figured. Collected at Tor Bay, West Australia, on the 22nd of April, 1908. (Right-hand figure.) Adult female. General colour of the upper-surface olive-brown, including the top of the head, sides of face, entire back, wings and tail ; bastard-wing blackish fringed with white at the tip like some of the greater upper wing-coverts ; primary-coverts uniform black ; inner webs of flight-quills blackish-brown ; tail banded subterminally with black and tipped with greyish-white ; a loral streak of black and white feathers, which extend to above the eye ; throat and fore-neck yellowish-white with blackish centres to the feathers ; breast and abdomen pale lemon-yellow ; flanks and thighs smoke-brown ; under tail-coverts pale brown with whitish tips ; axillaries buffy- white ; under-surface of flight-quills dark brown, slightly paler on the edges ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface but paler. Bill horn, base paler, eyes greyish, feet neutral, tarsus horn. Total length 112 mm. ; culmen 10, wing 51, tail 44, tarsus 21. Figured. Collected at Cape Howe, Western Australia, on the 23rd of November, 1910. (Top figure.) Adult female. General colour of the upper-surface dark smoke-brown, including the top of the head, sides of the face, back, wings, and tail ; outer median upper wing- coverts blackish fringed with white at the tips like the bastard-wing ; primary- coverts uniform blackish ; a subapical band of black on the outer tail-feathers ; the feathers at the base of the fore-head speckled with whitish ; chin and throat whitish with black pear-shaped markings to the feathers of the latter, becoming yellowish on the fore-neck and breast where the dark spots are more pronounced ; middle of the abdomen and under tail-coverts uniform lemon-yellow with dark bases to the latter ; axillaries and under wing-coverts cream-white ; under-surface of flight-quills hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail much paler than its upper-surface but otherwise similar. Bill purplish-horn, eyes straw-yellow, feet fleshy. Total length: 112 mm.; culmen 10, wing 52, tail 42, tarsus 21. Figured. Collected on the Warren River, South-west Australia on the 14th of February, 1910, and is the type of S. m. warreni. (Middle left-hand figure.) Immature male. General colour of the upper-surface rust-brown with a tinge of grey on the top of the head ; bastard-wing and greater upper wing-coverts black margined with white ; primary-coverts uniform blackish-brown ; flight-quills hair-brown on the inner-webs which are paler on the margins towards the base ; outer webs of primaries edged with greyish ; some of ths outer tail-feathers have a blackish subterminal band ; lores, cheeks, and ear-coverts similar to the back ; a supraloral streak and line over the eye white like the eyelids ; chin and sides of throat dull white ; middle of throat pale grey with dark centres to the feathers ; middle of breast dull white with dark shaft-lines inclining to drab grey on the sides of the breast ; abdomen, dull white ; sides of body, thighs, and under tail-coverts ferru- gineous, the last more or less white at the base ; under wing-coverts and margins of flight- quills below pale buff ; remainder of quill-lining dark hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail greyish-brown with a dark subterminal band to some of the feathers. Collected at Red Gum Spring, West Australia, on the 8th of October, 1902. Immature female. General colour of the upper-surface smoke-brown, including the top of the head, back, wings, and tail ; greater upper wing-coverts and bastard-wing black with white margins to the tips of the feathers ; primary-coverts, uniform 22 SPOTTED SCRUB-WREN. black ; inner webs of flight-quills dark hair-brown ; outer webs of prim ary- quills drab-grey ; a slight indication of a blackish subterminal band on some of the tail- feathers, chiefly on the inner webs ; the short feathers at the base of the forehead white with blackish tips ; throat, greyish white with dark shaft-lines to the feathers ; breast and abdomen, greyish-white with pale rust-brown margins to the feathers ; sides of body, thighs, vent, and under tail-coverts uniform rust-brown ; axillaries, under wing-coverts, and inner margins of flight-quills brownish-grey ; remainder of quills below and lower aspect of tail dark hair-brown. Bill brown, eyes dull white, feet blackish-brown. Collected on Middle River, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, on the 5th of December, 1911. Nest. Domed, with side entrance. Composed of bark, leaves, grass, etc., and lined with feathers. Outside measurements, 6 inches deep by 4 wide. Eggs. Clutch, three. Whitish, with a zone at the larger end of purplish-brown and lavender spots, 19 mm. by 14. Breeding-season. September to December or January. Of great interest in connection with the recognition of subspecies are the remarks made by Gould regarding this species : “ The present bird, to which I have assigned the specific term of maculatus , has always been a source of perplexity to me, from the circumstance of its varying considerably in its markings ; after mature consideration, however, I am induced to regard the specimens from Southern and Western Australia and the north coast as referable to one and the same species, each however possessing trivial differences by which it may be known from whence it was received. Specimens from the Houtman’s Abrolhos are of a rather smaller size, of a much greyer tint on the back, and have much darker-coloured legs. I believe that the bright yellow wash on the under-surface of some individuals is characteristic of newly moulted birds ; in this species not only is the throat spotted with black, but the spotting extends over the chest and some distance down the flanks ; it has at all times the tail tipped with white, a character which serves at once to distinguish it from S. osculans and S. frontalis. Scrubby places and ravines covered! with dense herbage, whether in sterile or humid situations, are its favourite resort. It has the same shy disposition and retiring habits as the other members of the genus, depending for safety rather upon its creeping, mouse-like habits than upon its powers of flight, which are indeed seldom resorted to. Its note is a harsh, grating kind of twitter, often repeated.” As a distinct species Gould described Sericornis osculans, writing : “ Inhabits South Australia, where it frequents underwood, scrubby places, and the bottoms of dry watercourses : it is naturally shy and retiring in its habits, and evades pursuit by creeping beneath the herbage and making its exit on the other side. It is nearly allied to the S. frontalis and S. humilis, but differs from the former in having at all times numerous longitudinal blotches of black on the throat, and from the latter in these spots being much more distinct. I have seen 23 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. specimens in which the yellow tint which pervades the centre of the abdomen has given place to grey or greyish-white.” Mr. Edwin Ashby’s notes read : “In the mangroves of the Outer Harbour, Port Adelaide, this bird creeps about the roots like a mouse, usually without making a sound. The whole locality where the mangroves grow is at high tide covered with water, but at low tide is a sombre waste of reeking mud cut into numberless deep ditches or channels by the receding tide. The only sound to be heard is the buzzing of mosquitoes and the slight noise made by the walking of numerous small crabs or the dropping of the fruits of the mangroves. Some times the Sericornis creeps up high into the mangroves. In common with others of the same genus they are possessed of great curiosity and will come almost within arm’s length to get a good view of the intruder. At Easter they uttered but seldom the sharp chirp common to most of the genus ; possibly they would be more talkative in spring. In Kangaroo Island they frequented localities near the coast or in thick shrubs only a few feet high and at bottom of valley at Middle River in thick bushes, but a very different locality to the Mangroves of Outer Harbour A comparison was made between these birds and West Australian specimens of maculata with the result that the Outer Harbour birds were similar to the Kangaroo Island ones but considerably darker in all the upper parts and tail, a rich or deep vandyke brown, than the Port Lincoln specimens which were uniformly above a grey brown, much paler. The Western birds were similar above to the Port Lincoln ones but underneath strongly cream instead of white and smaller.” Mr. J. W. Mellor writes: “This is the bird generally representing the genus in South Australia. I have taken it in all parts of Kangaroo Island, also on many of the smaller islands about the southern coast. I have also noted it on Eyre Peninsula, and at the Reedbeds near Adelaide. At the former place I have taken it at the extreme southern end and at Warunda in the interior. It keeps to the ground and does good work in eating up destructive insect pests. Its nest is placed in a bush on the ground and is domed.” Mr. Tom Carter’s notes read : “ The Spotted Scrub-Wren occurs through the greater part of the South-west corner of West Australia, but can nowhere be called abundant, and according to my observations is more numerous in the coastal districts than it is inland. It is fairly common on the coast, at the Margaret River, and about Albany. The greatest distance inland at which any of these birds have been observed by me was on the Pallinup River, about ninety miles from the coast. On one occasion only, a pair of this species was seen at Broome Hill (Sept. 21, 1910). It is a quiet unobstrusive bird keeping- well to the cover of scrub. The subspecies, Warren River Scrub- Wren, was noted by me to be fairly common in the thick scrub growing alongside the 24 SPOTTED SCRUB-WREN. Warren River and its many tributary brooks, at a distance of about fifteen miles from the coast. It has a trilling alarm note.” Milligan’s note about the Wongan Hills form was short : “ Cannot believe to be identical with the coast bird.” Whitlock, writing about the Stirling Ranges birds, stated: “The Spotted Scrub-Wren is by no means a rare bird in the Ranges in suitable haunts ; but, owing to the dense nature of the scrubs and the secretive habits of the female during the actual nesting season, the nest is a difficult one to find.” Carter described the Dirk Hartog Island Wren and wrote : “ This new Scrub- Wren was the commonest bird on Dirk Hartog Island. Almost every bush of any size seemed to hold one or two, and on very windy days (which often occur in the summer months) when small birds keep in the shelter of the scrub, one has only to sit down under a bush, squeak with one’s lips, and one or a pair of this species will almost invariably appear at once. They are excessively tame, and will hop about among the twigs within a foot of one’s face, often uttering a scolding note like ‘ tchut, tchut.’ At other times they have what appears to be an alarm note like 4 pee-wee-wee.’ What seems to be their song is a musical trilling, resembling that of the British Grasshopper Warbler. Many fledged young were seen after the end of September. Scrub- WTrens also occurred on the Peron Peninsula, but were not nearly so plentiful as on Dirk Hartog Island. Their habits and notes were the same. No Scrub- Wrens have ever been observed by the writer in the Gascoyne district or further north.” Campbell later wrote : “ The western Scrub- Wren seems to have a wide range, but has not been recorded further north than the Shark Bay district, where naturally it is lighter coloured than typical birds from the south-west forest country. There appears no difference in specimens from either Dirk Hartog Island, Bernier Island (next but one northward to Dirk Hartog) and the mainland. ... It appears that Grant’s name, balstoni, and description will amply serve to distinguish the Sericornis in Shark Bay region, including the islands thereabouts.” Whitlock’s field notes read : “ Very common on Dirk Hartog, haunting the larger bushes, especially where there are dead ones by preference. It often happened when I found a Malurus or other small nest, that the owners were invisible. Whenever I attempted to call them up, a pair, or more often three individuals of this Scrub-Wren invariably put in an appearance. It is common on Peron Peninsula too, but hardly so numerous as on Dirk Hartog. I spent a lot of time watching this species in the hopes of finding a nest but was com- pletely baffled. I saw one pair only, accompanied by a brood of three young ones ; I am therefore inclined to think it breeds at the end of summer, March or April. On the Peron Peninsula an old nest was found which, I think, was VOL. X. 25 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. that of a Sericornis. It was of the semi-domed type, and was resting very low down in large dead bush.” When Captain S. A. White visited West Australia in 1921 he collected in the Cape Naturaliste Region and wrote “ Sericornis maculatus. A common bird in the thick, dwarf vegetation along the coastline. Mr. M’Gilp found three nests, all containing young. I fancied this bird to be different from S. m. osculans, but upon comparing a series I find it would be impossible to separate them, so that maculata has a wide range.” Captain S. A. White has written me : “ S. maculatus osculans. This bird is fairly plentiful amongst the mangroves along the Port Adelaide River, and I have met with it in the Mangroves north of St. Kilda and at Pondalowie Bay on Yorke’s Peninsula. It is a timid little bird and at the slightest noise retreats into the densest part of the mangroves ; curiosity over-rides its timidity and if one keeps perfectly quiet and makes any plaintive whistle it will gradually come closer and closer till it approaches within a few feet, but break a twig or move the body and in a moment the bird is lost sight of. S. m. mellori. During my many journeys through Eyre’s Peninsula this bird was found to be quite plentiful in many localities where plenty of undergrowth abounds. Although the bird was found inland still it seemed more partial to the coastline ; in habits and notes it resembles S. m. osculans. S. m. ashbyi. This is not a plentiful bird on Kangaroo Island and is very shy. I have met with it on the ironstone ridge in the centre of the island amongst the Yarras as well as in the tea-trees near the coast. Habits and note resemble those of other Sericornis .” Dr. Cleland wrote : “ S. maculata in the tea-tree scrub, Adelaide, is somewhat like Malurus cyanochlamys in its habits. It flies when frightened from the low salt bush and hops up the tea-tree. The note, too, is not unlike at its onset, but is more of a scissor-grinding note. Irides white ; food worms chiefly.” When Captain S. A. White described S. maculatus rymilli he observed: “ This new subspecies was fairly numerous on Wedge Island ; its habits seemed identical with other members of the genus. I have collected specimens from the nearest point of the mainland (Pondalowie Bay) which is under 20 miles distant from Wedge Island. These birds from the mainland are much darker, and agree with the typical Sericornis m. osculans from Port Adelaide. Specimens from Eyre Peninsula ( Sericornis m. mellori) from the other side of the island, are before me, and the above new subspecies differs from them in being much lighter and not nearly so strongly marked.” Previous to the preparation of my “ Reference List ” all West Australian birds had been classed as Sericornis maculatus without subspecies, while Grant had named an island form as Sericornis balstoni, and the relationship of 26 SPOTTED SCRUB-WREN. S. osculans with the Western species was not recognised. I then ranged the above together and added three subspecies making six in all as follows : Sericornis maculata metadata Gould. Albany, West Australia. a J ' Sericornis macidaia warreni Mathews. “ Differs from S. m. maculata in its darker head and greenish (not greyish) olive back. The spotting on the underside is more pronounced and the abdomen yellowish. Warren River.” Warren River District, West Australia. Sericornis maculata osculans Gould. Port Adelaide, South Australia. Sericornis maculata mellori Mathews. “ Differs from S. m. osculans in being paler above and in having more white on the abdomen. Eyre’s Peninsula.” Eyre’s Peninsula, South Australia. Sericornis maculata aslnbyi Mathews. “ Differs from S. m. maculata in its larger size and having the markings on the throat more distinct and the flanks darker. Wing 60 mm. ; typical 53-56 mm. Kangaroo Island.” Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Sericornis maculata balstoni Grant. Bernier Island, West Australia. A very pale island form, described from very worn greyish skins. Simultaneously Campbell named the Kangaroo Island form, but in this case my name was published earlier. No alteration or addition was made otherwise that year, so that the six forms appeared with the same names in my 1913 “ List.” Three years later Carter named : Sericornis maculatus hartogi \ From Dirk Hartog’s Island, West Australia ; then S. A. White described : Sericornis maculatus rymilli From Wedge Island, South Australia; and J. W. Mellor has added : Sericornis maadatus geraldtonensis From the Geraldton District of Mid- west Australia ; while E. R. Zietz has described : Sericornis maadatus hoidmanensis From Houtman’s Abrolhos, South-west Australia. 27 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. That many more subspecies would be named was certain from the published accounts such as Milligan’s from the Wongan Hills, West Australia and Alexander from the Perth district. Further, in the British Museum is a form of this species from Lithgow, New South Wales, suggesting that it occurs inland through that State. These birds are darker above with less rufous tinge than South Australian birds and the flanks are noticeably darker. These may be called : Sericornis maculatus inopinatus subsp. nov. while a series from Mount Gambier, South Australia, from the Gould collection and which puzzled him should also be named. They are noticeably paler than Port Adelaide birds, not unlike S. m. mellori but more dusky below, the throat with narrower streaks, and may be called: Sericornis maculatus gouldianus subsp. nov. 28 Order PASSERIFORMES. Family SYLVIIDM. SERICORNIS TYRANNULUS. NORTHERN SCRUB-WREN. Sericornis tyrannula I)e Vis, Annals Queensl. Mus., No. 6, p. 42, Sept. 1905 : Charleville, Queensland. Sericornis tyrannula Re Vis, Annals Queensl. Mus., No. 6, p. 42, 1905 ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 77, 1908 ; id., Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 356, 1912 ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 222, 1913 ; id., Austr. Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 7, p. 135, 1915. Re Vis described this bird as follows : — General colour of upper-surface rufous-brown, graduating from brown anteriorly to bright rufous posteriorly. Head and nape brown, uniform on the forehead. Wings rufescent brown, median coverts edged with rufous ; greater coverts blackish- brown, forming a dark rectangular blotch on the wing ; primaries broadly edged with pale rufous, in certain lights with rufescent grey ; mantle and scapulars rufescent brown, the rufous tint predominant on the lower back. Upper tail- coverts, bright rufous ; middle tail-feathers rufous-brown, the others dusky-grey, permeated by the dark band of the under-surface. Lores and cheeks subrufescent, the latter mottled with dark grey ; ear-coverts rufescent with pale shaft-streaks. Palbearal streak dark in front, rufous in centre, pale posteriorly. Chin, throat, upper breast and flanks, pale rufous passing into dusky- white on the lower breast and abdomen ; vent dusky-brown ; under tail-coverts bright rufous : tail with a black transverse band, occupying the third quarter from the base ; thighs and under-wings pale rufous ; bill, legs and feet dead straw-colour. Total length, 85 mm., culmen imperfect, wing 50, tail 42, tarsus 21. Tail rounded, four stiff bristles at the gape. Locality, Charleville. Collector, R. Broadbent. writing “The Scrub- Wren under view appears to be easily distinguishable by its diminutive size and rufous under-tail from those of its fellow species^' which, like it, have the dark band on the tail ” and added “ There is but one example of this bird and that of unknown sex. It is not at all unlikely that when it is better known it will be referred to another genus.” The description reads like that of a Crateroscelis , a New Guinea genus with a superficial resemblance to Sericornis, but with coloration agreeing with the one given by Re Vis in general. The genus has a broader bill which would have attracted attention, but Re Vis writes “ culmen imperfect.” In most other respects it agrees, but there is at present no recourse as the type is missing. I looked for it wfhen in Queensland a few years ago and was compelled to record : “ Unfortunately the unique example was lost, and so I am not able to make any remarks about it.” No other specimen has yet been met with. 29 Genus— TASMANOKNIS. Tasmanornis Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 353, Jan. 31, 1912. Type (by monotypy) Sericornis humilis Gould. When I proposed this genus I was adopting a lumping policy so did not give any details. The bird is larger than Sericornis, with longer wings, longer tail and stronger legs and feet. The bill is similarly formed, the rictal bristles more pronounced, the nasal bristles projecting a little, and the interramal space longer. The wing has the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh primaries subequal and longest, the eighth longer than the third, while the secondaries exceed in length the second primary : the first primary is rather narrow but is about half the length of the third, being more than half the length of the second. The long tail is nearly square, being very slightly rounded. The legs are quite like those of Sericornis but are stronger and the front of the tarsus appears clearly scutellated in some birds, obscurely so in others, due to the fusion of the plates. This genus is obviously the island representative of the mainland maculatus form and shows quite as much difference from its mainland relations as does Acanthornis. 30 H Grortvold . del TASMANORNIS HUMILIS (BROWN SCRUB - WRBJST) . Witherby & C° Order PASSERIFORMES. Family SYLVIID/E. No. 549. TASMAN ORNIS HUMILIS. BROWN SCRUB-WREN. (Plate 457.) Sericornis humilis Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., pi. (58), April 1, 1838 : Tasmania = South Tasmania. Sericornis humilis Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., pi. (58), April 1st, 1838 ; id., Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond)., 1837, p. 133, Dec. 1838 ; id., Birds Austr., pt. xix. (Vol. III., pi.. 47), June 1st, 1845 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 356, 1865 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 185, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. VII., p. 310, 1883 ; Legge, Papers Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasm., 1886, p. 240, 1887 ; id., ib., 1887, p. 90, 1888 ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 9, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 26, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 251, 1901; Littler, Emu, Vol. II., p. 169, 1903; A. G. Campbell, ib., p. 207; id., ib., Vol. III., p. 161 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 305, 1904 ; Legge, Emu, Vol. IV., p. 103, 1905 ; A. G. Campbell, ib., p. 121 ; Mellor, ib., Vol. VI., p. 160, 1907 ; Fletcher, ib., Vol. VII., p. 24, 1907 ; Mathews, Hand! Birds Austral., p. 77, 1908 ; A. G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. X., p. 36, 1910 ; Littler, Handb. Birds Tasmania, p. 41, 1910 ; Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 356, 1912 ; Dove, Emu, Vol. XV., p. 238, 1916 ; Lord, ib., Vol. XIX., p. 105, 1919. Sericornis gularis Legge, Victorian Naturalist, Vol. XIII., p. 84, Oct. 8th, 1896 : Kent Group, Bass Straits ; A. G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. IV., p. 121, 1905 ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 77, 1908. Sericornis frontalis Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 355, 1912 ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 220, 1913. 0 Not frontalis Vigors and Horsfield, 1827. Sericornis flindersi White and Mellor, Emu, Vol. XII., pt. 3, p. 165, Jan. 1st, 1913 : Flinders Island, Furneaux Group. Sericornis insularis Cole, Emu, Vol. XIII., pt. 2, p. 74, Oct. 1st, 1913 : Forsyth Island, Furneaux Group. Sericornis longirostris insularis Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. xxvi., 1913. Tasmanornis humilis humilis Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 222, 1913. Tasmanornis humilis flindersi Mathews, ib., p. 223. Tasmanornis humilis tregellasi Mathews, Austr. Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. 5, p. 99, Sept. 24th, 1914 : King Island, Bass Straits. Tasmanornis humilis gularis Mathews, Emu, Vol. XVI,, p. 35, 1916. Tasmanornis humilis insularis Mathews, ib. Distribution. Tasmania and the Islands of Bass Straits. 31 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Adult male. General colour of the upper-surface rust-brown including the top of the head, sides of the face, back, wings and tail ; bastard-wing and primary coverts blackish- brown with white edgings to the feathers of the former ; inner webs of flight-quills dark hair-brown with pale margins ; the feathers on the forehead and sides of the face have whitish shaft-lines which gives a speckled appearance ; chin, throat and cheeks greyish-white with more or less brown intermixed ; breast and abdomen ochreous-yellow becoming ochreous-brown on the sides of the body, thighs, and under tail-coverts ; axillaries, under wing-coverts and margins of quills below whitish-buff ; remainder of quill-lining like the lower aspect of the tail. Eyes grey- hazel, bill blackish, feet dark. Total length 112 mm. ; culmen 12, wing 55, tail 45, tarsus 22. Figured. Collected in Forsyth Island, Furneaux Group, on the 28th of November, 1912, and is the type of Sericornis insularis Cole. (Top figure.) Adult male. General colour of the upper-surface chocolate-brown including the head, back, wings and tail ; bastard-wing black with white margins to the feathers ; primary-coverts uniform black ; inner-webs of flight-quills blackish-brown ; inner webs of tail-feathers dark brown ; sides of face dusky brown ; lores and base of forehead speckled with greyish-white ; a dark brown space in front of the eye ; chin and throat greyish-white intermixed with dusky brown; fore-neck, breast and abdomen ochreous-yellow, becoming more uniform on the last ; flanks and under tail-coverts smoke-brown ; thighs, axillaries, and under wing-coverts greyish- buff ; under-surface of flight-quills dark greyish-brown ; lower aspect of tail dark rufous-brown. Bill hom, eyes cream, feet light brown. Total length 138 mm. ; culmen 12, wing 70, tail 52, tarsus 26. Figured. Collected on King Island on the 27th of April, 1914 and is the type of T. h. tregellasi. (Bottom figure.) Adult female. General colour of the upper-surface rust-brown, including the top of the head, sides of the face, back, wings, and tail ; bastard-wing and primary-coverts blackish-brown with white tips to the feathers of the former ; inner webs of flight- quills dark brown with buff y- white margins ; some of the tail-feathers fringed with white at the tips ; forehead speckled with white ; the space in front of the eye blackish-brown ; chin and throat greyish-white intermixed with brown ; breast and abdomen ochreous-yellow becoming smoke brown on the sides of the body, thighs and under tail-coverts ; axillaries, under wing-coverts, and inner margins of quills below whitish- buff ; remainder of quill- lining and lower aspect of tail hair brown. Bill and feet brown, eyes yellow. Total length 122 mm. ; culmen 11, wing 59, tail 50, tarsus 25. Figured. Collected on Flinders Island, Furneaux Group, and is T. h. flindersi White & Mellor. (Middle left-hand figure.) Adult male. Crown of head, sides of face, hind neck, sides of neck, and upper-back mouse- brown ; lower back, wings, and tail rust brown ; bastard- wing and primary coverts blackish with white tips to the feathers of the former ; inner-webs of flight- quills dark hair-brown ; the tail shows obsolete wren-like cross-bars ; the feathers in front of the eye blackish-brown, a supraloral streak which extends to above the eye, chin, and lower cheeks whitish ; middle of throat dusky-brown ; breast,' abdomen, and under tail-coverts dull lemon-yellow like the axillaries and under wing-coverts ; lower flanks and thighs rust-brown ; under-surface of flight-quills pale hair-brown, lower aspect of tail similar. Bill and feet hom. Total length 132 mm. ; culmen 13, wing 65, tail 50, tarsus 28. Figured. Collected on the Kent Group, in November 1890, and is the type of T. h. gularis (Legge). (Middle right-hand figure. ) Adult male. Head, hind neck, and mantle greyish-brown becoming rufous-brown on the back, wings, and tail ; bastard-wing brown, the feathers fringed with white at the tips ; primary-coverts uniform black : primary and secondary quills brown, 82 BROWN SCRUB-WREN. paler on the inner webs towards the base and rufous-brown on the outer webs ; upper tail-coverts and tail rufous-brown ; a white supraloral streak which extends over to behind the eye ; loral spot blackish ; a line below the eye and ear-coverts dusky brown ; chin and sides of throat dull white ; middle of throat dusky brown more or less streaked with white ; fore-neck pale ochreous ; middle of abdomen yellowish-white ; sides of body and under tail-coverts rust brown ; under wing- coverts dull white. Total length 132 mm. Collected on the Kent Group, Bass Straits. Adult female similar to the bird described, but paler and the characters everywhere more faintly pronounced. Total length 132 mm. ; culmen 16, wing 61, tail 51, tarsus 25. Young bird. Reddish-brown above ; bastard-wing pale brown with white tips to the feathers ; the white line above the lores scarcely indicated ; no white streak on the sides of the throat ; chin and entire throat dull white- washed with rufous-brown ; remainder of the under-surface, the sides of the body and under tail-coverts paler rust-brown, the under wing-coverts also of the latter colour. Collected on the Kent Group. Adult. Pale rufous-brown above, including the head, back, wings, and tail ; bastard- wing dark brown with whitish margins to the feathers and indistinct buffish tips to the major coverts ; throat, breast, and middle of abdomen whitish-grey ; sides of body pale rust-brown becoming darker on the lower flanks ; under wing- coverts pale buff. Total length 122 mm. ; culmen 15, wing 56, tail 50, tarsus 23. Collected on King Island. Adult male. Upper-surface, chestnut brown including the head, entire back, wings, and tail ; bastard-wing dark brown edged with white at the tips of the feathers like some of the outer greater coverts ; primary-coverts uniform blackish ; lores white as also an indistinct line above, the eye ; a spot in front of the eye, a line below the latter, and the ear-coverts slate-brown ; chin and a line on each side of the throat white with minute dark margins to the feathers ; middle of throat dark brown the feathers fringed with white ; breast and middle of abdomen pale sulphur- yellow, more or less mixed with pale dusky-brown, more particularly on the chest ; sides of body and under tail-coverts rufous-brown. Total length 133 mm. ; culmen 16, wing 61, tail 49, tarsus 25. Collected on King Island. Young male. General colour above rufous-brown, including the head, back, wings, and tail ; bastard-wing dark brown edged with white at the tip of one feather and only a slight indication of a pale margin to some of the others ; lores more or less white at the base ; throat and cheeks pale ash-grey ; middle of abdomen whitish ; sides of body and under tail-coverts rust-brown ; under wing-coverts sandy-buff. Collected on King Island. Immature female. General colour of the upper-surface smoke-brown including the top of the head, back, wings, and tail ; the tips of the feathers of the bastard-wing and greater upper wing-coverts fringed with whitish ; outer edge of wing similar ; primary- coverts and inner webs of flight-quills dark hair-brown fringed with white on the inner edges of the latter ; sides of face similar in colour to the top of the head but somewhat paler and having pale shaft-lines to the feathers ; base of lores and eyelids greyish-white ; chin and throat also greyish with minute blackish hair-like tips to the feathers ; breast pale smoke-brown like the thighs and under tail- coverts ; middle of abdomen whitish ; sides of body smoke-brown with dark lead-grey bases to the feathers ; under wing-coverts and inner edges of quills below whitish-buff ; remainder of quill-lining hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail similar but rather paler. Collected on Deal Island, Bass Strait, on the 6th of December, 1908. VOL. X. 33 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Nest. Domed, with side entrance. Composed of fine "bark, moss, leaves, grass, etc., and lined with fine materials and feathers. Outside measurements 6 to 8 inches deep by 4 or 5 wide. Eggs. Clutch, three. Ground colour purplish-buff or reddish, spotted with umber, especially at the larger end where a zone or cap is formed. 23 mm. by 17. Breeding-season. August to December. Gould’s notes read: “This species is very generally dispersed over Tasmania; and as I have found it on some of the islands in Bass’s Straits, it is not improbable that it may also extend its range to the southern coast of the continent of Australia. Ravines, deep glens, water-courses covered 'with dense herbage, and thickly-wrooded copses are the situations congenial to its habits. Although abundant and generally distributed, it is a bird that is less seen, and one whose habits are less known than most others inhabiting the island. In many of its actions it closely resembles the Troglodytes europceus , particularly in its manner of hopping about on the ground, and from stone to stone, with its tail erect, in search of insects, upon which it solely subsists. It rarely flies more than a few yards at a time, but secretes itself in the midst of the little thicket in which it has taken up its abode. The male constantly cheers his mate with a pretty lively song, which, although neither loud nor voluminous, serves to give life to its secluded abode, which in many instances is in the depth of the forests, where few sounds are heard except the monotonous note of the Honeysucker, and the perpetual rippling of the rivulet as it steals over the stony bed of the gully. The sexes presenting no difference in the colouring of the plumage, by dissection alone can they be distinguished.” Mr. Frank Littler has written me : “ Frequents more open and accessible country, though it is very fond of tracts with an abundance of undergrowth, where it procures its food. It is a fast runner and somewhat shy, so that it is with difficulty that one obtains a good view of it in the scrub. I have seen six or eight birds searching for insects among the grass and leaves and small bushes in a partly cleared patch. The slightest movement and they all flew off.” Mr. H. Stuart Dove’s account is excellent. “ On the 13th October one young one was hatched before 8 a.m., the second on the following morning. On 15th the young still blind and naked. Female always on or near the nest and her scolding notes like 4 ehee-chee-chee,’ ‘ chee-chee ’ angrily and rapidly repeated when I am by, bring all the Blue Wrens, Browntails and Goldfinches in the locality to the spot, when they also hop around in the bushes and utter their scolding notes in sympathy. The male Sericornis I have only seen twice so far ; he is silent and shy, the female being quite bold in comparison. On the 19th the two young were still blind and naked, except for a few dark sprouts on wings, and make a faint ‘ cheep-cheep ’ when touched ; the parents are now 34 BROWN SCRUB-WREN. always aw'ay when the nest is visited between 7 and 8 a.m. On the 20th the eyes partly open, like a dark spot surrounded by a light film ; head and body still naked, dark grey sprouts on wings. On 21st the eyes were well open, wings sprouting well, though body and head almost naked still. Make very loud rasping ‘ weeee ’ when handled. Oct. 23. Took out young Sericornis from nest, when it c cheeped ’ very loudly ; found the wings had long dark sprouts with a bluish appearance ; head and back have sparse light-brown down ; a fat ungainly squab with dark-tinted bill and long weak legs. Oct. 25. Young Sericornis now have greyish tail-feathers sprouting and the brown coverts above them also developing ; brown feathers appearing across shoulders, but remainder of body and head (except of course the wings) still only show a sparse light-brown down. Adult female makes a loud scolding and comes close down when I handle the young ; male is quieter and shyer. Oct. 28. Young Sericornis left nest this morning ; plumage dark brown on upper- surface, very light brown (a sort of rufous tint) on under-side. Tail very short, about f inch, upper and under tail-coverts developing show a nice rich brown ; white marks on wing quite as conspicuous as in adult. Plumage is in fact close to that of adult, except that no splashes were noticed on the under- surface, which was light grey with rufous tint. Bill dark ; young made loud sort of piping note when handled. This gives the time of fledging as fourteen to fifteen days, but as eggs were supposed to be hard set when nest found on Sept. 30th, date of incubation is uncertain.” Captain S. A. White has written me : “I have met with this bird in numbers in many parts of Tasmania I have visited and they are fairly plentiful upon Flinders Island. They spend much of their time upon the ground amongst the fallen leaves where they scratch for insect life which seems to be their chief food. When visiting the Kent Group in Nov. 1908, the species (known as gularis) was found fairly plentiful amongst the low bush on the steep sides of the islands ; their habits seemed the same as other members of the genus, but unfortunately I was not on the islands at the time of nidification.” Mr. E. Ashby has noted : “I found this bird very common at Bell’s Hill, North-east Tasmania. The birds were very active, feeding on the ground amongst the fern on the top of the ranges ; their peeping whistle could be heard continually if one kept quite quiet.” Mr. J. W. Mellor also writes : “ Have noted this bird in the South of Tasmania, at Mount Wellington and its surroundings ; also at Launceston, in the north at Mount Barrow and Mount Arthur, and in the Great Lake District and in various other parts of Tasmania. It is found in the deep gullies of the mountains and on the topmost ridges, and lives on the ground, especially where the decaying vegetation is thick and humid, where 35 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. with its strong legs and claws it scratches the rubbish about in search of insect titbits. It can easily be brought to the edge of the thick bushes in which it lives, by uttering a squeaking noise with the lips, its inquisitive nature getting the better of its shyness. As to 8. gularis, this is very sparsely distributed in the Kent group, and doubts were even entertained as to its existence prior to 1908, when on Deal Island I left the main party for the purpose of investigating this species, and after considerable trouble in penetrating the thick bushes I was able to call a couple of birds to me, and secure one. Another of the party went in another direction and secured a couple of young birds, showing that the birds had not long done breeding, but of course no notes were obtained as to its breeding habits.” Probably the best descriptive work done by an Australian was that of A. G. Campbell, and dealing with Victorian and Tasmanian birds in a comparative sense he wrote : “ Scrub- Wrens. Several phases exist in Tasmania and the adjacent islands of this genus, which are sufficiently distinct from one another to be made subspecies. The specimens of 8. humilis from Mount Wellington are the largest and darkest of all ; those from Launceston are different in size and colour ; the mantle, instead of being dark olive, is tinged with rufous ; the head and the outer edges of the primaries are of a much lighter tint, and the tail is brownish- olive instead of deep brown. The legs are black, and not dark brown, while the dark subterminal band on the tail is pronounced in the northern variety, but very obscure in the southern. The sexes are distinguished in each case by the lores being black in the male and slate coloured in the female. On King Island the bird more closely resembles S. humilis, but, besides being lighter in general colour and with no prominent dark centres to the chest feathers, it has distinct subterminal tail markings, and, further, the dusky under tail- coverts are tipped with dull yellow, a point characteristic of 8. osculans of the mainland, but not noticed in 8. humilis proper. The young is of a deep rich brown colour. But it is with the Sericornis from Kent Group, the nearest of Tasmanian islands to the mainland, that the greatest difference is shown. They are distinctly two strains, the larger, 8. gularis (Legge) having a longer bill and shorter wings than 8. humilis ; general colour greyish-olive ; throat feathers brownish- black, a few only showing lighter edges ; under tail-coverts edged with dull yellow ; tail minus any dark subterminal band. The smaller specimens are of a peculiar washed-out appearance, the mantle being rust- coloured on scapulars, back, and rump, with a lighter head, minus any prominent markings ; white edgings to greater wing-coverts very faint ; under tail- coverts and flanks brownish-fawn ; tail uniform. Several specimens obtained are presumably adult birds, so the existence of two phases in one area must be due to their living in different surroundings.” 36 BROWN SCRUB-WREN. Sericornis humilis was known from Tasmania and the island of Bass Straits for many years, and then in 1896 Legge described a new species from the Kent Group as Sericornis gularis. This was not easily recognised, and when I made up my “ Reference List ” I allowed it as a separate species, but called it S. frontalis, concluding that Vigors and Horsfield’s type which was in bad condi- tion might have come from that group as they had specimens of some birds from that locality. Then S. humilis was also allowed as a distinct species, but I noted that it was separable generically to workers who did not agree to large genera and proposed for it the genus name Tasmanornis . In 1913 White and Meilor described the Flinders Island form of humilis as Sericornis flindersi, noting it was only a new subspecies but giving no differential characters. They wrote “ That Flinders Island yielded a new Sericornis is not a surprise, when so many of the islands in Bass Strait have their own varieties of this widely dispersed genus. Not uncommon. Found in the thick under- growth on mountain sides and in the deep gullies.” What they meant by the first statement is not clear, as Legge’ s S. gularis was the only “ species ” named in this genus from the islands in Bass Straits at that time and no varieties had been named at all. Perhaps they had in mind A. G. Campbell’s essay. Immediately afterward, however. Cole named a form from the Forsyth Island in the same (Furneaux) group as Flinders Island, calling it Sericornis insularis and giving as distribution “ Forsyth, Cape Barren and Clarke Islands,” but no comparison was made in this instance either. The next year Mr. A. J. Campbell gave me the type of S. gularis Legge and I was enabled to recognise that it was a form of humilis and at the same time I named : Tasmanornis humilis tregellasi. “ Differs from T. h. humilis in being lighter above.” King Island. Thus at the present time there is : Tasmanornis humilis humilis (Gould). Tasmania. Tasmanornis humilis gularis (Legge). Kent Group, Bass Straits. Tasmanornis humilis flindersi (White and Meilor). Flinders Island, Furneaux Group, Bass Straits. Tasmanornis humilis insularis (Cole). Forsyth Island, Furneaux Group, Bass Straits. Tasmanornis humilis tregellasi Mathews. King Island, Bass Straits. 37 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. As however it is obvious that there are two forms (at least) on the mainland it was necessary to determine Gould’s form. That was easy as he stated it was “ dark olive-brown ” and otherwise the description applies only to the southern form. I therefore fix South Tasmania as the type locality of Gould’s S. humilis and propose Tasmanornis liumilis archihaldi subsp. nov. for the Launceston (Northern) form which I find to differ exactly as pointed out by A. G. Campbell, viz. in its smaller size, paler colour, etc. As this species appears to vary on every island, Legge’s note on the form of Maria Island may indicate another race, viz. : “ The Bush-Tit is common about the creeks in the bush, a locality in which it is usually found all over the island. Mr. Morton likewise found it about rocks near the sea-coast. The inquisitive nature of this little bird renders it very familiar, and in the unfrequented districts of the West it is so tame that I have had it alight close to my feet and hop about, peering into my face in a charmingly fearless manner.” 38 Genus— ORE OSCOPUS. Oreoscopus North, Agric. Gazette, N.S.W., Vol. XVI., pt. 3, p. 247, Mcli. 2, 1905. Type (by monotypy) ... Sericornis gutturalis De Vis. Larger birds with very long straight bills, rounded wings, long slightly rounded tail, short legs and strong feet. The bill is very long and slender, longer than the head, the culmen straight, the tip steeply decurved with a posterior notch, laterally compressed, culmen ridge keeled ; the nasal groove long, extending nearly half the length of the bill, but the nasal apertures small and linear and placed posteriorly in the groove and almost hidden by feathers ; the interramal space narrow, but nearly half the length of the under mandible which is slender ; rictal bristles very small and obscure, and no nasal bristles apparent. The wing has the third, fourth, fifth and sixth primaries equal and longest, the second and seventh subequal and little shorter, the secondaries equal to the second primary and longer than the tenth primary ; the first primary about half the length of the third. The tail is long and slightly rounded in shape. The legs are comparatively short, the tarsus about half the length of the tail and about one-third the length of the wing ; the front of the tarsus is scutellate, the scutes tending to fusion and the hind part bilaminate ; the hind toe is stronger and the claw stronger than the middle toe and claw but shorter ; the inner and outer toes and claws are subequal and about equal to the middle toe alone. 39 Order PASSERIFORMES. No. 550. Family SYLVIIDM. OREOSCOPUS GUTTURALIS. FERN-WREN. (Plate 458.)* Sericornis GUTTURALIS De Vis, Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensl., Vol. VI., pt. 5, p. 244, Oct. or Nov. 1889 : Herberton, North Queensland. Sericornis gutturalis De Vis, Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensl., Vol. VI., p. 244, 1889 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 27, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 252, 1901 ; Broadbent, Ibis, 1902, p. 381 ; Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 357, 1912 ; A. G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. X., p. 36, 1910. Oreoscopus gutturalis North, Agric. Gazette N.S.W., Vol. XVI., p. 247, 1905 ; Emu, Vol. V., p. 47, 1905; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 77, 1908; id., Emu, Vol. VIII., p. 34, Col. PI. A., July 1st, 1908; id.. List Birds Austr., p. 223, 1913; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat., No. 1, Vol. IV., p. 427, 1914; Campbell & Barnard, Emu, Vol. XVII., p. 27, 1917. Oreoscopus gutturalis boweri Mathews, Austral. Av. Rec., Vol. III., p. 61, April 7th, 1916 : Cairns, Queensland. Distribution. North Queensland (Cairns District only). Adult male. General colour of the upper-surface smoke brown including the top of the head, back, wings and tail ; inner webs of flight-quills blackish-brown ; sides of face similar to the crown with whitish shaft-lines to the feathers ; forehead and lores speckled with white ; chin and upper throat white, which extends in a line along the lower cheeks on to the sides of the neck ; lower throat and fore-neck black ; remainder of the under-parts similar to the upper-surface but much paler ; under-surface of flight-quills dark hair-brown like the lower aspect of the tail. Bill black, feet pale transparent brownish, eyes dark brown. Total length 133 mm. ; culmen 16, wing 71, tail 46, tarsus 24. Figured. Collected at Kurancla, Cairns, North Queensland, on the 30th of November, 1912. Adult female. General colour above dark chocolate-brown ; wing-coverts like the back ; primary-coverts and quills darker, dusky-brown, externally washed with the same chocolate-brown as the back ; lower back, rump, and upper-tail coverts like the rest of the back, but with a slight tinge of rusty brown ; tail-feathers dusky brown, slightly washed with rusty brown ; head decidedly darker than the back, the sides of the crown inclining to dull blackish, lores black, as well as the sides of the face and ear-coverts, the latter being rufescent-brown in the centre, this colour appearing as streaks ; below the eye a small white line along the eyelid, and above the eye, a superciliary streak, not very strongly defined, reaching from above the lores to above the hinder end of the ear-coverts, where the streak becomes whitish-brown * This Plate is lettered Collared Scrub-Wren. 40 H . Gronvold del Wifherty & C° OREOS COPUS GUTTURAL IS (COLL AR ED CCR UB - WRE 1ST J ACANTHORNIS MAGNUS { & ‘<7 FLUB -TIT ). FERN-WREN. instead of white ; cheeks and throat white, followed by a broad black band across the lower throat, extending to the sides of the neck ; remainder of under-surface fulvous-brown slightly rufescent on the sides of the body, the centre of the breast somewhat washed with grey ; under tail-coverts fulvous-brown, with dull olive- yellowish tips to the feathers ; under wing-coverts like the breast, with a slight olive tint, those round the bend of the wing fawn colour ; quills dusky-brown below, somewhat ashy along the inner web. Total length 122 mm. ; culmen 17, wing 65, tail 45, tarsus 22. The above is the description of the type specimen, now lost. Nest. “ Dome-shaped, with large oval entrance in the side. Composed almost entirely of fresh green moss, with a slight admixture of fine black fern stems. No lining other than green moss. Measurements 7 inches high, 5 from front to back. Entrance 2 inches by | inch.” (North.) Eggs. Clutch two — white. 22 mm. by 17. Breeding-season. November and December. This beautiful and very distinct bird is one of the best discoveries made in the Cairns District and has so far no near relation. The account of the nest finding was published by North at the time of introduction of his new genus in an absurd periodical for such an item, but was reprinted in the Emu so that it is accessible to all oologists. In view of our ignorance of its habits it is unfortunate that Messrs. Campbell and Barnard should have failed to give any account, contenting themselves with writing : “ This species is one of the novelties of the northern scrubs. It spends almost its whole time on the ground, and resembles the Sericornes. It builds a bulky nest, almost entirely of moss, and as large as a football, which is suspended to a fern or low bush near the ground. The entrance is at the side. We were unfortunate in not taking eggs. One nest we had under surveillance was rifled by some enemy (beast).” Y\ VOL. X. 41 Genus— ACANTHORNXS. Acanthoknis Legge, Papers Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasm., 1886, pp. 236, 240, 1887. Type (by monotypy) Acanthizci magna Gould. This genus is apparently the Tasmanian development of Sericornis frontalis and is all Sericornine in detail, save the arched bill and, of course, the more rounded wing and longer legs. The bill is long and the culmen is strongly arched, the tip delicately decurved, the sides strongly compressed ; the nasal groove about one-third the length of the bill with the frontal -feathers projecting and obscuring the linear nostrils ; the under mandible slight ; the rictal bristles pronounced. The wing has the fifth and sixth primaries longest, the fourth a little shorter and equal to the seventh ; the third longer than the eighth and much longer than the second which is less than twice the length of the short first ; the secondaries are longer than the second, but shorter than the third primary. The tail is long and rounded. The legs are long and the feet small ; the front of the tarsus is booted and the hind part bilaminate ; the toes are weak, claws small ; the outer toe and claw slightly longer than the inner toe and claw which is equal to the middle toe alone ; the hind toe and claw are equal to the middle toe and claw, the hind claw being longer but not much stronger. 42 Order PASSERIFORMES. No. 551. Family SYLVIIDM. ACANTHORNIS MAGNUS. SCBUB-TIT. (Plate 458.) Acanthiza MAGNA Gould, Birds Austr. Suppl., pt. 2, pi. 28, Sept. 1st, 1855 : Tasmania. Acanthiza magna Gould, Birds Austr. Suppl., pt. 2, pi. 28, 1855 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 373, 1865 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 185, 1878. Sericornis magna Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. VII., p. 308, 1883; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 9, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 26, 1899 ; Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 357, 1912. Acanthornis magna * Legge, Papers Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasm., 1886, pp. 236, 240, 1887; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 241, 1904 ; Littler, Emu, Vol. II., p. 169, 1903; (Legge), lb., Vol. III., p. 162, pi. ix., 1904; A. G. Campbell, ib., Vol. IV, p. Ill, 1905; A. L. Butler, ib., Vol. V., p. 156, 1906; Campbell, ib., Vol. VI., p. 126, 1907; A. L. Butler, ib., Vol. VII., p. 92, 1907; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 77, 1908 ; Thompson, Emu, Vol. XI., p. 40, 1911 ; Littler, Handb. Birds Tasmania, p. 40, 1910 ; Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 223, 1913. Acanthornis gouldi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 3, p. 61, April 7th, 1916 : new name for A. magna Gould (errore). Distribution. Tasmania. Adult male. General colour of the upper parts dark chocolate-brown including Vhe top of the head, back, wings and tail ; bastard-wing blackish tipped with white like some of the lesser coverts ; primaries blackish ; inner webs of flight-quills blackish fringed with white, which extends to the tips of some of the innermost ; tail subter- minally banded with black and fringed with white at the tips of some of the feathers ; sides of face including the lores dusky grey, somewhat paler on the latter ; chin and throat white, becoming yellowish-white on the breast, abdomen and under tail-coverts ; sides of body and thighs smoke-brown ; axillaries and under wing- coverts white, more or less tinged with yellow ; under-surface of flight-quills dark hair-brown fringed with white ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface but paler. Bill dark horn, feet flesh. Total length 130 mm. ; culmen 12, wing 58, tail 50, tarsus 24. Figured. Collected on Mount Arthur, Tasmania, on the 11th of November, 1914. Adult female similar to the adult male. * Also spelt magnus. 43 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Immature. “ Young birds resemble the adults, but bave the superciliary stripe and chin dull ochraceous-brown ; the throat is uniform in colour with the olive-brown breast, with a slight dusky wash on the lower portion ” (North). N est. Domed, with side entrance. Composed, of moss grass, rootlets etc. and heavily lined with feathers. Outside measurements 7 to 8 inches high by 4 wide. Eggs. Clutch, three. Whitish blotched with purple, especially at the larger end. 18-19 mm. by 14. Breeding- season. August to January. Gould considered this species an Acanthiza, writing : “In size it approaches the smaller species of & 'ericornis ; but in its structure and the character of its plumage it is closely allied to the members of the genus in which I have placed it,” recording that he had received it from Ronald C. Gunn, Esq., and had no notes as to its habits. Nothing more was heard about this species until Legge proposed a new genus, Acanthornis , for it. It was later regarded with interest when the Australian Ornithologists Union held their session in Tasmania and met with it in the flesh. Mr. A. G. Campbell has written me : “ The main characteristics of this unique species are worthy of review. Though often seen on the ground among fallen scrub like the S ericornis, it seems equally at home in the tops of the musk (Aster argophyllus) and hazel ( Pomaderris ) trees, and like an Acanthiza it frequently fastens for a moment or two on the side of a tree-trunk to survey an intruder. It has a merry song quite unlike any of its bush mates, and when seen in the Tasmanian bush is easily identified by the prominent white wing markings and white throat. The nest is a round, bulky structure very like that of a 8 ericornis, plentifully built of green moss, shreds of bark and fern down, placed five or six feet high, sometimes in the large fork of a tree hidden in a gully, sometimes in the bushy top of a wild currant (Coprosma) bush, but more often in the cluster of dead fronds hanging from a tree-fern. The eggs, though large, are distinctly of the Acanthiza type (white ground with reddish spots), and help materially to place the owner in the peculiar position it occupies as a connecting link between two well-known genera.” Captain S. A. White has sent : “This is a very shy bird and keeps very closely to the undergrowth, where it moves about with great rapidity, silently searching the tree ferns and decaying logs for insect life.” Mr. J. W. Mellor has sent me the following note : “ This bird was considered to be extinct, as no specimens had been got for such a long time since Gould’s description, but during the third Congress of the Aust. O.U. at Hobart in November 1903, the bird was rediscovered by Messrs. A. J. and A. G. Campbell and myself ; we got several specimens and a nest and clutch of eggs was also SCRUB-TIT. secured in a dense gully running up Mount Wellington from Glenorchy, the nest being cunningly placed in the perpendicular fork of a fair sized tree, being domed with a side entrance ; this was taken on Dec. 2. The habits of this bird are decidedly those of the Sericornis family, while the eggs are in shape and colour and spotted like the Acanthiza family. The birds were found in deep gullies, where the undergrowth was excessively thick and the moisture excessive ; here the bird hops about in the same manner as the Sericornis and we had to keep very quiet to get a glimpse of it.” This rediscovery brought forth a fine account from A. L. Butler, from which I quote the following items : “I have only shot two specimens of this bird, one of which I dissected, and found that the stomach contained parts of various insects, small snails and beetles. ... I have spent many hours watching this bird feeding and building its nest, and to my mind it closely resembles the Tree-Creepers ( Certhiidce ). With its mouselike movements it will fly to the base of a tree-fern, run rapidly to the top and down the other side, just pausing long enough to grasp an unwary beetle, or some such small object, then off again to another tree, and repeat the performance. When building it is very wary, and if it sees anyone watching it will at once begin to put the material which it is carrying in quite a different place from where its nest is situate, and will do this for some time, making several trips, and bringing material to do so. This I have noticed several times, and when the intruder has with- drawn for some time it will go on building at the nest, sometimes using the material it has placed in the false position, but more often leaving it where it was first pufc. They will go a long way for material suitable to their needs, and on one occasion I followed a pair of them for over a quarter of a mile. They had found a dead opossum, and were engaged in lining their home with its fur. It took me just over an hour to find that nest, though some 200 yards of the distance was open country. Whilst it is feeding its note is a short ‘ Cheep, cheep,’ but at times you will hear it trilling out a little song something like the Calamanthus (Field-Wren), but not so full or sustained as that bird’s note. It would be a difficult matter to place any limit to the distribution of this species, as I have seen members of it at the Huon, Carnarvon, North-west Bay River, Glenorchy, Bismarck, New Norfolk, etc., and as high up on the mountain as the Springs and under the Organ Pipes.” A good account of the nest and nesting-place was given, and later a better one in detail of the young being fed. “I counted 83 trips for both parents in 20 minutes. Only once did I see the larger of the three snatch the tempting morsel from his brother’s or sister’s mouth ; the number of times each nestling was fed being 28, 26, 29, and yet the father and mother were not present together and did not see which 45 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. young one had been fed last. Sometimes they would both feed the same one, but more often would feed the one on either side and then the middle one. Several times the mother remained with the young while the male bird was away hunting, and it was a very pretty sight to see how she attended the little ones, preening their feathers, and pulling off little bits of fluff and generally making them look smart against their father’s return. I may state that it is not a rare bird in my opinion, if one knows its habits and where to look for it ; but being a scrub bird, it naturally retreats farther away as the land is cleared, especially the creeks and gullies, which are its natural haunts.” The question of the disposition of Gould’s types is under review and I have suggested that Gould did not always figure the specimen he first described, but if a better bird came to hand he would utilise that. This view is well confirmed in the case of the present species, as there are two specimens in the British Museum both purchased from Gould at different times ; one bears Gould’s label with the information in Gould’s own handwriting “ Acanthiza magna. Type and only specimen V. D. Land.” while the other bears Gould’s label with the handwriting of his assistant “ Acanthiza magna new species figd. in pt. 2 Supp. Birds Australia” and “Tasmania” added in another hand. Genus — M ALURUS. Malurus Vieillot, Analyse nouv. Ornith., p. 44, April 14, 1816. Type (by monotypy) ... ... ... ... Motacilla cyanea. Malacurus Gloger, Hand-und Hilfsbuch, 1842, p. 282, emendation of Malurus. Small brilliantly coloured birds with medium bills, short wings, very long tails and long weak legs and feet. The face adorned with erectile ear-coverts. The bill is shorter than the head, culmen not much arched, tip decurved, sharp and posteriorly notched ; nasal groove about one-third the length of the exposed culmen, linear nostrils operculate, feathers encroaching on to the bill but not hiding the nostrils ; there are no nasal bristles, but half a dozen rather weak rictal ones ; upper mandible rather narrow and culmen keeled with a gradual basal expansion ; lower mandible medium, interramal space small and feathered. The wing is short, with the first primary about half the length of the third, the second less than the third also and a little shorter than the secondaries ; the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh longest and subequal, the third equal to the eighth and little shorter than the preceding. The tail is longer than the wing and strongly graduated, forming a fan. The legs are long and slender, the front of the tarsus booted, the hind-part bilaminate ; the feet are weak, the claws short and curved ; the outer and inner toes are subequal and with the claw equal to the middle-toe alone ; the hind-toe and claw is scarcely stouter than the middle toe and claw and these are about equal, the toe being a shade short and the claw a shade longer respectively. I Key to the Species. The abdomen and under tail-coverts white Male M. cyaneus The abdomen and under tail-coverts blue „ Black band across the rump „ M. melanotus No black band across the rump „ M. splendens 47 Order PASSERIFORMES . Family SYLVIIDM No. 552. MALURUS CYANEUS. BLUE WEEN. (Plate 459.) Motacilla cyayea Latham, Gen. Synops. Birds, Yol. II., pt. 2, p. 501, 1783, ex Ellis M. S. : South Tasmania. Motacilla cyanea Ellis, Narr. Voy. Captain Cook, p. 22, 1782 : Adventure Bay, S. Tas. : Nomen nudum ; Latham, Gen. Synops. Birds, Yol. II., pt. 2, p. 501, 1783 ; Gmelin, Syst. Nat., pt. 2, p. 991, July 20th, 1789, based on Ellis account ex Latham. Motacilla superba Shaw and Nodder, Naturalists’ Miscellany, Yol. I., pi. 10, Nov. 1789 : South Tasmania. Malurus cyaneus Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., Vol. NX., p. 215, 1818 ; Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 221, 1827; Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. i., pi. 8, 1837 ; id. , Birds Austr., pt. m. (Vol. III., pi. 18), June 1st, 1841 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 317, 1865 ; Biggies, Orn. Austr., pt. v., 1866 ; Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1875, p. 589 (Q) ; id., Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S.W., Vol. II., p. 184, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 286, 1879 ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888; North, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Ser. 2, Vol. V., p. 505, 1891 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 16, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 163, 1901 ; North, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. XXVI., p. 632, 1901 ; id., Emu, Vol. II., p. 112, 1902 (Tas.) ; Hill, ib., p. 163, 1903 (Vic.) ; North, Ibis, 1904, p. 672 (Tas.) ; id Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1. Vol. I., p. 204, 1904 ; A. G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. IV., p. 119, 1905 (Vic.) ; Barrett, ib., Vol. V., p. 20, pi. i., 1905 (Vic.); A. G. Campbell, ib., p. 39 (Vic.); id., ib., p. 141, 1906 (Kangaroo Island) ; id., ib., p. 152 (Vic.) ; (Phillips), ib., Vol. VI., p. 77, 1907 (Moult) ; Batey, ib., Vol. VII., p. 5, 1907 (Vic.) ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 77, 1908 (Tas.) ; Burrell, Emu, Vol. VIII., p. 95, 1908, N.S-.W. ; Cleland, ib., p. 151, 1909; Burrell, ib., Vol. IX., p. 34, 1909; Dove, ib., p. 151, 1910 (Tas.); S. A. White, ib., Vol. XII., p. 3, 1912 (Eyre Peninsula); id., ib., Vol. XIV., p. 141, 1914 (Mallacoota, Vic.); Ford, ib., Vol. XVII., p. 237, 1918; Le Souef and Macpherson, ib., Vol. XX., p. 89, 1920 (Sydney). Malurus longicaudus Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. iv., App., p. 4, April 1st, 1838 : [Not Malurus longicaudus Temminck, Manuel Ornith., 2nd ed., Vol. I., 1820.] Tasmania =South Tasmania. Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1837, p. 148, Dec. 1838 ; id., Birds Austr., pt. nr. (Vol. III., pi. 19), June 1st, 1841 ; id., Handb. 48 H . Gronvold . del Withe pi> y & C° MALURUS CYANEUS (BE UB WREN). BLUE WREN. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 320, 1865 ; Biggies, Omith. Austr., pt. v., 1866 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Yol. II., p. 184, 1878 ; Fletcher, Emu, Vol. XIV., pp. 166, 218, 1915. Malurus gouldi Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 287 (ante March 26th), 1879 : new name for M . longicaudus Gould =South Tasmania ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 16, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 169, 1901 ; Littler, Emu, Vol. III., p. 27, 1903 ; A. G. Campbell, ib., Vol. IV., p. 118, 1905 ; Bove, ib., Vol. V., pp. 37, 88, 1905 ; Legge, ib., Vol. VII., p. 146, 1908 ; Littler, ib., Vol. IX., p. 249, 1910 ; ib., Handb. Birds Tasm., p. 26, 1910 ; Fletcher, Emu, Vol. XIII., p. 50, 1913. Malurus cyanochlamys Sharpe, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1881, p. 788, Oct. 1st : Moreton Bay, Queensland ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 17, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 168, 1901 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat., No. 1, Vol. I., pp. 206-10, 1904; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 77, 1908 ; Hall, Emu, Vol. IX., p. 127, 1910 (Eyre Peninsula) ; Cleland, ib., p. 222, (Food) ; id., ib., Vol. XI., p. 87, 1911 (Food, S.A.) ; S. A. White, ib., Vol. XIX., p. 219, 1920 (Q.). Malurus elizabethce Campbell, Ibis, 1901, p. 10, Jan. 1st : King Island, Bass Straits ; id., Emu, Vol. II., p. 229, pi. x., 1902 ; id., Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 169, Vol. II., p. 1077, 1901 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., 2nd ed., p. 110, 1906 ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 77, 1908; Littler, Handl. Birds Tasm., p. 28, 1910. Malurus superbus North, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. XXVI., p. 632, 1901= May 20th, 1902 (ex Shaw and Nodder for N.S.W. bird). Malurus australis North, Ibis, 1904, p. 672, Oct. : Sydney ( =Meadow Bank, near Ryde), New South Wales ; Emu, Vol. IV., p. 180, 1905. Malurus cyaneus cyaneus Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 357, 1912 ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 223, 1913. Malurus cyaneus cyanochlamys Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 357, 1912 ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 224, 1913. Malurus cyaneus australis Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 357, 1912 ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 224, 1913. Malurus cyaneus henriettce Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 357, Jan. 31st, 1912: (Olinda) Victoria; id., Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., p. 60, 1912 ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 224, 1913 ; Belcher, Birds Geelong, p. 285, 1914. Malurus cyaneus leggei Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 358, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Point, i.e., Port Adelaide, South Australia ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 224, 1913 ; S. A. White, Emu, Vol. XVIII., p. 22, 1918. Malurus cyaneus ashbyi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 358, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Kangaroo Island; id., List Birds Austr., p. 224, 1913 Malurus cyaneus elizabethce Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 358, 1912 ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 224, 1913. Malurus cyaneus ft etcher ce Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I.„ pt. 4, p. 93, Sept. 18th, 1912 : Ringarooma, North Tasmania ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 223, 1913. YOL. X. 49 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Malurus cyaneus samueli Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 4, p. 93, Sept. 18th, 1912 : Flinders Island, Bass Strait ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 224, 1913. Malurus samueli S. A. White, Emu, Vol. XII., p. 163, 1913. Distribution. Eastern Australia from South Queensland, through New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia to Eyre’s Peninsula and Kangaroo Island ; Tasmania! Adult male. Entire crown of head and nape, cheeks including the lower eyelid, mantle, and upper back cobalt-blue ; lores, a line above the eye, including the upper eyelid, sides of face, sides of neck, and a band across the hind-neck black like the upper wing-coverts, lower back, rump and upper tail-coverts, and a narrow band across the breast ; outer aspect of flight-quills vircliter-blue, inner webs blackish-brown with whitish margins ; tail purplish-blue, some of the feathers narrowly edged with white at the tips ; throat and fore-neck deep purple ; breast, abdomen, under tail-coverts, and flanks white, more or less tinged with blue on the breast adjoining the black band ; axillaries and lesser under wing-coverts grey, the greater series and inner margins of quills below whitish, remainder of quill-lining dark brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper surface but paler. Bill and feet black, eyes brown. Total length 138 mm. ; culmen 9, wing 57, tail 63, tarsus 29. Figured. Collected on King Island, on the 27th of April, 1914. (bottom right-hand figure. ) Adult female. General colour of the upper surface chocolate-brown, including the top of the head, sides of face, entire back, upper tail-coverts, scapulars, and wings ; inner webs of flight- quills blackish-brown, slightly paler on the edges ; tail much faded, virditer-blue, some of the feathers whitish at the tips ; lores and feathers surrounding the eye chestnut, the short feathers in front of the eye bristly in texture ; throat, breast, and abdomen greyish-white, inclining to pure white on the middle of the abdomen ; flanks, thighs, and under tail-coverts ochreous-buff ; under wing- coverts and inner margins of quills below cinnamon-buff, remainder of quill-lining dark hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper surface but rather paler. Bill brown, eyes hazel, feet flesh. Total length 130 mm. ; culmen 8, wing 51, tail 65, tarsus 24. Figured. Collected at Selby, Victoria, on the 5th of June, 1911. (bottom left-hand figure.) Adult male. Fore-part of head, cheeks, including the lower eyelid, hind-neck, and mantle turquoise-blue ; lores, upper eyelid, sides of crown, ear-coverts, sides of neck, hinder-crown, and nape deep black like the back, scapulars, rump, upper tail-coverts, and a narrow band across the breast ; wings rust-brown, some of the median upper wing-coverts tinged with black, outer edges of primary and secondary quills greyish, inner webs of flight- quills hair-brown ; tail purplish-blue ; rictal-bristles black, the short feathers in front of the eye bristly in texture ; throat and fore-neck deep purplish-blue (almost black) ; breast, abdomen, sides of body, and under tail- coverts whitish, thighs rufous-buff ; under wing-coverts rufous-buff ; flight-quills below hair-brown with buff y- white margins ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface but paler. Eyes brown, legs light brown, bill black. Total length 122 mm. ; culmen 9, wing 48, tarsus 24. Figured. Collected at Ourimbah, New South Wales, on the 18th of November, 1911. (top left-hand figure.) Adult female. General colour of the upper-surface rust-brown, including the top of the head, sides of face, back, wings, and tail ; inner webs of flight-quills hair-brown margined with buffy-white ; tail similar to the back, some of the feathers slightly edged with white at the tips and inclining somewhat to lavender-blue ; lores and feathers surrounding the eye chestnut ; throat and under-surface white tinged with grey, the grey becoming more pronounced on the sides of the body ; thighs cinnamon-rufous ; under wing-coverts and axillaries cinnamon-buff ; under- 50 BLUE WREN. surface of flight- quills hair-brown with huffy- white margins ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper surface. Eyes dark brown, feet brownish, bill reddish-brown. Total length 133 mm. ; culmen 8, wing 49, tail 58, tarsus 23. Figured. Collected at Orange, New South Wales, on the 13th of July, 1909. Nest. Oval, with entrance nearer the top. Composed of grass and rootlets and spiders’ cocoons, and lined with feathers. 6 or 7 inches high by 3 or 4 wide. Eggs. Clutch, three or four. White covered with red or brownish-red spots, more on the larger end. 17 mm. by 13. Breeding-season. July to February. It is unfortunate that this species should have an involved early history which must he referred to here. Its beauty appealed to the early voyageurs , and the first mention we find of it is in Ellis’s Narr. Voy. Captain Cook, where on p. 22 he recorded that at Adventure Bay, South Tasmania, they met with “ A small bird of the motacilla genus with a bright blue head, which we, on that account, called Motacilla cyanea .” In the official account of Cook’s Voyages, Vol. I., p. 109, is also written “ [At Adventure Bay, Tasmania] there are also three or four small birds, one of which is of the thrush kind ; and another small one, with a pretty long tail, has part of the head and neck of a most beautiful azure colour, from whence we named it Motacilla cyanea .” This account was published in 1784, while Ellis’s book had appeared in 1782, and thence Latham in his General Synops. Birds, Vol. II., pt. 2, p. 501, 1783, quoted it in connection with his Superb Warbler, figured on pi. Lin. from a specimen in the “ Leverian Museum,” for which as locality he only wrote : “ Inhabits Van Diemen's Land , the most southern part of New Holland .” He also referred to other specimens as follows : “ In Sir Joseph Bank's collection are some of these birds ; one of which differed from the above.” On Latham’s account solely was based Gmelin’s name of Motacilla, pyanea, the only locality reading “ Habitat in terra Van Diemen.” ; that is, for the Australian bird, as Latham had also cited as a variety only, an entirely different Philippine Island bird, and this was also included by Gmelin. It is therefore obvious to the most superficial student of facts that the Tasmanian bird alone could bear the name of “ cyanea," whether it was credited to Gmelin, Latham, Cook or Ellis. It is a remarkable instance of perversity that, until recently, no reference has been made to this indisputable fact, though Gmelin’s name had been used, and the Ellis quotation even given for a form from New South Wales, while a new name was proposed and made use of for the Tasmanian variety. Only a few months after the appearance of Gmelin’s proposal, this bird was figured in the Naturalists' Miscellany under the name of Motacilla superba, and the vernacular of Superb Warbler was attached to it, a name ever since used 51 THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. for this species and its allies. Shaw, Keeper of Zoology of the British Museum, proposed this name, and it was used a little later in the account of the birds in White s Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales, where however two different birds were figured ; this fact was apparently recognised, as the explanation reads : “ This beautiful species is generally found in the state described in the specific character ; but it appears to be subject to great variety, two of which are exhibited.” These were distinguished as two distinct species by Vigors and Horsfield later. It may be due to this confusion that Gould proposed a new name for the Tasmanian form, restricting cyaneus to the mainland race, as he wrote under the latter name : “ Of the lovely group of birds forming the genus M alums, the present species is the oldest known, being that described and figured in White’s Voyage to Neio South Wales, under the name of Superb Warbler, a term by which the bird is still familiarly known in Australia.” Gould’s notes are good and full of interest. “ It is abundantly dispersed over the eastern portion of the country, and I observed it to be equally numerous on the plains of the interior ; but how far its range may extend northwards, can only be determined when those parts of the continent shall have been fully explored. I killed many specimens in South Australia which I formerly believed to be identical with the present bird ; but on a recent comparison, I find them to be more nearly allied to the M alurus longicaudus ; a further knowledge of the South Australian bird is therefore necessary, before I can determine to which it is referable, or if it may not be distinct from both. The Malurus cyaneus gives preference to those parts of the country which are thinly covered with low scrubby brushwood, and especially to localities of this description which are situated near the borders of rivers and ravines. During the months of winter it associates in small troops of from six to eight in number (probably the brood of a single pair), which continually traverse the district in which they were bred. At this period of the year the adult males throw off their fine livery, and the plumage of the sexes then becomes so nearly alike that a minute examination is requisite to distinguish them. The old males have the bill black at all seasons, whereas the young males during the first year, and the females, have this organ always brown ; the tail-feathers also, which with the primaries are only moulted once a year, are of a deeper blue in the old male. As spring advances, the small troops separate into pairs, and the males undergo a total transformation, not only in their colour, but in the texture of their plumage ; indeed a more astonishing change can scarcely be imagined. This change is not confined to the plumage alone, but extends also to the habits of the bird ; for it now displays great vivacity, proudly shows off its gorgeous attire to the utmost advantage, and pours out its animated song unceasingly, until the female has completed her task of incubation, and the craving appetites 52 BLUE WREN. of its newly-hatched young have called forth a new feeling, and given its energies a new direction. During the winter months no bird can be more tame and familiar, for it frequents the gardens and shrubberies of the settlers, and hops about their houses as if desirous to court, rather than shun, the presence of man ; but when adorned with his summer plumage, the male becomes more shy and retiring, appearing to have an instinctive consciousness of the danger to which his beauty subj ects him ; nevertheless they will frequently build their little nest and rear their young in the most populous places. The short and rounded wing incapacitates it for protracted flight, but the amazing facility with which it passes over the surface of the ground fully compensates for this deficiency ; its mode of progression can scarcely be called running, it is rather a succession of bounding hops, performed with great rapidity ; while thus employed its tail is carried perpendicularly, or thrown forward over the back ; indeed, the tail is rarely, if ever, carried horizontally. The breeding season continues from September to January, during which period two, if not three, broods are reared ; the young of one being scarcely old enough to provide for themselves, before the female again commences laying. . . . The song is a hurried strain, somewhat resembling that of the Wren of Europe. The stomach is muscular, and the food consists of insects of various kinds, collected on the ground, the trunks of fallen trees, etc.” Mr. E. E. Howe has written me from Victoria : “Is very common along the creeks ; indeed, in almost any place where there is good cover this useful little bird is to be found. It is said that males in full plumage are to be found at any time of the year, but I have never yet seen a male in its beautiful blue livery after March or before July. Between those months the male is only distinguished by a shade of blue in the tail, but in everjr other part it resembles the female. As late as September 21st we secured specimens of a M alums just throwing off their winter dress. The making of the nest is divided between the birds, but I have never yet seen a male help in the work of incubation which lasts about thirteen days. The young are born blind and featherless (with the exception of a tuft of down on the crown of the head), the gape is white and the mouth yellow. At a week old the eyes are open and the plumage is well fledged, and they leave the nest in about twelve days.” Mr. Edwin Ashby wrote “ Common throughout the Adelaide district especially in the Mt. Lofty Hills. It is also common in all the southern and eastern parts of Victoria. In Kangaroo Island is a larger and more robust bird. The blue is of a slightly deeper shade. I consider it intermediate between the mainland form and that called by Campbell M. elizabethce from King Island, Bass Straits. I cannot perceive sufficient difference to deserve distinction of the latter as a separate species.” 53 THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. Mr. Thos. P. Austin has written me from Cobbora, New South Wales: During the first nine years I lived here, I did not see a Malurus of any species in this district, but since then, the present species has been decidedly on the increase. Mostly met with along the banks of the Talbragar River, and about my house. They keep in small flocks of from three to half a dozen birds, and are polygamous in habits. The males are very pugnacious, and fight every time they meet. As one family always lived in my garden, and another at a dam only about sixty yards away, the two males were often in sight of each other, and I have witnessed many battles, and eventually the group at the dam departed altogether, but the others are still in the garden, where they rear a brood (only one) of young every year, but those along the river mostly have two or more broods each season. The males change their brilliant plumage to the same brown colour as the females every year about March or April, but can always be identified by the dark blue tail and black bill. The male in my garden at the present time (June) is in brown plumage. I am unable to say how long they retain this winter coat, but I have noticed that once they start to change their plumage, either for winter or summer, it is done wonderfully quickly, being completed within less than a week. They look extraordinarily little creatures just about the period when the change is half completed. They have a very long breeding season, as I have examined nests containing eggs from the first week in September till the middle of January, and the clutch is usually three or four.” A. G. Campbell contributed an article to the Emu (Vol. V., p. 152, 1906) on “The Moult of the Blue Wren” which may be referred to, but it is now * certain from the varied accounts that the Blue Wren does moult into winter plumage, with some unaccounted exceptions, though even A. J. North disputed this and definitely stated that they did not change when once the full plumage was assumed. I record my correspondent’s views on this subject which may be considered settled. Captain S. A. White has sent me the following note. “ I have many families of Malurus cyaneus leggei in the garden under observation all the year, and I think the following would apply to most species. In the first place these birds are not polygamous, several birds of both sexes may help to build a nest, but only one female lays in it, the male bird being very devoted during the time of incubation, keeping in close attendance, and often feeding his mate on the nest. They will often build a nest and when completed discover it is too exposed, or for some other reason pull it down and rebuild it in another locality. The nest is composed of grass, fibres and many other materials, lined with feathers ; the eggs are three to five in number, four being the usual clutch ; the young are hatched almost naked, and several birds of both sexes will assist 54 BLUE WREN. in the bringing up of the young. They nest from September to December, and nests are placed in a variety of positions, from near the ground, sometimes right on it, to twenty feet up. The males are very pugnacious during the breeding season, and will grasp one another with their little claws and roll over and over on the ground uttering shrill cries of rage all the time. The males also go through some strange antics to attract the females ; they will erect their mantles and puff out their throat feathers, depress their tails, cant over on one side and run round and round. The maj ority of the males moult twice in the year ; after breeding time, and the young birds have left the care of their parents, the males begin to look dull, the brown patches appear, and in about fourteen to sixteen days they have become quite brown, and most of them have lost all traces of blue by March, yet strange to say, there is a male here and there, say one in twenty, that is in bright blue plumage. I believe some of these birds which have moulted early, change in May again into the blue livery, but the majority go on to July or August, when the dark patches begin to appear on the forehead and throat, then rapidly increase till they cover the whole of the body. If cats are not kept, they become very fond of human habitations and are very tame, taking breadcrumbs, thick cream and the like from the hand. They are very local birds, and a pair will remain in one part of the garden for years, and build their nest within a few yards of a given spot each year, the young accompanying the old birds during the winter, but as soon as the following nesting season approaches the old birds drive the young ones off, and as a rule, these do not go far off, but take up a locality to their liking not far away. They bring up two and sometimes three broods in the year. Their notes consist of a feeble little trill while feeding or hunting about for food, which is chiefly found on or near the ground, a note of alarm which is shriller, and the male birds very sweet but feeble little song at nesting time. M. c. cyaneus . This charming little bird is dispersed almost all over Tasmania, and I have met with it in a variety of situations, on the plains, in the mountain ranges, in dense scrub and forest land, and out in the open country ; the habits are the same as those of the mainland bird, also the note. M. c. samueli. This bird was very numerous on Blinders Island during our visit, but although it is of a distinct shade of blue no difference was found in the habits or note. M. c. elizabethce. This bird was met with in many parts of King Island during my visit, but habits and note seem same as with all the others. M. c. Jienriettce. Widely distributed over Victoria, and I have met with it in almost every locality visited. M. c. leggei. These birds are thinly distributed in the mangroves along the Port Adelaide River and also along the coast-line where the mangroves abound. This to my mind is the largest and most richly coloured of the group. M. c. ashbyi. This subspecies keeps fairly well to the coast-line * 55 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. of Kangaroo Island, and round the lagoons where the tea tree abounds, small parties of five or six being often seen hopping over the damp mud on the edges of the lagoons.” Mr. E. J. Christian has written me : “ It is frequently seen in the south (of Victoria) with four or five hens or young males. The greatest number I have ever seen was seven in the flock. They are hardly ever still, and can generally be seen in any southern hedge. If they can’t be seen, the plaintive notes of the hen can be heard. How and then the cock breaks out into a lovely whistle. In winter the cock seems to be like the hen, except the tail which remains bluish, generally pale and dull. In 1905 I noticed the first male in full plumage on August 2nd. In 1906, June 21st, I noticed first male with blue tails, getting bright blue. July 6th : Some males with brighter tails, no other parts blue. Sept. 6th : Males in full summer plumage. These notes were taken near Booroondara, 9 miles S.E. of Melbourne. In the Botanical Gardens, Melbourne, on Sept. 10th, several birds had blue heads only, brown bodies with blackish streak appearing. On the 12th, blue head and tail ; 17tli, blue head, tail and part of mantle ; 24th, half summer plumage and by the end of the month in full summer plumage. These birds seem to keep to their own particular part of the garden. On Sept. 29tli I was again in Booroondara, and the Wrens there were in various stages of summer plumage, not so forward as in Melbourne, some only with the tail blue. That day I noticed a hen with a white throat. The birds seem to leave Melbourne during the summer, and while they are nesting, returning in numbers in late autumn. In 1906 they began to come back in numbers on April 19th. This bird can often be heard singing at night-time, and on April 29th, I heard one singing at midnight on a moonless night. They are very valuable birds, devouring insects which live on fruit trees. Their favourite insect seems to be a small white moth which lives on the lawn, they run along and frighten it, and with lightning rapidity seize it. The male will often fly along parallel with the ground, with tail straight out behind him, and thus frighten the moths. While nesting is going on, generally about September, the male becomes very pugnacious and will fly at anything, even his own reflection in a window.” Mr. Tom Tregellas, after whose wife the Victorian bird wras called, has sent me the following account : “ Throughout the year these Wrens are found in secluded spots in the bush, but on the approach of the nesting season many couples leave their haunts and sojourn for a while in the vicinity of houses and gardens, where they build their nests and rear two broods of young. In many of our suburban gardens they may be found nesting, usually in the ivy or creeper round the dwelling, and they lose all fear when in contact with civilisation. In the bush the nest is found in all positions from resting on the bare ground 56 BLUE WREN. to the height of four feet. I never found them any higher. The majority I have found on the ground beneath grass and tussocks. As to the question whether the male changes his plumage with the seasons, my observations suggest that after three years he does not. It seems to be only the youthful male that changes, and I have found these in all changes of plumage from brown, grey and slate, to the beautiful metallic blue of the adult bird. Even when maturity is reached there is a difference of shade in some of the males, and it appears that the brightest birds have the best following. Never more than one hen bird is found in company with the male in our gardens, but frequently in the bush as many as six or seven are found. There are always more females than males to be seen in the bush, and the male is always the last to leave cover when flitting from scrub to scrub or from one feeding ground to another. Probably he knows his colour is an attraction to hawks or other birds of prey, who show him no mercy, and for that reason makes the best of his opportunities. I have never discovered that the male assists in building more than one nest, though he is credited with being a mormon. At Wonga Park on Nov. 1st, I caught a young Wren just leaving the nest. Its markings were: Legs, feet and bill flesh-coloured, gape cream, irides brown, feathers on head, back, wings and tail ashy-brown, breast fawn. All the males have black beaks and the females red.” Mr. Frank Littler’s notes on the typical Tasmanian form read : “ Only inhabits Tasmania, and is more bulky in build and the blue markings richer than the mainland form. May 20th : Wrens have lost their summer coats. July 10th: Noticed a male in summer plumage, the first this spring. Evidently it had only recently acquired it, as the colour was not complete, the grey feathers not being all moulted out. July 1st (next year) : Many of the Wrens round Launceston have never moulted, but still retain their blue plumage. The previous year it was at a much earlier date that they all moulted, ip fact, by the 14th July the majority were regaining their pretty coats. The following year, on May 5th, a male in the garden, still in summer plumage, although all others I had observed had acquired their winter dress. . . . Young out of the nest, but still being fed, were much lighter in plumage than the adult female. . . . The male struts round with his tail erect, along and over fallen logs he proceeds, darting suddenly to the ground for some titbit, back again on to the logs, now perching on a stump to pour forth his little song, then once more all on the alert, darting at some fly and poking his little beak into every crack and crevice, flitting his tail all the while. When in the scrub, it prefers to use its legs when moving from place to place ; its power of running is very great ; it is as nimble on its feet as a mouse, in fact it looks like one when seen a few yards off, as it scurries over and under logs, etc. The powers of flight VOL. x. 57 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. are rather feeble and only resorted to when desirous of moving from one locality to another or when suddenly frightened. The song is weak, but is a rather pleasing run of notes, usually uttered when perched on some eminence.” Mr. H. Stuart Dove also sent me some interesting nesting notes from which I quote: “It is often stated that our ‘Blue Wren’ is polygamous; I am convinced that this is not so. The number of sober-coloured individuals which are often seen with one gorgeous male are simply the young of both sexes, which keep together and in company with their parents for some time after leaving the nest, and have been mistaken for a ‘ harem.’ The adults are in pairs only when nesting-time comes round again. . . . Finished building on 20th October, 4 eggs on 24th, laid on successive days and female sitting. The four eggs were hatched on November 7th, giving fourteen days’ incubation ; young were blind and naked. On 13th November the eyes were open, head, wings and parts of body well covered with sprouting quills, having blue-black appearance. The young had left the nest on morning of November 17th, giving ten days hatching to flying. . . . Either the female or male Malurus was at the nest about every three minutes in the morning with food for young, and I saw the female carry away excreta from nest in her bill, carrying it through a space in a tall Blanket wood opposite nest and dropping it on further side. There were two males about the nest, but I only saw one feed the young.” Mr. J. W. Mellor writes : “ These birds are very plentiful in Tasmania, in any thicket or bushy country their pleasing little twitter may be heard, or the song of the male bird as he calls to his mates, several of which seem to go with one male as is the case with other members of the genus. I saw M. elizabethce on King Island ; they were in the low bushes and thick undergrowth about the back of Currie Harbour ; they were lively little birds, but like the other members of the genus, I brought them out of their hiding places by making a squeaking noise with my lips ; they are inquisitive little fellows, and want to know what is going on ; the females come first for curiosity, and then the males will make their appearance. Their notes are the same as those uttered by the Tasmanian or mainland representatives.” Dove published a complete account of the Tasmanian Blue Wren in the Emu, Vol. IX., p. 157, 1910, which may be referred to for further details, but space forbids the complete quotation of the very numerous notes in that periodical about this popular little subject. The technical history of the forms of this species is complex and interesting, and the earlier part has already been noticed in detail, so will only be here out- lined. The earliest Blue Wren was described from South Tasmania, but almost simultaneously it was figured from Sydney, New South Wales. This did not 58 BLUE WREN. matter much until forms were separated, and this did not take place until Gould pointed out that the Tasmanian bird differed especially in its longer tail, and therefore called it longicaudus. Previously an entirely different bird had been named Malurus longicaudus, so that Gould’s name was invalid. This was noticed when Sharpe monographed the genus in the Catalogue Birds British Museum, and not noticing the confusion in the type localities, named the Tasmanian bird gouldi. A couple of years afterwards he noted the different coloration shown by birds from South Queensland, and distinguished these as cyanochlamys, still accepting Sydney birds as typical cyaneus. Twenty years later Campbell named the bird living on King Island, Bass Straits, as Malurus elizabethce. Then North, investigating the history of the species, observed that the first form to be named was the Tasmanian, and as it was a new discovery, had no hesitation in rejecting the name in use, gouldi, for the correct name cyaneus, and superseding the well-known name for the mainland form by a new one, australis. These were all distinct, but were just as obviously only subspecific forms of one species, and so I treated them in my Reference List in 1912. The examination of a fair number showed that other subspecies were just as definitely marked, so that I ranged seven subspecies as follows : Malurus cyaneus cyaneus (Gmelin). Tasmania. Malurus cyaneus cyanochlamys Sharpe. South Queensland. Malurus cyaneus australis North. New South Wales. Malurus cyaneus henriettce Mathews. “ Differs from M. c. cyaneus in its shorter tail ; from M. c. australis in its coloration, that subspecies approaching M. c. cyanochlamys, while this agrees more closely with that of the typical subspecies. (Olinda), Victoria.” Victoria. Malurus cyaneus leggei Mathews. “ Differs from M. c. henriettce in its lighter coloration, though darker than M. c. australis. Point (error for Port) Adelaide, S.A.” South Australia. Malurus cyaneus ashbyi Mathews. “ Differs from M. c. leggei in its larger size and darker coloration on the back. Kangaroo Island.” Kangaroo I., South Australia. Malurus cyaneus elizabethce Campbell. King Island, Bass Straits. 59 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. At the same time, Miss Fletcher wrote to me that the Bine Wren she saw in North Tasmania was obviously different from the one she knew in South Tasmania, and. she sent me specimens. These confirmed her observations and I named the form Malurus cyaneus f [etcher ce. Differs from 31. c. australis in its shorter tail ; the blue on the throat is darker, and the blue band on the back is lighter. Ringarooma.” North Tasmania. I also distinguished Malurus cyaneus samueli. “ Differs from 31. c. cijaneus in having the throat and breast much darker blackish-blue, it is also smaller.” Flinders Island, Bass Straits. With regard to the distinctions between these forms, A. G. Campbell wrote Malurus gouldi (Long-tailed Wren). It is evident, from a number of skins collected in Victoria, that the Tasmanian form, with its dusky under parts and touches of light blue on the chest, is found on the mainland. Several shades are observable in the mantle blue ; occasionally one is found darker even than the insular specimen. The measurements given for Tasmania (total length 5*3, culmen *32, wing 2T, tail 2-7, tarsus ’9), were taken from birds shot at Hobart. The Launceston type is smaller in all but the bill (total length 5T, bill -38, wing 2T, tail 2-5, tarsus *9). The typical M. cyaneus , found to the north of the Dividing Range in Victoria, is invariably white on the under parts, and with light brown primaries, while M. elizabethce, the other extreme, from King Island, is distinguished by the richness of its colouring, and by the Prussian blue on the outer edges of black primaries.” Years afterwards Captain S. A. WTiite wrote of the birds at Mallacoota, Victoria: “Very plentiful. The blue on the head and mantle of these birds is very pale, and approaches the colour of M. c. cyanochlamys. Many of these birds were nesting.” Again, reporting about the birds of Lake Victoria and Murray River, Captain White states : “ Often met with out in the flooded country, living in the tops of the lignum bushes, which were almost submerged. Upon comparison they seem to approach the Victorian bird more than the South Australian form, the blue being darker in the latter bird.” Of the Flinders Island form Captain S. A. W7hite notes : “ Blue Wrens were plentiful amid the thick undergrowth on the borders of swampy ground, and in the tangled mass of giant bracken on the hill and mountain side. Colour of mantle and crown of head is a distinct shade of blue to 31. cyaneus .” 60 MALURUS SPLENDENS (BENDED WREN). MALUPvUS MELANOTUS, (BLACK-BACKED WREN). Order PASSERIFORMES. No. 553. Family SYLVIIDM . MALURUS MELANOTUS. BLACK-BACKED WREN. (Plate 460, bottom figures.) Malurtjs melanotus Gould, Birds Austr., pt. in., June 1st, 1841 : Western Belts of the Murray, South Australia. Malurus melanotus* Gould, Birds Austr., pt. m. (Vol. IV., pi. 20), June 1st, 1841 ; id., Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p. 163, July, 1841 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 322, 1865 ; Biggies, Orn. Austr., pt. v., 1866 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 184, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 288, 1879 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. I., p. 1145, 1887 ; id., Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 16, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 169, 1901 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 210, 1904; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 78, 1908 ; Howe, Emu, Vol. VIII., p. 133, 1909 (Vic.) ; id., ib., Vol. IX., p. 231, 1910 (Vic.) ; Sullivan, ib., Vol. XI., p. 119, 1911 (Vic.) ; Wilson, ib., Vol. XII., p. 35, 1912 (Vic.) ; Jackson, ib., p. 101 (N.S.W. ?); Stone, ib., p. 114, (Vic.) ; Chandler, ib., Vol. XIII., p. 41, 1913 (Vic.) ; S. A. White, id., ib., pp. 121, 127, 1914 (Vic.) ; Howe and Tregellas, ib., Vol. XIV., p. 71, 1914 (Vic.); Ashby, ib., Vol. XVII., p. 220, 1918 (S.A.); Stone, ib., Vol. XVIII., p. 124, 1918 (Vic.); Ashby, ib., Vol. XIX., p. 73, 1919; A. S. Le Souef, ib., Vol. XX., p. 143, 1921 (W.A.). Malurus callainus G ould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1867, p. 302, Aug. 1st : South Australia =Eyre Peninsula; Gould, Birds Austr. Suppl., pt. iv., pi. 23, Dec. lst,.\ 1867 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 184, 1878; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 289, 1879; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Ser. 2, Vol. I., p. 1145, 1887 ; id., Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 16, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 170, 1901 ; id.. Emu, Vol. I., p. 65, 1902 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 211, 1904 ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 78, 1908 ; S. A. White, Emu, Vol. XIII., pp. 18, 27, 1913; id.,ib., Vol. XVIII., p. 197, 1919; Ashby, ib., Vol. XIX., p. 73, 1919. Malurus whitei Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 171 before April 4th, 1901 : new name for Malurus callainus Gould; id., Emu, Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 65, Jan., 1902 : Interior of Australia, not whitei of earlier entry ; id. , ib., Vol. II., p. 229, pi. x., * Also spelt melanonolus. 61 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 1903 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., 2nd ed., p. 110, 1906 ; Mathews, Hand! Birds Austral., p. 78, 1908 ; Mellor, Emu, Vol. XII., p. 185, 1913. Malurus melanotus melanotus Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 358, 1912 ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 224, 1913. Malurus melanotus victories Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 358, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Carina, Victoria. Malurus melanotus whitei Mathews, ib. Malurus melanotus callainus Mathews, ib. ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 224, 1913. Malurus melanotus germaini Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 359, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Port Germain ( recte Germein), South Australia. Distribution. South-western Queensland and Western New South Wales, Victoria and Central and Southern Australia reaching to Western Australia border. Adult male. Crown of head, nape, hind-neck, mantle, back, and upper tail-coverts turquoise-blue ; lores, a line behind the eye extending along the sides of the crown, and a band across the hind-neck, reaching to the sides of the neck, velvety-black like the band across the fore-neck, back and rump ; scapulars black with blue tips to the feathers ; upper wing-coverts and outer aspect of primary and secondary- quills dull green more or less tinged with blue on the median and greater coverts, some of the lesser, or marginal series bronze-brown, inner webs of flight-quills dark hair- brown ; tail dark greenish-blue with whitish tips to some of the feathers ; sides of face including the eylids very pale turquoise-blue ; throat and fore-neck cobalt- blue ; breast, abdomen, thighs, under tail-coverts, and sides of body similar but rather paler with a few yellow feathers intermixed on the abdomen ; axillaries and marginal under wing-coverts greenish-blue, the greater series and inner margins of quills below whitish-buff, remainder of quill-lining hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper surface but somewhat paler. Bill and feet black, eyes brown. Total length, 136 mm. ; culmen 8, wing 51, tail 59, tarsus 24. Figured. Collected at Port Germein, South Australia. Adult female. General colour of the upper surface mouse-brown including the top of the head, sides of face, sides of neck, hind-neck, entire back, upper tail-coverts, and wings ; outer edges of flight-quills greyish-green, inner webs hair-brown with pale margins ; tail greenish-blue with white tips to some of the feathers, with dark obsolete cross-bars ; lores and eyelids pale rust-colour ; throat, breast, abdomen, sides of body, thighs and under tail-coverts buffy-white ; under wing-coverts pale cinnamon-buff ; under surface of flight- quills hair-brown with pale margins ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper surface but rather paler. Bill reddish-brown, eyes brown, feet black. Total length 116 mm. ; culmen 8, wing 51, tail 56, tarsus 23. Figured. Collected in the Everard Ranges, Central Australia, on the 9th of August, 1914. Adult male. Head, mantle and upper back, upper tail-coverts, and breast dark turquoise- blue ; ear-coverts paler and inclining to silvery-blue ; chin, throat, and fore-neck ultramarine-blue ; lores black, as also a narrow band across the chest which runs up the sides of the neck and joins a broad black nuchal collar ; middle of lower back also black ; wings pale brown with a few blue feathers appearing among the coverts ; some of the outer quills with pale edges to the outer webs ; tail-feathers dark bluish-green with white tips and obsolete wavy cross-bars ; abdomen and under tail-coverts whitish with blue feathers appearing on the former ; under wing-coverts sandy-rufous. Total length 124 mm. ; culmen 8, wing 50, tail 55, tarsus 22. Collected in the Musgrave Ranges, Central Australia. Type of M. musgravi. 62 BLACK-BACKED WREN. Nest. Dome-shaped, with entrance near the top. Composed of grass, wool, and bark, and lined with fine grass, wool, etc. 5 inches high by 3 to 3| wide. Eggs. Clutch, three to four. White to pinkish-white blotch or spotted with purplish- red to red, more at the larger end, where sometimes a zone is formed. 16-18 mm by 11-12. Breeding-season. September to November. Gould’s account of this species, one of his own discoveries, reads : “ The Belts of the Murray in South Australia were the only places in which I observed this species ; but, although it was tolerably abundant there, it was so extremely shy and distrustful that specimens were obtained with the greatest difficulty. It was most frequently observed on the ground, partic- ularly in the small open glades and little plains by which the outer belt of this vast scrub is diversified. The period of my visit was in winter ; consequently the specimens I collected -were all out of colour, or, more properly speaking, divested of the rich blue and black plumage, in which state a single specimen was afterwards forwarded to me by one of the party that accompanied His Excellency Colonel Gawler and Captain Sturt, when those gentlemen visited the Murray in 1839 ; and other examples have since been received. It is a most interesting species, inasmuch as it possesses characters intermediate between the M. cyaneus and M. splendens, having the blue belly and conspicuous pectoral band of the latter and the black back of the former ; from both, however, it differs in the length of its toes, which are much shorter than those of its near allies ; this difference in structure exerts a corresponding influence upon its habits and actions, for while the others run over the ground with great facility, the Black-backed Superb Warbler far exceeds them in this respect. Instead of exerting any power of flight, those I saw effected their escape by the extraordinary manner in which they tripped over the small openings and through the scrub, each troop appearing to have a leader), and keeping just beyond the range of the gun.” Mr. E. E. Howe has written me : “I first met with this beautiful bird at Pine Plains, and since at Garina and Kow Plains. Mr. Ross and I had good opportunities to notice that at every nest (and we found a good number), only one male and a single female were about. This species keeps to the more open and stunted mallee, and on the plains where turpentine and other bushes abound. We also noticed a good many in the salt and blue bushes. Some we found building, and only the female was noticed at work, but the male was observed to accompany her and sing.” Mr. J. W. Mellor’s notes read : u M. melanotus is found along the Elinder’s Ranges near Port Augusta and also farther south, where it inhabits the low bushes along the slopes of the hills and in the sheltered gullies where the 63 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. undergrowth, is sufficient to afford shelter. I came across a little covey of M. whitei on Aug. 26th, 1911, on the flat country near Port Germein, South Australia, between the Flinder’s Ranges and the shores of St. Vincents Gulf, close to the original locality in which Mr. White first discovered it ; the country was also similar, there being a profusion of blue bush and salt bush and here and there patches of tall mallee, and in the low bushes the birds were located. The covey consisted of a fine old male in full breeding plumage and very shy ; there was also a couple of young males out of plumage and several females ; these females differed in colour from those of M alurus assimilis , of which there were plenty about. The male was extremely shy and kept a long distance off, darting through the mallee very swiftly, and as I was alone I had great difficulty in securing it.” These two notes refer to the same form, which accord- ing to his later note is callainus. Sullivan has noted that the tail-feathers of the female are blue, and this is not a feature of the winter plumage of the male as suggested in the case of M. cyaneus. Wilson has recorded : “ The beautiful plumage of this and the following species is one of the first things to catch the eye of the ornithologist visiting the mallee. Although occasionally found in the porcupine grass country, it usually inhabits the turpentine-bush and low scrubby growths of the flats, where it is a very common bird. Several skins showing the interesting changes of plumage of the male bird were secured.” Captain S. A. White has written : “I was not at all surprised to find this glorious little bird, for it was from the Murray mallee belts that John Gould procured his type. On comparing this bird with skins procured by Mr. A. J. Campbell from the mallee in Victoria they are found to be identical.” Captain S. A. White sent me a long note which I here include, though part has since been published. “ This beautiful bird was of the greatest interest, and when I shot the first specimen I was overcome with memories of the past, for it was in 1865, some five years before I came into existence, that my late father, the intrepid ornithologist and explorer Samuel White, discovered this gem of bird life not more than 30 or 40 miles from where we must have camped, and it was from one of two specimens which he there secured that John Gould described the bird in his Supplement, pt. iv., where he remarked: ‘that this gentleman may again visit the home of the species and obtain the female is my ardent wish . . . and I have no doubt he will do so ; for I have reason to believe that no one of my correspondents in Australia is more keenly alive to the interests which attaches to our favourite branch of science — orni- thology.’ The late Samuel White did not return to the haunts of this bird, but forty-seven years later his son and daughter-in-law did, and procured 64 BLACK-BACKED WREN. specimens of both sexes. It may not be out of place to state here that my father left home in 1865 on an expedition to the North and North-west of Adelaide in pursuit of the science of Ornithology. He took with him a dray drawn by two horses, and one man. On the dray, besides provisions and outfit, he placed a light flat-bottomed boat which was intended to be used on swamps, lakes, rivers, or arms of the sea which might be met with on the way. The route lay along St. Vincent’s Gulf, passing its head; this exploring ornithologist pushing on over a rough and scrubby country, working amongst the birds on his way, till he reached a spot on Spencer’s Gulf some distance beyond the indent on the coast which is now known as Port Germein. /The undaunted explorer then determined to explore the western side of the Gulf, a hazardous task in view of the crossing the head of gulf, a distance of between twenty-five and thirty miles, in a frail flat-bottomed boat. He well understood that the Flinders Range on the one side, and the hills on the other, form with the ever narrowing gulf a natural funnel, up which the winds from the ocean are forced with great velocity. The journey up to this was considerably over 300 miles, for it must be understood that the country at that time was in its virgin state, and a way had to be forced through the dense scrub and over rocky ranges. Pigging up a sail and taking advantage of a favourable wind, this pioneer left his manservant in charge of the horses and cart, and set out in his little craft alone. All went well on the trip over and many birds were collected, amongst them this new Malurus , and I have heard my father say in later years that he procured the birds (some eight to ten skins comprising both sexes) by placing his hat upon the ground, and when the wrens approached the strange object to investigate, he secured them. On his way over the gulf head again a sudden squall capsized the little boat, and guns, sextant and speci- mens— all were lost save a small box containing a few bird skins which he grasped and held ; he clung to the upturned boat and drifted till within two miles of the shore, when he left the boat, but still sticking to the box he swam ashore, as he was a very powerful swimmer. In the box were two males of the new Malurus, which were sent to Gould and described with the name of M. callainus. It is, from this account, certain that the birds were obtained on the western shore of the Gulf and not at Port Germein, as has been suggested. “ The first of these birds met with by my wife and myself on this trip was after passing through 4 Lincoln Gap ’ ; we had camped over night, and in the early morning I went out with the gun, and when passing over a flat- covered-in large salt bush around which were some fine bushes of scrubby mulga ; and from out of these bushes darted a small party of wrens, seemingly some females or out-of-plumage males. They were into the giant salt bush and gone in an instant, and although we could hear their faint little notes of VOL. X. 65 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. alarm we could not dislodge them. Returning to this spot again later in the day, a party of wrens was surprised, and we secured a fully adult male, some immature males and a female, which proved to be M. callainus. It was several days later and still further south, just on the edge of the malia (which extends down to the head of Eyre’s Peninsula), that we again came in touch with this bird, and this time they were in a large party, but very shy, in a dry watercourse, the bed of which was covered in deep, loose and coarse sand, and in this watercourse, which was five to six hundred yards wide, grew many of the picturesque drooping foliaged ‘ scrubby mulgas.’ These bushes were in a mass of blossom, and the thick foliage gave good shelter to the Maluri which darted from bush to bush in follow-my-leader fashion ; when one broke cover the others followed — sometimes a beautiful male bird would mount to the top of the bush far out, or extend his glorious mantle, utter a short trill and dart into cover again. There was no salt bush for some little distance from here, and I am of the opinion that this bird favours the low thick scrub, and that it only takes to the salt bush, if near, to hide when hard pressed. The next time we met M. callainus was on our return journey just before leaving the Ranges, when we again found it amongst the scrubby mulga. “ Dr. Morgan found this bird nesting about this time or a little previous to it (September), at the south end of Lake Torrens, but we did not come across a nest ; we put that down to the fact of rain having fallen early in the season around the southern edge of Lake Torrens, and Dr. Morgan informs me that they did not have the very strong gales which we experienced during the whole of our trip further west.” He later added : “ The type locality is the western side of Spencer’s Gulf, and that from Port Germein, on the eastern side, has been regarded as a distinct subspecies, but this seems a very doubtful one. Apparently M. callainus ranges westward right to the West Australian border and inland as far north as I have explored. M. melanotus was recorded by North from the interior, but this bird was intended.” The restricted range of this species still shows the variation so noticeable in this group. Thus Gould described the bird from the Western Belts of the Murray, South Australia, and then later described a new species collected by Mr. Samuel White, M. callainus. Campbell in his Nests and Eggs stated that a better name than callainus would have been whitei, and the next year proposed M. whitei for a bird he considered different from M. callainus. In my Reference List I admitted five subspecies writing : Malurus melanotus melanotus Gould. South Australia. Malurus melanotus victories Mathews. 66 BLACK-BACKED WREN. “ Differs from M. m. melanotus in its larger size and deeper purple coloration. Carina, Victoria.” Victoria. M alurus melanotus whitei Campbell. South Australia. Malurus melanotus callainus Gould. South Australia. Malurus melanotus germaini Mathews. “ Differs from M. m. callainus in its throat being darker purple and its head, back, and upper tail-coverts bright peacock-blue, not silvery-blue, and especially in having the abdomen purplish-blue ; in the type this is greenish- blue. Port Germein, South Australia.” Note. — With the type of both M. melanotus and M. callainus in front of me, and having also notes on the type of M. whitei , which I have also handled, and my own series, I am compelled to admit four forms of this species as inhabiting South Australia, but I am unable to indicate the distribution of the subspecies. The researches of Captain S. A. White, the son of Mr. S. White, the collector of M. callainus Gould, prove that the type of M. callainus came from the western shore of the Gulf and not Port Germein as I gave in my 1913 List. Thus Captain S. A. White recorded birds from the Musgrave and Everard Ranges as M. m. callainus, observing : “I have placed a bird of this genus under the above heading because it resembles that subspecies most, yet it has not the same shade of blue upon the head or mantle, but comes between M. callainus and M. whitei, approaching the first named more closely. This bird was found all over the country visited, but one could not say in any numbers.” Then from the Nullarbor Plains he wrote : “ Upon my first trip into the Ooldea country I had seen several parties of brown Wrens, but, do what I could, could not get a glimpse of a blue bird, and from descriptions given me, expected to find a new species. Upon a later trip I secured a full- plumaged male, and found upon comparison that it did not differ at all from skins procured from my father’s type locality. The birds were found in small parties in the thick scrub growing on the Ooldea sandhills ; they were also observed near Tarcoola.” Mr. J. W. Mellor wrote to me : “ Port Germein is the only place that I know of where M. whitei is found, as a bird taken from here last year was identified by A. J. Campbell (the describer of the species) as this bird, therefore, my belief is that his locality (interior of Australia) is incorrect. I know that on the west side of Spencer’s Gulf the bird is M. callainus , north of Port Augusta it is the same, and out north-west it is still the same, as all around it is M. 67 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. cctllainus. I made a special study of this bird on this account. It is very scarce and shy in its habits, being exceedingly difficult to get near as it darts off into the bushes as soon as it sees or hears the slightest movement, or crack of a stick or twig ; the full-plumaged males are exceedingly shy and wary. On one occasion I saw two males chasing one another, apparently having a quarrel over some female ; they put up their little blue crests and stuck out their ear-coverts and darted across my path like flashes of light, and were gone into the thickets instantaneously. They generally inhabit the thick undergrowth where tea tree or mallee and peppermint meet the blue bush country, and the thick undergrowth of the latter, beneath the higher foliage of the former, affords good shelter, while for a higher perch they fly into the thick bushy-topped tea trees where they are soon lost to viewr. M. assimilis is to be found in the same locality and M. ivhitei is seen in company with them ; their call is a silvery warble something like that of M. assimilis, but given in a more tremolo voice, giving it a more loose fibre; it seems to be poured forth in a kind of silvery circlet as it were, and lasting for a few moments only, and the bird is off again like the twinkling of an eye ; the notes are always made while the bird is on a twig or bough, the head and throat held up and thrown forward while emitting the calls ; the hen I also noted made some of these calls like her mate, but not so oft repeated. The old birds were just mating in August, and wTould probably be breeding soon.” Ashby has lately concluded: “ M. whitei. Several ornithologists have con- sidered this a good species, and the careful comparison of the material in my hands supported this contention, but I have now had an opportunity of examining seven more specimens of M. callainus Gould in Captain S. A. White’s collection. “ I find that some of the specimens collected on the west side of Spencer Gulf and the Gawler Ranges so closely approach the Port Germein (east side of the Gulf) form that they are not separable. Those specimens of M. callainus collected in the Everard and Musgrave Ranges show more purple in the throat and a deeper blue in the abdomen. The larger material suggests a transition into deeper and more purple shades of blue as the distance from Spencer Gulf becomes greater, and therefore Campbell’s M. whitei must stand as a synonym of M. callainus Gould.” At the present time, with our present knowledge, we then have three well-marked forms and one or two ill-defined and doubtful, thus Malurus melanotus melanotus Gould. South Australian Mallee. doubtfully distinct is Malurus melanotus victories Mathews. Victorian Mallee. 68 BLACK-BACKED WEEK. I would have unhesitatingly accepted the dicta of White and Ashby that these are identical, save that in some cases a series of Mallee birds have absolutely shown differences between the South Australian and Victorian Mallee specimens. Again doubtful appears Mdlurus melanotus germaini Mathews. Eastern shores of Spencer’s Gulf. This has been accepted under the name M. whitei, which is a synonym of callainus, but is now doubted by White and Ashby. Malurus melanotus callainus Gould. Western shore of Spencer’s Gulf to western border of South Australia. Malurus melanotus musgravei subsp. n. (Described.) Musgrave and Everard Ranges. Both Captain S. A. White and Ashby agree that this bird is “ more purple on the throat and a deeper blue on the abdomen than M. callainus .” Ramsay described the eggs of M. melanotus and M. callainus, but gave no locality for either and wrote of the latter : “ This wren, one of the latest species described by Mr. Gould, is far from rare in the interior; my brother, Mr* James Ramsay, having no difficulty in obtaining as many specimens as I required during one season, both of its nests and eggs, with the birds shot therefrom.” This provides one of the problems that cannot be settled here. What was Ramsay’s “ interior ” ? The interior of New South Wales is suggested, whence I have no specimens, but J ackson has recorded melanotus from northern interior New South Wales, near the Queensland border. Then North, when he received birds from Central Australia, and apparently with Ramsay’s callainus under view, named the Centralian birds melanotus , which Captain S. A. White states they are not. ' Some years ago Mr. J. W. Mellor wrote me : “ We had all three species while in Sydney (at the Museum), side by side, and they stand thus — M. melanotus Dark blue on mantle. M. whitei Lighter blue on mantle {—germaini). M. callainus Lightest blue on mantle. Then M. melanotus is lighter than whitei on the under-surface blue.” This may help to elucidate matters. 69 ll Order PASSERIFORMES. No. 554. Family SYLVIIDM. MALURUS SPLENDENS. BANDED WREN. (Plate 460, top figures.) Saxicola SPLENDENS Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. de l’Astrol. Zool., Yol. I., p. 197 (pref. June 29th), 1830 : King George Sound, West Australia. Saxicola splendens Quoy and Gaimard, Yoy. de l’Astrol. Zool., Vol. I., p. 197, 1830. Malurus pectoralis Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond ), 1833, p 106, Nov. 18th : Swan River, West Australia ; id., Synops. Birds Austr., pt. i., pi. (8), 1837. [Not Malurus pectoralis Stephens in Shaw's Gen. Zool., Vol. XIII., p. 224, 1826.] Malurus splendens Gould, Birds Austr., p. iii. (Vol. III., pi. 21), June 1st, 1841 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 323, 1865 ; Biggies, Orn. Austr., pt. v., 1866 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 184, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 289, 1879 ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 16, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 172, 1901 ; Milligan, Emu, Vol. II., p. 71, 1902 ; id., ib., Vol. III., p. 16, 1903; H. E. Hill, ib., p. 227, 1904 ; North Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 213, 1904 ; Milligan, Emu, Vol. IV., pp. 6, 9, 1904; Lawson, ib., p. 134, 1905; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 78, 1908 ; Gibson, Emu, Vol. IX., p. 73, 1909 ; Campbell, ib., p. 165 ; Whitlock, ib., p. 201, 1910 ; Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 359, 1912 ; S. A. White, Emu, Vol. XX., p. 127, 1921 ; Ashby, ib., p. 134; Le Souef, ib., p. 142 ; Mellor, ib., p. 139 ; Alexander, ib., p. 166. Malurus splendens riordani Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 119, Bee. 24th, 1912 : Yalgoo, West Australia ; id.. List Birds Australia, p. 225, 1913. Malurus splendens splendens Mathews, id., ib. Bistribution. South-west Australia, mainly coastal from Stirling Ranges round coast to Geraldton. Adult male. Crown of head, nape, mantle, back, and upper tail-coverts pale cobalt ; lesser upper wing-coverts bronze-green, median and greater series for the most part cobalt-blue with paler margins on the outer webs, outer webs of flight-quills greenish- blue, inner webs hair-brown with pale edgings ; tail cobalt-blue, inclining to greenish- blue at the base, and whitish tips to some of the feathers ; sides of face turquoise- blue ; lores and sides of crown velvety-black, as is also the band that encircles the neck ; throat, breast, abdomen, sides of body, and under tail-coverts cobalt-blue with a few grey and buff feathers intermixed on the lower abdomen, flanks, and 70 BANDED WEEN. under tail-coverts ; thighs greenish-blue ; under wing pale buff ; under-surface of flight-quills hair-brown with pale margins ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface but paler. Bill black, eyes dark brown, feet and legs very dark brown. Total length 130 mm. ; culmen 9, wing 52, tail 64, tarsus 23. Figured. Collected at (Waraya) Yalgoo Gold Field, West Australia, on the 24th of August, 1903, and is the type of M alums s'plendens riordani. Adult female. General colour of the upper-surface mouse-brown including the top of the head, entire back, and wings ; inner webs of flight-quills hair-brown ; tail dull lavender-blue with whitish tips and pale margins to some of the feathers ; rictal bristles black with white bases ; lores and eyelids chestnut ; throat, breast, abdomen, sides of body, thighs, and under tail-coverts pale fawn colour like the under wing-coverts ; under-surface of flight-quills hair-brown with pale edges ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface, but paler and having white shafts to the feathers on the basal portion. Bill light brown, eyes deep brown, feet dark brown. Total length 116 mm. ; culmen 8, wing 48, tail 60, tarsus 23. Figured. Collected in East Murchison, West Australia, on October 2nd, 1909. Young males. Very similar to the adult females but the lores not so rufous. Nest. Dome-shaped, with entrance near the top. Composed of dried grass and lined with finer grass, wool or feathers, 5 inches high by 3 wide. Eggs. Clutch, three to four. Pinkish-white to white, freckled or spotted with purplish- brown, more on the larger end. 17 mm. by 12. Breeding-season. (August) October to December. Quoy and Gaimard, the French exploring naturalists, described this species in 1830 and three years later Gould also named it, but very soon recognised that his species was the same as that proposed by the French workers, and moreover, used the name at once, especially as it was exceedingly appropriate, as his few remarks observe. “ The Malurus splendens , which may very justly be considered more gorgeous than any other of its race, its whole plumage sparkling with beautiful shining metallic lustre, is an inhabitant of the western coast of Australia, and is, I believe, very generally distributed over the Swan River settlement, where it inhabits scrubby places covered with underwood. Its song very nearly resembles that of the Tasmanian species, M. longicaudus .” Mr. Tom Carter has written me “ The Banded Wren is given in your 1912 ‘ Reference List,’ as occurring generally through West Australia. It is common throughout the south-west, but does not seem to extend to the far inland districts, and was never noted by me in the Gascoyne and northern areas. Its range from the coast is probably about one hundred miles. It occurs at Kellerberin (100 miles inland), and is not uncommon about Albany, but is now not so plentiful as it was ten or twelve years ago (I wonder if this is due to destruction by cats). It was not nearly so numerous about Broome Hill as it is in the moister south-west corner. Near Broome Hill a nest containing four fresh eggs was found Oct. 7th, 1906, and another on Aug. 21st, 1912, with three eggs, but I think the breeding season is usually late, October to December. Young 71 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. birds, almost full grown, were found in a nest at Vasse River in January, 1887. This nest was practically on the ground, inside a small bush. The nests are usually built within a foot of the ground. At Broome Hill, January 25th, 1907, two full-plumaged males were observed. Feb. 17/07. Male bird in half-blue plumage. Sept. 4, 1908. In a party of six birds, one male in full plumage and another with blue wings, coverts and tail. Aug. 20, 1910. Male in full plumage. Sept. 27, 1910. A family party of six seen on Pallinup River, one only in fairly complete blue plumage. Nov. 12, 1910. Birds breeding.” Milligan wrote about the Stirling Ranges : “ These ‘ Mormons ’ were numerous on the heavy soils. I observed them on two or three occasions mount fully fifteen feet high in the saplings. We saw young birds at Tenterden.” Later, reviewing his trip to the Wongan Hills, he observed : “ Malurus splendens appeared only when the plains were passed and when nearing the Mission Station.' . . . continued to Mogumber.” Gibson noted between Kalgoorlie and Euclia : “A few only in the mulga ; a rare bird in the interior districts.” Whitlock then found it on the East Murchison, writing : “ Rare and very local. Though I heard of blue birds at Lake Way, which came round one’s camp, I hardly expected them to be of this species. It was one of the surprises of my trip. I only met with two parties near Wiluna, and another near Milly Pool.” Of these specimens Campbell wrote “was smaller in size and more intense in colour than the south-western coastal bird.” Captain S. A. White has recorded from the Margaret River, South-west Australia : “ This bird was not nearly so plentiful as the writer expected it to be. In 1889, during my first visit to Western Australia, these birds were exceedingly plentiful. Probably the domestic cat gone wild has accounted for their disappearance. These birds wrere nesting.” Ashby added : “ Numerous and tame at Claremont. It no doubt occurs in low scrub at Geraldton, as it w^as described to us by local residents.” Mellor noted from the Murchison River district : “ One male, in full livery, was seen with several females. This may be Mathews’ northern subspecies, M. s. riordani .” A. L. Le Souef wrote : “ This splendid Wren was found on the hills close to Perth, occupying sheltered guides, and also at Geraldton on scrub-covered sand hills.” Alexander : “ Resident in the Perth district. Found throughout, but not nearly so common as it is on the Darling Range to the eastward.” I described Malurus splendens riordani. BANDED WREN. “ Differs from M. s. splendens in its much deeper colour, and in having a very much slimmer bill, Yalgoo, Mid Wes tr alia,” and in my List, 1913, I admitted Malurus splendens splendens (Quoy & Gaimard). South-west Australia. and Malurus splendens riordani Mathews. Mid-west Australia (Interior). and I now add Malurus splendens perthi subsp. n. for the form from Perth, described by Gould as M. pectoralis, which name is preoccupied as shown above, and which differs from the one named by Quoy and Gaimard from King George Sound. Genus— HALL ORNIS. Hallornis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5., p. 113. December 24, 1912. Type (by original designation) Malurus cyanotus= M alums leuconotus Gould. “ Differs from Malurus in its weaker bill and feet, its longer, more wedge- shaped tail and in lacking the erectile ear-coverts.” The bill is short and stout, comparatively shorter and weaker than that of the preceding, slight basal expansion, culmen more arched and more strongly keeled ; there are no nasal bristles and the rictal bristles are few and obscure and scarcely noticeable ; the other features much as in the former genus. The wing is short and rounded, the third to the seventh primaries sub- equal and longest, the second only a little shorter than the third and equalled by the tenth primary and the secondaries ; the first primary is short, a little less than half the length of the third. The tail is comparatively longer and more wedge-shaped. The legs and feet are similar, but weaker throughout. 74 ■ I ' - *. ■ . (9 . - j ■ - . Order PASSERIFORMES. No. 555. Family SYLVIIDM. HALLORNIS LEUCONOTUS. WHITE-WINGED WREN. (Plate 461, left hand figures.) Malurus LEUCONOTUS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1865, p. 198, June 1st : Interior of (South) Australia. Malurus leucopterus Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 222, 1827 ; [Not Malurus leucopterus Quoy and Gaimard, i.e. Dumont, Diet. Sci. Nat. (Levrault), Vol. XXX., p. 118, 1824.] Gould, Birds Austr., pt. in., Vol. III., pi. 25, June 1st, 1841 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 330, 1865 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 184, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 290, 1879 ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 16, 1899 ; Campbell. Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 173, 1901 ; Carter, Emu, Vol. III., p. 36, 1903 ; Milligan, ib., p. 222, 1904 ; id. , ib., Vol. IV., pp. 6, 9, 1904 : North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 214, 1904; Lawson, Emu, Vol. IV., p. 134, 1905 ; Berney, ib., Vol. V., p. 73, 1905 (N.Q.) ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 78, 1908; Whitlock, Emu, Vol. VIII., p. 180, 1909; Crossmann, ib., Vol. IX., p. 88, 1909 ; Whitlock, ib., p. 201, 1910 ; Howe, ib., p. 232 ; Macgillivray, ib., Vol. X., pp. 20, 33, 1910 ; Stone, ib., Vol. XII., p. 114, 1912 ; S. A. White, ib., p. 124 ; Mellor, ib., p. 185, 1913. Malurus leuconotus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1865, p. 198, June 1st ; Interior of (South) Australia ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 332, 1865 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 184, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 291, 1879 ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 16, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 174, 1901 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 217, 1904 ; Milligan, Emu, Vol. IV., p. 52, 1904 ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 78, 1908. Malurus cyanotus Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 331, I)ec., 1865: New' South Wales ; Campbell, Emu, Vol. I., p. 26, 1901 ; North, Rec. Austr. Mus., Vol. IV., No. 5, p. 209, 1902 ; Hall, Emu, Vol. IX., p. 127, 1910 ; S. A. White, ib., Vol. XIII., p. 28, 1913 ; Chandler, ib., p. 41 ; Macgillivray, ib., p. 171, 1914 ; Ashby, ib., Vol. XVI., p. 232, 1917 ; Whitlock, ib., Vol. XVII., p. 166, 1918 ; Campbell, ib., Vol. XVIII., p. 259, 1919; Alexander, ib., Vol. XIX., pp. 137-8, 1919; Ashby, ib., Vol. XX., p. 135, 1921 ; Whitlock, ib., p. 180. Malurus cyanotus cyanotus Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 359, 1912. 75 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Malurus cyanotus exsul Mathews, ib., Jan. 31st, 1912 : Yule River, North-west Australia ; Mellor, Emu, Vol. XX., p. 139, 1921. Malurus leuconotus leuconotus Mathews, Xov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 359, Jan. 31st, 1912. Malurus leuconotus perplexus Mathews, ib. : Day Dawn, West Australia. Hallornis cyanotus Mathews, List Birds Australia, p. 225, 1913 ; Carter, Ibis, 1917, p. 589, pi. x. ; S. A. White, Emu, Vol. XVIII., p. 22, 1918. Hallornis cyanotus cyanotus Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 225, 1913 ; S. A. White, Emu, Vol. XIV., p. 189, 1915. Hallornis cyanotus exsul Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 225, 1913. Hallornis leuconotus leuconotus Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 225, 1913 ; id., Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 4, p. 89, 1917. Hallornis leuconotus perplexus Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 225, 1913. Hallornis leuconotus Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. 3, p. 89, 1917. Hallornis leuconotus leuconotus Mathews, ib. Hallornis leuconotus ciyanotus Mathews, ib. Hallornis leuconotus exsul Mathews, ib. Hallornis leuconotus perplexus Mathews, ib. Malurus c{yanotus ) diamantina H. L. White, Emu, Vol. XVIII., pt. 2, p. 121, Oct. 1918 : Diamantina River, Western Queensland ; Jackson, Emu, Vol. XVIII., p. 168, 1919. Distribution. Interior of Australia, Queensland, New South Wales (Victorian Mallee), South Australia and West Australia generally, outside tropics, save extreme coastal districts. Adult mule. Crown of head, nape, hind-neck, mantle, lower-back, rump, and upper tail- coverts ultramarine-blue with dull blackish bases to the feathers ; tail also blue but darker and duller ; a tuft of white feathers on each side of the breast ; inner upper wing-coverts, innermost secondaries, and upper-back also white, the last being almost concealed by the elongated blue feathers of the mantle ; outer upper wing-coverts . and primary-coverts blue ; outer edges of prim ary- quills blue, or bluish-grey, inner webs blackish with slightly paler edges ; sides of face similar to the top of the head but the feathers are small ; lores inclining to black ; throat, breast, abdomen and sides of body ultramarine-blue, darker than the crown, becoming somewhat paler on the thighs and under tail-coverts ; axillaries and under wing- coverts pale blue with smoke-brown bases to the feathers ; under-surface of flight- quills blackish-brown with pale grey margins ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface. Bill black, eyes deep brown, feet and legs very dark brown. Total length 123 mm. ; culmen 8, wing 47, tail 60, tarsus 21. Figured. Collected at Bore- well, West Australia, on the 30th of July, 1909. Adult female. General colour above, greyish-fawn, including the top of the head, sides of face, sides of neck, hind-neck, entire back, upper tail-coverts, and outer aspect of flight-quills ; becoming greyish-blue on the outer webs of the primaries, the inner-webs blackish-brown ; tail dull lavender-blue with whitish margins to the feathers ; lores whitish ; throat, breast, and abdomen also whitish, slightly tinged with pale fawn-colour, which is more pronounced on the lower flanks, thighs, and under tail-coverts ; under wing-coverts and inner margins of quills below similar, remainder of quill-lining dark brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface. Bill and eyes brown, feet ashy-grey. Total length 128 mm. ; culmen 8, wing 48, tail 67, tarsus 20. Figured. Collected at Glen Ferdinand, Central Australia, on the 18th of July, 1914. 76 WHITE-WINGED WEEN. Young males. Resemble the females, but have dark bills. Nest. Dome-shaped, with entrance near the top, composed of dried grass and lined with soft materials (feathers, wool, etc.), 4| inches high by 3 wide. Eggs. Clutch, four. White, finely freckled with purplish or reddish-brown, more on the larger end ; sometimes a zone is formed. 15-16 mm. by 12. Breeding-season. September to January. Malurus leuconotus was described by Gould who observed : “ In size this fine new species is very similar to the last, from which, however, it may be at once distinguished by its white back, which has suggested the specific name I have assigned to it. It inhabits the interior of Australia, but the precise locality is unknown to me ; it accompanied fine examples of Geophaps plumifera.” I find that Mitchell has recorded ( Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia , Vol. II., p. 261, 1838) : “ WTe had several new birds, but the most admired of our ornithological discoveries was a White-winged Superb Warbler from the junction of the Darling and Murray, all the plumage not white being of a bright blue colour, but of this we had obtained only one specimen.” This was probably the earliest record of this species, and was not mentioned by Gould. The last referred to was the species Gould had figured under the name of Malurus leucopterus in his folio work, but which he queried later, writing : “ I regret that I have not been able to clear up the doubt which exists in my mind, whether the present bird is or is not distinct from the one figured by Messrs. Quoy and Gaimard in the Voyage de VUranie, since, on applying at the Museum of the Jardin des Plantes for the purpose of examining the original specimen, it could not be found ; the figure above quoted, if intended for this bird, is by no means correct, and it is, moreover, said to be from Dirk Hatich’s Island, on the western coast, a locality very distant from those in which my specimens were procured, New South Wales, which circumstance strengthens my belief that they may be distinct ; besides which, the bird under consider- ation is supposed to be exclusively an inhabitant of the interior, for I have never observed it between the mountain ranges and the coast, and it is scarcely probable, therefore, that it should inhabit an island like that of Dirk Hatich. In case they should prove to be different, I propose the name of Malurus cyanotus for the bird from New South Wales. The birds seen by me Vvere either in pairs or in small troops, and evinced so much shyness as to render the acquisition of specimens a task of no little difficulty, particularly of the full-plumaged male, who appeared to be conscious that the display of his gorgeously coloured dress might lead to his detection. Its powers of flight 77 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. are not great ; but this is fully compensated for by the extraordinary manner in which it threads the bushes, and passes over the surface of the ground in a series of hopping bounds, whereby it readily eludes pursuit. The most successful mode of obtaining it is to ascertain the precise spot in which it is located, to approach it cautiously, and to remain silent for a short time, when the male will soon show himself by hopping out from the bush — the restless nature of his disposition not admitting of his remaining long concealed.” Captain S. A. White has written me: “ Hallornis cyanotus. — This charming little bird has a wonderful range. I have obtained it a few miles north of Adelaide and then traced it in a northerly direction to Central Mt. Stuart, to the West Australian border, and to the New South Wales border in the east. It is a lover of the open salt-bush country, where it nests and brings up its young. I have seen it in thick scrub, but not often ; they move about in small family parties, and the male bird, when adorned in nuptial plumage like other members of the family is very conscious of his conspicuous coloration, and keeps very close to cover when danger is near, although females and immature males in their brown plumage are hopping close by in the open, quite unconcerned with the exception of now and then giving a little alarm note which is evidently meant to keep their brilliantly colored males acquainted of the fact that the danger had not yet passed. At nesting time they pair off, although I have seen three and sometimes four birds helping to build the nest, very often two males in full breeding plumage. This is the case with the feeding of the young birds, for two or three male birds will take part in looking for food for one nest of young ones, but I have never known more than one female to lay in any one nest. The number of eggs varies much according to the season : in dry seasons they very often only lay two eggs and sometimes only one, the general clutch is three or four ; the nest is placed in a low bush and the composition varies according to the material most easily procurable. The bird has a charming little plaintive song at nesting time. H. leuconotus. — It is very strange that all through my trips and expeditions into the interior I have never seen this bird ; if it were not that I have doubted other species I have rediscovered later on, I would wonder if this is really a good species.” Later, writing about his trip to the Gawler Ranges, he observed : “Was met with out on the salt-bush plains but is seldom if ever found on the ranges. For thirty miles round Port Augusta these little birds were very numerous, but as we worked south, parallel with Spencer’s Gulf, we lost them and M. callainus took their place. Heading north again we picked them up at the northern end of Lake Giles but not in any numbers ; an odd bird or so was met with on the north side of the Ranges on the return journey out on the salt-bush plains ; although Dr. A. M. Morgan found these 78 WHITE-WINGED WREN. little birds nesting in great numbers 300 to 400 miles east of here at this very time, we never found one nest with eggs or young.” Mr. J. W. Mellor has written me : “ This Wren has a very wide dis- tribution over the northern portions of South Australia, where I have seen it abundant in the open country about Port Augusta and Port Germein on Spencer’s Gulf shores. It loves the open blue bush and salt bush country in these dry regions, and the male is very conspicuous with his bright blue coat tipped with white on the wings. They are comparatively tame, but directly you start to stalk them, they keep flying straight away from you and, keeping well out of gun-shot, will lead you a long way and then double and fly right back to the spot they started from, where their mates are keeping to the bushes ; these little brown birds do not fly away like the bright colored males — there are several of these to each bright male in a small covey. I also found them very plentiful in the salt and blue bush country at Yunter, South Australia on the line to Broken Hill, and between there and Teehulpa Goldfields.” Some years ago Mr. Tom Carter sent me his field notes which I here include as written : “ M alums leuconotus. Having always been dubious as to whether the White-backed Wren on mainland is distinct from cyanotus, I put my notes under the latter heading, Malurus cyanotus. The White- winged Wren is the most abundant species of Malurus in the Gascoyne and North-west Cape districts, and although in your 1912 “ Reference List ” you give this species as occurring generally through West Australia, I do not think that it is ever seen in the South-west south of the Swan River, certainly not in the coastal timber areas. About Pt. Cloates and the Gascoyne, these birds were common in good seasons, feeding in the thickets, and on open flats with scattered patches of scrub. The Roly-Poly bush (Aboriginal Mallorang ) that grows quickly after summer rains in the above districts was much frequented by them, as affording good cover, and no doubt plenty of insect food. Their nests were not infrequently built inside these annual “ bushes.” The full-plumaged males are usually wild and shy as compared wibh the remainder of a family party, which are much less timid. The male birds have a very pleasant trilling song, which is often uttered during the night, perhaps at some slight alarm. They appear to breed anytime after rains ; the nest is usually not far from the ground. On December 8th, 1898, I watched a brood of young leaving a nest built in a Roly-Poly bush near Yardie Creek. August 28th, 1911. Recently fledged young were seen near Point Cloates, and a few days afterwards male birds were shot in immature plumage, that certainly seemed to be breeding, judging by enlarged sexual organs.” Since then an agreement has practically been reached, but the field notes of other writers must be interposed before reaching Carter’s final account. 79 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Thus, Milligan wrote from the Wongan Hills : “ One of the gems of the collection was Malurus leucopterus, which was, comparatively speaking, numerous on the moist, brackish, sandy tracts in the vicinity of lakes, and also on the plains. As M. pulcherrimus loves the dry stony country, so does M. leucopterus love the inland sand areas. We found it most difficult to get sight of a male, although we could frequently hear their singular ‘ reeling ’ notes. On the other hand, the females were most fearless and trusting, and could always be brought to foot with a decoy note. The broods were all out, and on many occasions I caught and examined young ones. We managed to secure two males during the trip, but neither fell to my gun, though I chased one from bush to bush at full speed and with much enthusiasm for fully half a mile. They appear to be always on the alert and at the same time very distrustful. No doubt these unenviable, but life essential, qualities have been developed and made constant by their being continually harassed by their enemies, their brilliant plumage making them conspicuous objects in the landscape. The habit of elusion has eventually become a second nature with them. Colour to this surmise is given by the fact that the females, who are sombre in colour, are quite fearless. When being chased, the male bird adopts highly intelligent tactics. Dropping into the first convenient bush at its base, he quickly passes through to the other side of it, and immediately takes wing and flies with great rapidity to the next shelter, thus interposing the quitted bush between the pursuer and pursued, with every advantage to the latter. On comparing the skins of the two male birds we secured, with some skins of the same species obtained at Day Dawn (some 200 miles farther north), the former was of a distinctly darker blue ; and on a further com- parison of both the above with the skin of a male obtained at Yule River, in the north-west, the last was much paler blue than either, and in addition was larger and had brown legs and bill instead of black ones. The difference between the Wongan bird and the Yule River bird was very marked indeed, but the Day Dawn bird helped to bridge in a slight degree the gap of difference. The female of the Yule River bird is a clear biscuit-brown with whitish under- parts, whilst the females from the other two localities named, varied from an obscure brown to greyish- brown.” Milligan then drew attention to the fact that there was some mystery about leuconotus , as two birds showed a partly white back, writing : “ As the ranges of the two species are to a great extent identical, the above forms would appear to be intermediate ones between the two species.” Then Carter and I carefully examined the whole of the birds available, to test Carter’s contention that there was only one species, and we both agreed and published a plate in the Ibis, with Carter’s remarks, which I confirmed. 80 WHITE- WINGED WREN. “ Some years ago I noticed that the bine feathers in the interscapular region in these birds were really long pendent feathers growing on the base of the back of the neck, and if these are raised by a pencil, white feathers will be observed growing beneath them, right across the back. The pendent blue feathers overlap them in triangular form and hang down over the mid-lower back. Many specimens obtained in various parts of mid-west Australia have been examined in the flesh, immediately after shooting, and all had white feathers underneath the blue, varying in amount according to the season, as these white feathers largely fall out at the moult. Much depends, too, on the making of a skin as to whether these white feathers show or not. At certain stages of the moult the pendent blue feathers may be very scanty, causing more white to show. After examining a long series from various parts of Australia, Mr. G. M. Mathews and myself are agreed that there is but one species which must stand as Hallornis cyanotus (Gould), and of which M alums leuconotus Gould is a synonym.” Whitlock then gave a fairly complete account from which I quote : “ During my travels in Western Australia I frequently met with the White- winged or Blue and White Wren. It has an extensive range. . . Generally speaking, it is an inhabitant of the hot, dry interior . . its favourite haunts are samphire flats around the shores of the vast salt lakes. In latitudes farther south it inhabits the sand plains, but the nearer the latter approach the forest country, the scarcer this Wren becomes. It approaches the coast-line the farther north its range extends, and may be found adjacent to the seashore in many parts of our north-west. With such an extended habitat it naturally shows some variation in plumage. This is most apparent in the brilliance or otherwise of the blue coloration, the brightest birds being found, according to my observations, in the hot interior, where the species is most plentiful. On the sand plains of the south-west, where it is far from common, the blue appears to be of a deeper shade, and the wdiite not so pure. Again, in the far north, amongst the spinifex, where its range must about reach its limit in that direction, the general appearance is less striking. It is smaller, has a deeper-toned plumage, and the ear-coverts do not differ much in tint from the remainder of the blue plumage. It is a hardy little bird. . Even in the driest seasons pairs are found nesting. . . At nesting time the male is generally near at hand, usually with only the female in his company, but not uncommonly two or three brown birds may be present. The female is a close sitter, and comes within a few feet of the observer when near the nest. At all times the male adult is very wary and difficult of a near approach. In old males, the bill once it attains its full coloration, is always black. Males frequently breed in the brown plumage. Full nuptial plumage, as a rule. VOL. x. 81 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA, is not attained until the third year. With regard to a supposed blue White- backed Wren ( Malurus leuconotus), there is much doubt whether it may have been a sport, or the white back has been produced by the contraction of the skin between the shoulders when the specimen was made up. I have searched in many localities for this supposed white-backed species without success.” A. J. Campbell added a note, quoting Carter’s account, and observed: “It is satisfactory to have this point so thoroughly cleared up,” and then gives some remarks about the differences between the eastern and western forms, concluding that the colours varied seasonally as well as geographically, and that “ Students will, no doubt, accept one western geographical race.” The two species cyanotus and leuconotus being commonly accepted, I separated my specimens according to traditional identification by my Australian friends and with the assistance of the British Museum authorities. When I prepared my “ Reference List ” in 1912, I was perplexed in the differentiation of the two species, but was unable to determine their exact relationship so allowed them, and named a Western subspecies of each thus : Malurus cyanotus cyanotus Gould. New South Wales, Victoria. Malurus cyanotus exsul Mathews. “ Differs from M. c. cyanotus in having the blue coloration darker above and below. Yule River, N.W. Australia.” West Australia. Malurus leuconotus leuconotus Gould. South Australia. Malurus leuconotus perplexus Mathews. “ Differs conspicuously from the typical form in the coloration of the head, which is pale turquoise-blue, whereas the type has the head purplish-blue. Day Dawn, West Australia.” West Australia. When Carter emphasized the fact that there was to him only one species, I was willing to accept that view, and carefully examining every specimen, I agreed that leuconotus was based on a made-up skin and so wre both published the news. As above noted, this is now agreed upon, but a consideration of the subspecific forms still leaves a lot of trouble. I lumped in the Austral Avian Record, allowing only Hallornis leuconotus leuconotus (Gould) and Hallornis leuconotus exsul (Mathews). Although Campbell agreed to this, it does not seem to show the facts, and H. L. White has named Malurus cyanotus diamantina 82 WHITE-WINGED WREN. from the Diamantina River, Western Queensland, as it differs from the southern and western varieties by its strikingly lighter colour — light violet-blue or cornflower-blue ; it has also much more white on the wings, extending to the secondaries. He also notes that Macgillivray records it from further north on the Cloncurry (at Sedan), and these should be compared. Campbell stated that Carnarvon birds are paler than New South Wales specimens and that therefore my diagnosis of my Yule River form is wrong, and refers to a Cossack specimen which is lighter on the head and darker below. In view of Whitlock and Lawson’s notes, there is apparently great variation geographically in the western birds, and recently Alexander has written : “ On examination of 23 adult males (from W. Australia), I find that they vary very considerably, some being quite bright blue and others dark ; moreover, most of the darkest birds are from the most south-westerly part of the range of the species, viz., the WAngan Hills and Yandanooka.” At present, then, we must still hold in suspense the absolute status of the forms and allow Hallornis leuconotus leuconotus (Gould). Interior of South Australia ; Victoria (mallee). Hallornis leuconotus cyanotus (Gould). New South Wales (range unknown). Hallornis leuconotus diamantina (H. L. White). Western Queensland. What is meant by “ light violet-blue or cornflower-blue ” is puzzling, as these two colours are not exactly the same in ordinary usage. Hallornis leuconotus wongani subsp. nov. Wong an Hills. The darkest race of this species, and apparently all the birds from the south-west are very dark. Hallornis leuconotus exsul (Mathews). Interior of North-west Australia. Of this, perplexus may be synonymous, but this is not definitely determined, so that it might be best to tentatively allow Hallornis leuconotus perplexus (Mathews). Interior of West Australia. until we can link up with the forms from Central Australia, viz., typical H. 1. leuconotus. Again, from the extreme north-west, i.e., Cossack, another race may be distinguished according to Whitlock and Campbell’s notes. As to the correct specific name when Carter and I wrote, there was a doubt, and in 83 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Garter’s paper cyanotus was used, and in mine leuconotus was accepted, but I noted the doubt. The facts are now clear. Gould described M. leuconotus and this was published on June 1st, 1865. This is included in his Handbook at the same time as he suggested cyanotus , and the Handbook was published in two volumes in December, 1865. Richmond has written me that he saw a note that the first volume was to be published on September 1st, 1865, but apparently this was not done. So that the name leuconotus has absolute priority and must be used. 84 Genus— NESOMALURUS. Nesomalurus Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pts. 2/3, p. 59, October 23rd, 1913. Type (by original designation) ... ... M alums edouardi Campbell. The characters cited at the proposition of this new genus by me read : “ Differs from Hallornis Mathews in its longer bill and stronger feet, from Ryania Mathews in its stouter bill and longer tail, and from M alums Vieillot and Leggeornis Mathews in lacking erectile ear-coverts ; the fourth primary of the wing is longest.” The recognition of this genus depends upon the value of structural characters as opposed to colour values. From the point of view of colour, it is the island representative of Hallornis leuconotus, and agrees as most isolated island forms do in showing modification with regard to flight ; thus, the wings decrease in power, while the legs increase and generally simultaneously the bill becomes more powerful, more adapted to picking up ground-living insects, etc. I wrote : “ The subject of the Dark Blue Wrens is more complex than at first appears. While it may be quite true that the Dirk Hartog and Barrow Island Wrens are simply melanistic products of Hallornis, we cannot jump to this conclusion without considering the New Guinea so-called Malurus and Todopsis. The latter genus was proposed for large birds of Malurus ( cyaneus ) coloration, and has since been regularly recognised even by genus lumpers. Under Malurus has been classed a New Guinea species of similar coloration to the Dirk Hartog species, but com- parison shows it to have had an entirely different origin to that suggested for the latter. The New Guinea species Malurus alboscapulatus Meyer has a much longer, broader bill, recalling the formation of the bill of the New Guinea Todopsis, and quite different from the Dirk Hartog Island birds’ bill, it also has a different wing formula and a noticeably short, square tail. It is obviously not a Malurus, even in a broad sense,” and I generic ally named it Devisornis, adding : “ WTiether it should be associated with Todopsis or not may be debated, but the close relationship of Todopsis to Malurus seems indubitable from colour values alone. In recent classifications they have been very widely divorced, but I think this is quite unnatural. If it be proven that they have no close alliance, then we cannot hypothesize upon the new alliance of the Dirk Hartog form and the mainland Hallornis, but must await anatomical investigation.” 85 Order PASSERIFORMES No. 556. Family SYLVIIDM. NESOMALURUS LEUCOPTERUS. BLACK AND WHITE WHEN. (Plate 461, Right hand figures.) Malurus LEUCOPTERUS Dumont, Diet. Sci. Nat. (Levrault), Vol. XXX., p. 118, May 29th, 1824, based on Q.uoy and Gaimard, pi. 23, f . 1 : Dirk Hartog Island, Shark’s Bay, West Australia. Malurus leucopterus Dumont, Diet. Sci. Nat. (Levrault), Vol. XXX., p. 118, May 29th, 1824 ; Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. de l’Uranie et Physicienne Zool., p. 108, pi. 23, f. 1, Sept. 18th, 1824; Campbell, Emu, Vol. I., pp. 26-65, pi. vl, Oct. 1901, Jan. 1902; North, Rec. Austr. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 209, Jan. 6th, 1902 ; Campbell, Emu, Vol. XIX., p. 1, pi. 1, 1919 ; Whitlock, ib., Vol. XX., p. 180, 1921. Amytis leucopterus Lesson, Traite d’Orn., p. 454, 1831. Malurus edouardi Campbell, Victorian Naturalist, Vol. XVII., p. 203, Eeb. 7th, 1901 : Barrow Island, West Australia; id., Emu, Vol. I., p. 26, Oct. 1901; id., ib., p. 65, pi. vl, Jan. 1902; North, Rec. Austr. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 210, Jan. 1902; Hall, Key Birds Austr., 2nd ed., p. 115, 1906 ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 79, 1908 ; Whitlock, Emu, Vol. XVIH., p. 248, pi. xxxrx., 1919 ; Campbell, ib., Vol. XIX., p. 1, pi. 1, 1919. Malurus leucopterus leucopterus Mathews, Nov. Zook, Vol. XVIII., p. 362, 1912 : Alexander, Emu, Vol. XIX., p. 138, 1919. Malurus leucopterus edouardi Mathews, Nov. Zook, Vol. XVIII., p. 362, 1912 ; Whitlock, Emu, Vol. XVII., p. 175, 1918; H. L. White, ib., Vol. XVIII., p. 127, 1918; Alexander, ib., Vol. XIX., p. 138, 1919. N esomalurus leucopterus leucopterus Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 229, 1913 ; id., Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., p. 79 et seq., ph 3, 1917 ; Carter, Ibis, 1917, p. 593 ; id., Emu, Vol. XVIII., p. 139, 1918. Nesomalurus leucopterus edouardi Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 229, 1913. Distribution. Dirk Hartog Island, Shark’s Bay, West Australia ; and Barrow Island, Dampier Archipelago, West Australia. Adult male. Top of head, back, upper tail-coverts, outer upper wing-coverts, sides of face, throat and entire under-surface, including the under wing-coverts, glossy- black with steel-blue reflections on the crown of the head ; a tuft of white feathers on each side of the breast ; inner upper wing-coverts, scapulars, upper-back, and innermost secondary- quills pure white, the white on the upper back is almost covered 86 BLACK AND WHITE WREN. by the elongated black feathers of the mantle ; flight-quills hair-brown both above and below ; tail dark blue with dark obsolete cross bars, lower aspect similar. Bill black, eyes dark hazel, legs brownish-purple, feet darker. Total length 112 mm. ; culmen 9, wing 44, tail 55, tarsus 19. Figured. Collected on Dirk Hartog Island, West Australia, on the 30th of September, 1916. Adult female. General colour of the upper-surface cinnamon-brown, including the top of the head, back, and wings ; flight-quills hair-brown, both above and below, becoming darker on the innermost secondaries ; tail pale faded-blue, with dark obsolete cross-bars, and whitish margins to some of the feathers ; rictal bristles black ; sides of face and sides of body similar to the back ; lower flanks, thighs, and under tail-coverts paler and inclining to buff like the under wing-coverts ; throat, breast, and abdomen, whitish with blackish bases to the feathers ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface, except that the shafts of the feathers are paler and inclining to white. Bill pale reddish, eyes dark hazel, feet and legs purplish-flesh. Total length 118 mm. ; culmen 9, wing 44, tail 61, tarsus 19. Figured. Collected on Dirk Hartog Island, West Australia, on the 9th of October, 1916. Immature males. Besemble the females, but have blackish bills. Nest. “ Domed, with side entrance near the top. Constructed of very fine dried grass matted together with spiders’ web, cocoons and small pieces of wool, lined with pieces of fine grass, cocoons and wool. 5 inches long by 2f wide.” (White.) Eggs. “ Clutch, three to four. White, marked all over, but particularly at the larger end, with small dots and splashes of pale reddish-brown, sometimes forming a zone at the larger end. 15 mm. by 10 mm.” ( ib .) Breeding-season. August, Barrow Island ; June to September, Dirk Hartog Island. (Whitlock.) Two anomalies stand out during the preparation of an Avifaunal account such as the present : the lack of life histories of common birds accompanied by complex technical nomenclature, and full accounts of very rare ones. To the latter class must be added the present species. As the history is now fairly well known, it will only be briefly here related. When the “ Uranie ” and “ Physicienne,” two French exploring vessels, were in Australian waters, the two surgeon naturalists, Quoy and Gaiinard, enthusiastically made huge collections in every branch of Natural History, and many of their discoveries were lost to science through the fact of the local distribution of the forms. Yet the names proposed by these workers became associated with other species from varied causes. In the present instance, on an isolated little island, they discovered some strange new little birds, of which paintings were made and the specimens preserved, but, owing to an accident, the latter were lost. The paintings, however, were published and the birds described and named. Similar birds were found in Australia later, and the earliest names were used. Gould used the one we are now dealing with, M alums leucopterus , but apparently referring to the painting, observed the discrepancy, but did not read the history, as he stated the type was not to be 87 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. found in the museum, so he could not make actual comparison. It is a peculiar fact that no one seemed to think that the bird might have a local distribution, and so the matter remained for nearly eighty years. It was brought prominently into notice by the discovery on Barrow Island, off Mid-west Australia, of a “ black and white ” Malurus , which Campbell described as a new species with the name Malurus edouardi. North claims to have recognised that this was the lost Malurus leucopterus and published a note in the Records Austr. Mus., Vol. IV., January 6th, 1902, noting the facts and giving a footnote : “ The above note was sent last July to Melbourne for publication in the Victorian Naturalist, but was temporarily withdrawn, pending an application to the Western Australian Museum, Perth, for the loan of the type (of Malurus edouardi)” In the first number of the Emu, published in October, 1901, A. J. C. gave a note that he had also been induced to refer to Quoy and Gaimard’s figure, and was inclined to the opinion that his species was similar, but pointing out that the two islands concerned, Barrow Island, whence M. edouardi was sent, and Dirk Hartog Island, the original locality from which Malurus leucopterus was described, were about 500 miles apart. In the second number of the same Journal, Campbell added a plate showing the Barrow Island bird as stuffed, and a copy of Quoy and Gaimard’s figure and a translation of their account : “ This bird comes from the same place as the previous one. We only met with it on the Island of Dirk Hartog, living among the traquets, which it seemed to us to resemble in its habits. It is shown with natural splendour in the sketch which M. Arago made of it at that time. Its whole head, neck, belly, and the upper part of the back are so dark a blue as to appear black, the wings are white on the upper part and brownish at their extremities. Perhaps the latter colour depends on the age, and is not that which ought always to be there. The beak is black and the claws are brown. Total length, 3 inches 4 lines, or thereabouts.” In the succeeding number editorial comment on North’s essay is very antagonistic, reading : “ Reference to the photographs will show that there are marked points of distinction . . and that it requires some imagination to regard them as identical . . Is it not, therefore, extremely probable that Mr. North has been somehow led astray ? Possibly not having the birds themselves to examine has been a cause of error, and, when specimens of both are before him, he will possibly reconsider his present decision.” In view of A. J. C.’s first note such comment was, to say the least, decidedly ungenerous. The matter then remained in abeyance for a dozen years, when Mr. Tom Carter, at my instigation, undertook the exploration of Dirk Hartog Island, 88 BLACK AND WHITE WREN. and solved the first problem, the existence and exact appearance of Quoy and Gaimard’s Malurus leucopterus. In the Austral. Avian Record , Vol. III., p. 79, 1917, I gave a fairly complete account of this important item, and I then recorded that, as was the custom at that time, Quoy and Gaimard had allowed a more famous naturalist, Dumont, to include the species in the articles he was writing in the Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles , then in course of publication. The plates for the voyage had been prepared and were quoted by Dumont, although not at that time published. Dumont’s article was then published three months before the part of the voyage in which the birds were named, and consequently the first reference must be to Dumont. I published a short field note taken from Carter’s MS., which I here reproduce : 44 This Black and White Wren was one of the commonest species on Dirk Hartog Island, but the full-plumaged males were, almost invariably, exceedingly wild, while the females and immature males were tame, and could always be 4 chirped ’ close up, often to within a distance of three feet, and would remain there as long as one kept still. If an adult male is come upon suddenly, say, by one’s going quickly round a bush, it may remain motionless for a few seconds. It then flies quickly, and if followed it keeps taking longer flights every time it is approached, and eventually is lost to sight. Once, on open ground, I came upon a full-plumaged male perched on a dry stick about three feet off the ground. There was no cover for me to take and I had to approach it openly, and it remained motionless until I got close up. It was no use to try and 4 chirp ’ up male birds, but at times, when a party of females and immatures were intently watching me and listening to my 4 chirping,’ the male was seen lurking in the dense foliage of a neighbouring bush, but would not openly expose itself. The full-plumaged male, as a rule, is accompanied by a party of six to ten females and immatures, and leads them away out of danger at high speed, necessitating running to keep them in sight. One or two of the birds keep dropping out of sight, and eventually one finds that the whole party has vanished in the scrub. The note (song) is a similar musical trilling to that of Mai. leuconotus, but it is not uttered nearly as frequently. This species usually runs on the ground at great speed, occasion- ally hops ; they are very skilful in flying perpendicularly in the air, from a bush, and catching small insects on the wing. It apparently breeds in September, as a quite recently fledged young bird was noted on October 9th, and many of various sizes about October 18th. None of this species were seen or obtained by me on the mainland, where the dividing arm of the sea is barely one mile in width, but was replaced by Malurus leuconotus, which was fairly common.” Carter’s complete field notes were later published in the Ibis, 1917, p. 593, et seq., and I note the following additional items of interest : 44 On October 26th VOL. X. 89 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. a non-breeding male was shot, which was assuming the full plumage. In this species, as in Malurus splendens , Leggeornus lamberti occidentalism and Hallornis cyanotus , the brilliant colouring appears at the base of the feathers first, below the outer plumage of loose open texture. This plumage of loose texture seems to wear away, or fall off, as the coloured plumage grows up from below. After October 26th, most of the males began to moult, their white scapulars seeming to fall out first. Some immature males beginning to assume full plumage, were noted on or about October 10th. Two or three of the adult males obtained had small patches of ultramarine-blue feathers amid the black of the chest and throat. Occasionally an adult male w^as seen with small tufts of pure white feathers amid the body plumage. From the above- mentioned patches of blue colour it may be assumed that ages ago, before Dirk Hartog became separated from the mainland, this species was identical with the then existing type of mainland birds. Skins of adult males from Dirk Hartog compared with skins from Barrow Island in the Perth Museum, are darker in general colour and have tails of richer blue ; but, as it is fifteen years since the Museum birds wTere mounted, they have probably faded. M . edouardi has the wings 5 mm. longer than M . leucopterus, but the latter has the larger bill.” I had remarked : “I have compared a Dirk Hartog specimen with a Barrow Island bird and note the following differences : The former has a distinctly stouter bill, recalling the original figure, which appears to have exaggerated that feature to call attention to it ; the white markings on the scapulars extend on to the secondaries, which are pure white, while in the latter they are brownish with white edgings ; the wing in the Barrow Island form is noticeably longer. As no series are available, these characters may not be constant, but as Campbell emphasized, the localities are five hundred miles apart and consequently the forms must, for the present, be regarded as subspecifically separable. For these dark Blue Wrens I proposed the new generic name N esomalurus, but Mr. Carter suggests that as the Dirk Hartog form is replaced by the blue and white species on the mainland, and as in habits, note, etc., it is essentially identical, it may simply be an island evolution of the blue and white form.” Upon publication of these results Mr. H. L. White commissioned F. L. Whitlock to explore Barrow Island and Dirk Hartog Island for the nests and eggs of this and other rare species, and from his reports I quote the following : “I observed a party of small birds fly from the spinifex . . they looked very brown. . . I watched them quietly without seeing any signs of a male in nuptial plumage, and an hour’s subsequent search through- out the neighbourhood failed to discover one. I came to the conclusion that this 90 BLACK AND WHITE WREN. party was led by a male which had not yet acquired nuptial plumage. I have often found the same state of things prevailing with parties of the common blue White-winged Wren. According to my observations, it is not until the third season that males amongst the Maluri assume full nuptial plumage, though exceptional cases of early hatched males assuming a partial nuptial garb late in the following season undoubtedly occur. Later (November 5th) I procured a male in change. This is a late date for such an occurrence and bears out my contention as above. Males in brown plumage, too, undoubtedly pair with adult females, and become the parent of a brood of young. My first im- pressions of Malurus edouardi pointed to the fact of its being the smallest of the genus I had hitherto met with. Compared with its nearest congener, Malurus cyanotus, it seemed less robust in build, had a shorter tail, and rather a feeble voice. The trill notes are similar to those of the blue White-winged Wren, but not so sustained or frequently uttered. The brown males and females and immature birds I found by no means timid, and, if 4 chirped ’ to, would come out of cover and allow of observations at a distance of a few feet. . . On Barrow Island this Wren can hardly be called rare, but it is distinctly local. My regular beat consisted of about six miles of coastal country to a distance inland of half-a-mile. The Wrens frequented only certain portions of this tract, but I have no doubt similar localities all around the island would be equally favoured. No land birds breeding on the island during my visit, and no birds I dissected appeared to be less than six months old. The latter fact points to birds having bred immediately after the heavy rains the second week in March of last year. In sailing to and from Barrow Island I landed on several other islands of the Dampier Archipelago, the majority being much nearer to the mainland (Barrow Island is distant about thirty miles), but though I kept a very sharp lookout, I could discover no species of Wren on any of them. But I observed a blue and white Wren with a party of brown birds near Cossack, and on my return from Barrow Island I secured a specimen, as well as a brown bird accompanying him . . .” Whitlock returned the next year and found the nests and eggs which he has described in detail, but did not write much more about their habits, probably because there was nothing remarkable to write about. He later published his account of the Dirk Hartog birds, writing : “ It is a common bird, I am glad to say, and despite the number of cats living a bush life on the island, it is holding its own. Its numbers in relation to those of its congeners, Malurus assimilis, I estimate at twenty to one, even allowing for the more silent and secretive habits of the latter. Though it has its preferences, I visited no part of Dirk Hartog where it was not present. When I state that I frequently saw a male sitting on a fence just outside the wool -shed door, and that I photographed a nest which 91 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. had contained a brood of young within a very short distance of the homestead, and found another nest containing eggs not a quarter of a mile away, its familiarity will be at once apparent.. Again, I climbed nearly to the highest point of the ridge traversing the island, known as Herald Heights (600 feet), and found pairs or parties of Pied Wrens right up to the summit. During the breeding season the male, in nuptial dress, is not difficult of approach, and on numerous occasions I have watched him at a distance of a few feet. The females and immature birds will almost come to one’s feet if called up and the observer stands quite motionless. The nuptial male, however, is more silent than males in brown plumage, and it was seldom I heard him uttering the familiar reeling notes. It is easy to distinguish the brown plumaged birds of M. leucopterus from those of M. assimilis. The latter possess hazel-brown beaks and are much more robust generally, apart from the wings and flanks being of a different tint. Call note and alarm note too are different. The breeding season, in an average year, extends from June to the end of September. Many pairs rear two broods.” As regards the taxonomic status of these two very similarly coloured birds, at present two conclusions are on record. When I drew up my “ Reference List,” with the Barrow Island specimens in view, and only the figure of the Dirk Hartog form, and the conflicting views as to whether they were identical or distinct, I pursued the middle course and allowed them as subspecies without any remarks. Later, I separated the bird generically and still ranged the forms as subspecies, with the Dirk Hartog bird questioned as being extinct. The rediscovery of the latter and comparison showed slight differences, but I was unable to gauge their value. Carter with accurate field knowledge suggested their very close relationship with the mainland Blue and White Wren, thus confirming North’s opinion of many years before. Campbell wrote : “ The chief points of difference between the Barrow Island bird and that of Dirk Hartog Island are that the latter ( leucopterus ) has the darker blue tail (deep, dull, violaceous blue), corresponding with the colour of that of the Blue and White Wren ( cyanotus ) of the mainland. The tail of the former ( edouardi ) is a more greyish- violaceous blue, while the female edouardi nearly resembles the colour (fawn) of the female blue and white bird, the female leucopterus being fighter (drab). It also appears that the feathers of the lower part of the tibia of the male leucopterus are dusky grey, as in cyanotus , while the entire tibia of edouardi is black. From an examination of workable material these differences seem constant, and, there being intermediate forms of Black and White species, the two varieties may be separated on visual examination, without the assistance of attached labels.” Campbell also wrote above : “ the two island varieties are now figured together 92 BLACK AND WHITE WREN. with their mainland representative ” ; but the plate was lettered with binomials suggesting distinct species. This induced Alexander to write a note on the matter, suggesting that if it be accepted that the two dark island forms had independently evolved from the mainland one, they should either be treated as distinct species, or as geographical races of a single species. He refers to Whitlock’s views, whereas it was not Whitlock, but Carter who first made the suggestion, and the two forms were regarded as subspecific because there were slight differences though apparently of little value. Alexander pointed out that the coloration of the mainland Blue and White Wrens varied in depth, but that the darkest coloured came from the most south-westerly portion of the range, and that intermediate forms might be found north of Geraldton, admitting however, that typical Blue and White Wrens were found on the Edel Land Peninsula, while Whitlock also found them on the mainland at Cossack, though suggesting some brown birds were referable to the Black and White species. Alexander then stated he would regard the island forms as subspecies of the mainland Blue and WThite Wren, a value negatived by the facts he had himself produced. It is probable that the two forms have independently evolved, but that is not sufficient at present to degrade them to subspecies, and the alternative would be the admission of them as distinct species, a value which while phylogenetically correct would require more proof than is at present available for its defence. Consequently the two forms distinguished cannot be definitely valued, and a conservative view would accept two subspecies, though there is so little difference to be considered ; the reference to the genus Hallornis is also under consideration, but they are undoubtedly different in many ways from Malurus. So all I can do is to admit Nesomalurus leucopterus leucopterus (Dumont). Dirk Hartog Island. and Nesomalurus leucopterus edouardi (Campbell). Barrow Island. and leave the matter until a more complete series in all stages of plumage has been studied. 93 Genus— LEGGEORNIS. Leggeornis Mathews, Austral. Av. Rec., Vol. L, pt. 5, p. 113. December 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) M alurus lamberti. Vigors and Horsfield. I wrote : “ Differs from M alurus in its heavier bill and longer wedge- shaped tail, though possessing erectile ear-coverts.” The bill is short and stout, rather strongly arched, and the culmen keeled, somewhat triangular, gradually increasing basally at the forehead, much broader than deep ; the nasal groove extends more than one-third the length of the exposed culmen, the nostrils linear and strongly operculate ; the tip is decurved sharply and posteriorly notched, a couple of nasal bristles can be seen, while there are six strong, prominent rictal bristles ; the under mandible is stout, the interramal space — broad and extending nearly one-third the length of the bill — is only scantily feathered anteriorly. The wing has the fourth, fifth and sixth primaries longest and subequal, the third a little less and equal to the seventh, while the second is equal to the tenth and the secondaries ; the first primary is about half the length of the third. The tail is long and wedge-shaped, longer than the wing. The legs are long and thin, booted anteriorly and posteriorly bilaminate, the feet small ; all the claws are small ; the outer toe and claw is equal to the inner toe and claw, but the inner claw is a little longer ; the hind toe and claw is not quite as long as the middle toe and claw. Key to the Species. Ear-coverts turquoise blue : Patch on back light turquoise blue Patch on back dark blue L. elegans. L. lamberti. Ear-coverts dark blue : Throat and chest dark blue Throat and chest black L. pulcherrimus. L. amabilis. 94 LEGGEORNIS ERE GAN S. (USX) - WmGED WREN). LEGGEORNIS LAMBERT L ( VA EUR GA TED WREN). Order PASSERIFORMES No. 557. Family SYLVIIDM. LEGGEORNIS LAMBERTI. VARIEGATED WREN. (Plate 462.) Matures lamberti Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 221, Eeb. 17th, 1827 : New South Wales. Malurus lamberti Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 221, 1827 ; Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., pt. i., pi. (8), 1837 ; id., Birds Austr., pt. m. (Vol. III., pi. 24), June 1st, 1841 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 327, 1865; Higgles, Om. Austr., pt. v., 1866; Masters, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. I., p. 53, 1876 ; Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1875, p. 589, 1876; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 184, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 292, 1879 ; Ramsay, Tab. list Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 16, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 176, 1901 ; id., Emu, Vol. III., p. 58, 1903 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 218, 1904 ; Mathews, Hand! Birds Austral., p. 78, 1908; Cleland, Emu, Vol. IX., p. 222, 1910 ; Mellor, ib., Vol. X., p. 208, 1910 ; Le Souef and Macpherson, ib., Vol. XX., p. 89, 1921. Malurus assimilis North, Victorian Naturalist, Vol. XVIII., p. 29, June 6th, 1901 : “ Gulf of Carpentaria, Western New South Wales,” etc. =Mossgiel district ; Interior of New South Wales; Hall, Emu, Vol. I., pp. 88, 91, 1902; (Anon.) Emu, Vol. II., p. 230, pi. x., 1902 ; Carter, ib., Vol. III., p. 36, 1903 ; Campbell, Emu, Vofe III., p. 58, 1903 ; Milligan, ib., Vol. IV., p. 6, 1904 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 222, 1904; Hall, Key Birds Austr., 2nd ed., p. Ill, 1906; id., Emu, Vol. VII., p. 27, 1907 ; Mathews, Hand! Birds Austral., p. 78, 1908 ; Whitlock, Emu, Vol. VIII., p. 180, 1909 (W.A.) ; Hall, ib., Vol. IX., p. 127, 1910 : Eyre Peninsula; Whitlock, ib., p. 201 (W.A.) ; Howe, ib., p. 232 (Vic.); Wilson, ib., Vol. XII., p. 35, 1912 (Vic.) ; S. A. White, ib., pp. 124, 129 ; G. F. Hill, ib., p. 249, 1913 (N.T.) ; Chandler, ib., Vol. XIII., p. 41, 1913 (Vic.) ; S. A. White, ib., p. 127, 1914; Macgillivray, ib., p. 171, 1914; Campbell, ib., Vol. XVIII., pp. 6, 259, 1918-19 ; Ashby, ib., Vol. XX., p. 134, 1921 ; Whitlock, ib., p. 182. Malurus bernieri Grant, Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club, Vol. XXIII., p. 72, May 7th, 1909: Bernier Island ; id.. Ibis, 1909, p. 676, pi. ix. : West Australia. Malurus lamberti lamberti Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 360, Jan. 31st, 1912. Malurus lamberti assimilis Mathews, ib. ; Jackson, Emu, Vol. XVIII., p. 168, 1918. 95 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Malurus lamberti master si Mathews, ib.. Vol. XVIII., p. 360, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Alexandra, Northern Territory. Malurus lamberti occidentalis Mathews, ib. : Lake Way, West Australia. Malurus lamberti mungi Mathews, ib. : Mungi, Interior North-west Australia. Malurus lamberti bernieri Mathews, ib., p. 361. Malurus lamberti morgani S. A. White, Austral Ay. Rec., Vol. I., pt. V., p. 126, Dec. 24th, 1912 : Lake Gardner, South Australia. Leggeornis lamberti Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 226, 1913. Leggeornis lamberti lamberti Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 226, 1913. Leggeornis lamberti assimilis Mathews, ib. ; S. A. White, Emu, Vol. XV., p. 160, 1916 ; id., Vol. XVI., pp. 14, 76, 1916. Leggeornis lamberti morgani Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 226, 1913. Leggeornis lamberti occidentalis Mathews, ib. ; Carter, Ibis, 1921, p. 61. Leggeornis lamberti bernieri Mathews, ib., p. 226, 1913. Leggeornis lamberti mungi Mathews, ib. ; id., South Austr. Ornith., Vol. 3, p. 174, 1918. Leggeornis lamberti mastersi Mathews, ib. Malurus lamberti dawsonianus H. L. White, Emu, Vol. XVI., p. 69, pi. xvi., Oct. 2nd, 1916 : Dawson River, Queensland. Leggeornis lamberti hartogi Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXXIX., p. 24, Nov. 30th, 1918 : Dirk Hartog Island, West Australia. Leggeornis lamberti eyrei Mellor, South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. VI., pt. I, p. 10, Jan. 1st, 1921 : Eyre’s Peninsula. Distribution. Australia ; generally more common in the interior districts. Not Tasmania. Adult male. Fore-part of head and sides of face, including the eye, turquoise-blue, becoming darker blue on the nape, sides of neck, and middle of back ; middle of crown more or less grey ; ear-coverts, hind-neck, lower back, and rump deep black like the chin, lores, rictal bristles, throat, and upper-breast ; mantle and upper back rich chestnut ; wings earth-brown, becoming hair-brown on the middle portions of the flight-quills ; upper tail-coverts and tail faded-blue, with white margins and white tips to the feathers of the latter and also obsolete cross-bars ; lower- breast and abdomen white ; flanks, thighs, under tail-coverts, and under wing- coverts pale buff ; flight-quills below hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface but differs in having white shafts to the feathers. Bill black, eyes dark brown, feet and legs very dark brown. Total length 124 mm. ; culmen 10, wing 51, tail 64, tarsus 22. Figured. Collected at Lake Way, West Australia, on the 7th of July, 1909, and is the type of Malurus lamberti occidentalis. Male immature. Crown of head, sides of face, sides of neck, hind- neck, entire back, and upper tail-coverts mouse-grey : wings similar to the back with a tinge of buff on the greater coverts and innermost secondaries ; flight- quills hair-brown, slightly paler on the outer and inner edges ; tail dark faded-blue with white tips and pale margins to the feathers ; rictal bristles black with whitish bases ; lores and short feathers around the eye whitish ; chin, throat, breast, and abdomen cream-white ; flanks, thighs, under tail-coverts, axillaries, under wing-coverts and inner margins of quills below pale buff ; under-surface of flight-quills hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface with white shafts to the feathers. Bill black, eyes dark brown, feet and legs dark brown. Total length 132 mm. ; culmen 8, 96 VARIEGATED WREN. wing 48, tail 68, tarsus 23. Figured. Collected at Day Dawn, West Australia, on the 15th of June, 1903. Adult female. Very similar to the above, but lighter, and with the bills, lores and eye-ring, dull red. f Nest. “ Dome-shaped, with entrance near the top. Outwardly it is formed of silky- white dried grasses and their flowering plant stalks, the inside being lined at the bottom with plant down. 5 inches high by 3 wide.” (North.) Eggs. Clutch, three or four, white speckled or spotted with purplish-red, more on the larger end. 17 mm. by 12. Breeding-season. September to December. Vigors and Horsfield gave no field notes when they described this species, simply stating : “ These two last birds (i.e., the present and M. cyaneus) have long been considered varieties of the same species, and have been figured as such in White’s Journal. Independently, however, of the difference between the two birds in their colours, and in the distribution of them, we may observe that the tail of the latter bird is much more graduated than that of Mai. cyaneus, while the under wing-coverts are whitish, which in Mai. cyaneus are rufous.” Gould added nothing regarding its habits. Captain S. A. White has written me : “ L. lamherti. — I have met with this bird in many localities in New South Wales and Queensland ; they seem to keep to the good rainfall belts, for I have never seen them in the dry, back country where L. 1. assimilis take their place. L. I assimilis. — I contend that this bird is found over the greater part of South Australia, and that L. 1. morgani is confined to the Gawler Ranges. To me there is no doubt that the bird found in New South Wales and Victoria is the same as the South Australian bird with the exception of those from the Gawler Ranges.” Mr. J. W. Mellor writes : “ M. assimilis is very common in the bush country where there is cover. I saw them on the plains and in the Flinders Ranges, but always in cover, from which they ‘ break,’ ever and anon, to fly across some clear space, only to enter another thicket ; they can be called out by imitating the twittering calls of the male birds, and as they are somewhat tame and inquisitive, I have called quite a little covey in this way, hopping out to me quite confidingly.” Mr. Edwin Ashby states : “ I shot a fine cock at the Palm Woods at the foot of the Blackall Range in Queensland. I have also received an immature male from further north, but I believe it is much more common further south in New South Wales.” Mr. J. W. Mellor has written me : “I have seen M. lamberti fairly plentiful in the hill country of New South Wales and also in Queensland, and I have VOL. x. 97 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. taken specimens in various localities ; at Ourimbah Creek in the Gosford District I noted them commonly, and I also saw them near Mt. Cooroy in the Blaekall Ranges, South Queensland. They keep to the thick undergrowth that fills in the spaces beneath the high trees, coming out into the tracts and clearings now and then, and hopping about in search of small insects and flies, upon which they five ; there are always several females in each covey.” Le Souef and Macpherson, writing of the birds of Sydney, which is the type locality of the species, state : “ There are a few pairs of Lambert’s Wren Warbler {M alurus lamberti ) in the parks around the harbour ; but, as they keep to the undergrowth, they are not so often seen. However, they come more often in the open in the autumn, and even overlap the domain of the Blue Wren. In March last a party were heard uttering their little trills in rather an excited way, and investigation showed that they were in a small bush scolding some- thing in the grass below. A male ‘ Blue ’ also came to see what the fuss was about, and flew into the same bush, only to be promptly chased out again by the female Lamberts, but the male Lambert ignored him. The cause of the trouble was a rat, which ran away through the bushes, and was closely followed by the birds.” This item serves to draw attention that in White’s Voyage to New South Wales this bird was figured on the same plate as the Blue Wren, as at that time the experts were not certain whether they were distinct species or only plumage changes, while Lewin painted this bird under the name of Sylvia cyanea ; and it was distinguished by Latham in MS., but was first published, as noted above, by Vigors and Horsfield. Mr. Tom Carter’s notes read : “ The Variegated Wren, though given in your 1912 4 Reference List ’ as ranging through West Australia, is restricted to the more northern parts and mid-west inland areas. In some seasons (especially after good rains) it was fairly plentiful in the Gascoyne and North- west Cape districts, right down to the coast. About Point Cloates they were to be seen in the small patches of scrub in the hollows of the coast sandhills, and in the gullies and gorges of the rugged ranges extending from there to the North-west Cape. In August and September, 1911, they were quite common about Carnarvon and Maud’s Landing, thirty-five miles south of Point Cloates, probably because rains had fallen along the coast, while drought prevailed inland. During this trip one specimen was shot on the Mrnilya River, having the centre of the back blue instead of the usual mauve tint, and the blue on the throat was much more pronounced than usual. Some male specimens were also obtained in immature plumage that were undoubtedly breeding. One family party of these birds was observed on the edge of the beach, near Carnarvon, catching small insects off the seaweed washed up, a few 98 VARIEGATED WREN. yards from the open sea. September 28th, 1911. Eledged young noted at Carnarvon.” Mr. J. P. Rogers wrote me : “ This species was first seen in the desert four miles east of Mungi, when it was seen on several occasions. The next locality was Endralla Spring, Eitzroy River, fourteen miles west of Mt. Anderson. Some years ago I collected similar birds from Mount Wynne, Eitzroy River, 100 miles inland ; from a station thirty miles from Broome on the Derby road, and from the Stewart River, 100 miles north of Derby. It is a rare bird in all the localities named in West Kimberley. These are the birds recorded by Hall in the Emu” Whitlock, writing of the Birds of the Pilbarra Goldfields, recorded: “This ( assimilis ) was the Malurus of the district, but in no instance did I find it far from the main river. In July the males were assuming full plumage, and building operations commenced at the end of the month. I saw not the slightest evidence of polygamy in the case of this species. This Malurus is double-brooded.” Carter has recorded concerning the Birds of Dirk Hartog Island and Peron Peninsula : “ Red- winged or Western Blue-breasted Wrens were common on Dirk Hartog Island and were much tamer in disposition than either Hallornis cyanotus or Nesomalurus l. leucopterus. The full-plumaged males of all three of these species are always much wilder and more wary than the females or immature males, but the adults of the species now under considera- tion are tame as compared with the others. Parties of females can always be 4 chirped ’ close up, as long as one remains quiet, and after a little patient watching, the adult male can almost invariably be seen lurking in the foliage of a bush behind the rest of his family, and if one still refrains from moving, it will most probably emerge from its shelter and approach to within two or three feet, hopping about in a very confiding way. Sometimes when I have been watching a party of females and young birds for some time, and turned to move away, I would find the adult male was close behind me. Female birds are distinguished from the immature males by having dull red beaks and lores, and a patch of the same colour round the eye. The immature males lack this red coloration and have blackish beaks, while their general colouring is darker than that of the females. Females of the Black and White Wren and of Hallornis cyanotus also lack the red lores and mark around the eye. L. 1. occidentalis is a very silent bird, and I never heard any song from those seen on Dirk Hartog, nor yet from any of the hundreds I have met with in various localities of Mid-west Australia, from Shark’s Bay to North-west Cape. It seemed as if this species was partial to feeding in the scrub close to the beach, but many family parties were also seen further inland on the island. Very small, but exceedingly active young birds wrere seen on October 13th, 1906, 99 THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. haying evidently only recently left the nest. . . Specimens from Dirk Hartog appeared to be the same as those from the Per on, but the series of skins obtained have not yet (1917) been worked out. Comparison of skins from both these localities, with skins at the Perth Museum from Bernier Island, prove the former to differ from the last named.” Whitlock added : “ Mr. Carter calls this the Western Blue-breasted Wren. Certainly, the feathers of the breast, if held in certain lights, are black, shot with blue, but the true Western Blue-breasted Wrens are M alums pulcherrimus and Malurus elegans. Viewed from any angle, the breast feathers of these two Wrens show a deep indigo tint. Mr. Carter states that he has never heard this species uttering any song. It has a few brief rattling notes and a high- pitched alarm note like that of the Grass Wren ( Amytornis textilis ) ; but I agree with him that it is generally a very silent and unobtrusive bird, though this is not due to timidity.” Macgillivray has recorded : “ This Wren Warbler was found to be fairly common throughout the Gulf country. On the 28th of March a nest was found in rather an unusual position for this bird, being placed amongst the leaves of a tea-tree at about five feet from the ground. It was composed outwardly of fine bark, strips of grass, and skeleton leaves, and fined with fine rootlets and horsehair. In Western New South Wales this species builds on or very close to the ground. Mr. M’Lennan found it frequenting the tea-tree along all the rivers from the Cloncurry to the Brook near Burke- town.” Ramsay in 1875 wrote : “ I think Rockingham Bay must be the most northern limit of this species. The New South Wales birds differ in the tint of colouring from those of South Australia, being of a more verditer blue on the head, and of a lighter tint on the back.” Masters observed that the birds from the Gulf of Carpentaria were different from New South Wales birds, and might even represent a new species. When North prepared the Australian Museum Special Catalogue, No. 1, he reviewed the specimens of Maluri in the collection, and, noting Ramsay and Master’s observations, described the bird from the Gulf of Carpentaria, Western Queensland and Western New South Wales, as a new species with the name M. assimilis as darker, more purplish throughout. It may be here interposed that in the Handlist Gen. Sp. Birds, B.M., Vol. I., p. 204, 1869, appears M. caerulei-capillus Gould, a species never described by Gould. In the British Museum Catalogue this name was synonymised with Gould’s pulcherrimus and according to the present Rules the name becomes a synonym of that and is unavailable in any other manner. The British Museum Collection still contains the specimens so catalogued by G. R. Gray, and these are four in 100 VARIEGATED WREN. number, one from “ S. Australia, Sturt,” a second from “ Australia, Sir T. Mitchell,” and two collected by Elsey, one from the Nicholson River, Gulf of Carpentaria, the other simply N. Austri. All these specimens are now labelled assimilis North, and were distinguished from lamherti under the name pulcherrimus previously, as there was no specimen of true pulcherrimus at hand for verification. The name caerulei-capillus is credited to Gould by G. R. Gray, and this authority appears on one of the Elsey specimens. The above four represent the Gouldian species, but why Gould did not describe it is a puzzle, as no mention is made of the birds in the Handbook. As a new species Grant described the form from Bernier Island under the name Malurus bernieri. In 1912, I regarded these two as subspecies only and added three more, allowing Malurus lamberti lamberti Vigors and Horsfield. New South Wales (Coastal), Queensland. Malurus lamberti assimilis North. New South Wales (Interior), South Australia. Malurus lamberti master si Mathews. “ Differs from M. lamberti assimilis in having the feathers round the eyes and the ears turquoise blue (not cobalt blue), though the head and back agree in coloration with M. 1. assimilis. Alexandra, Northern Territory.” Northern Territory. Malurus lamberti occidentalis Mathews. “ This bird is easily recognisable, as it combines the head coloration of M. 1. lamberti with the back coloration of M. 1. assimilis. Lake Way, West Australia.” West Australia. Malurus lamberti mungi Mathews. “ Differs from M. 1. occidentalis in its darker coloured head and especially the darker coloration of the ear-coverts. The female is more buff on the underside. Mungi, North-west Australia.” Interior North-west Australia. Malurus lamberti bernieri Grant. Bernier Island, West Australia. Then was described Malurus lamberti morgani S. A. White. “ Differs from M. 1. assimilis in having much darker chestnut scapulars. Lake Gairdner, South Australia,” and in my “ 1913 ” List I admitted the preceding seven subspecies, but placed them in the genus Leggeornis. 101 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Recently no fewer than three more subspecies have been named Leggeornis lamberti hartogi Mathews. Dirk Hartog Island, West Australia. Malurus lamberti dawsonianus H. L. White. Dawson River, Queensland. and Leggeornis lamberti eyrei Mellor. Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. When H. L. White added his new form he wrote : “ Differs from M. 1. assimilis in having a more robust bill, the black band at the back of the neck wider, while the blue of the head and back is of a much more purple shade, and the chestnut shoulders are considerably darker, in fact, it is as much darker than iff. 1. assimilis as that form is darker than M. 1. lamberti. In size it is slightly smaller than either of the others mentioned. Of the other subspecies mentioned by Mr. Mathews, my bird most nearly approaches M. 1. mastersi, from the Northern Territory, but is easily separable from that form by the fact that its ear-coverts are of a quite distinct shade, being more like those of iff. 1. bernieri from Western Australia.” Then A. J. Campbell made some remarks : “ The true Eastern iff. lamberti appears to be a very separate form (subspecies), while iff. assimilis is more mixed, and extends right across the inland provinces of the continent. It is a poor race or variety, that one cannot name except one knows the locality it is from. Of the assimilis type, the Dawson bird, on the east, with its larger bill, and the Bernier Island bird, on the west, with the lighter chestnut shoulders, may both be picked out. Two fine Coongan skins ( assimilis ) may be either Mathew’s mungi or occidentalism Later Campbell added, regarding the birds from Dirk Hartog Island : “I mentioned that this extreme western race may be either Mathew’s mungi or occidentals. It is now stated to be the latter. Specimens from Dirk Hartog and from the mainland do not differ ; this was also observed by Carter, and is somewhat remarkable, seeing that Bernier birds (from next island but one to Dirk Hartog) are appreciably different, the male having a very distinct diva-blue (darker on the cheeks), correctly shown in Grant’s figure (in the Ibis) ; while both male and female have darker blue tails than either Hartog or main- land birds.” Carter considered the Dirk Hartog Island birds as differing. Apparently all the subspecies named must be admitted at present and probably more will be distinguished. 102 Order PASSERIFORMES Family SYLVIIDM. No* 558. LEGGEORNIS ELEGANS. RED-WINGED WREN. (Plate 462.) Malurus elegans Gould, Birds Austr., and Adj. Isl., pt. i., pi. 2., Aug. 1837 : “ East Coast ”=errore West Australia (Swan River). Malurus elegans Gould, Birds Austr. and Adj. Isl., pt. i„ pi. n., 1837 ; id., Birds Austr., pt. in. (Vol. III., pi. 22), June 1st, 1841 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Yol. I., p. 324, 1865 ; Diggles, Orn. Austr., pt. v., 1866 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Yol. II., p. 184, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 291, 1879 ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 16, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 175, 1901 ; Milligan, Emu, Vol. II., p. 71, 1902 ; id., ib., Vol. III., p. 17, 1903 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 227, 1904; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 78, 1908; id., Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 360, 1912 ; Whitlock, Emu, Vol. X., p. 306, 1911 ; Witmer-Stone, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., p. 166, 1913 ; Orton and Sandland, Emu, Vol. XIII., p. 79, 1913 ; Le Souef, ib., Vol. XX., p. 143, 1921 ; Alexander, ib., p. 166. Leggeornis elegans Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 226, 1913. Leggeornis elegans warreni Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 3, p. 61, April 7th, 1916 : Warren River, South-west Australia. Distribution. South-west Australia (Coastal only from Albany to Perth). Adult male. Crown of head and sides of face pale turquoise-blue, including the eye, and terminating in a point on the sides of the neck, becoming darker blue on the hinder- crown and nape ; a narrow band across the mantle and a patch on the middle of the back also turquoise-blue, the feathers of the latter white at the base and black at the tips ; scapulars chestnut ; wings dark brown with slightly paler edges to the feathers ; tail dark lavender-blue, some of the feathers narrowly edged with white at the tips ; rictal bristles black ; lores, throat, breast, sides of neck, hind- neck, rump and upper tail-coverts velvety-black ; abdomen and flanks buffy- white, becoming dusky on the thighs and under tail-coverts ; under wingrco verts cinnamon-buff like the inner margins of the quills below, remainder of quill-lining dark hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface. Bill black, eyes hazel, feet dark purplish-flesh. Total length 153 mm. ; culrnen 9, wing 53, tail 81, tarsus 24. Figured. Collected at Albany, South-west Australia, on the 12th of January, 1909. 103 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Immature male. Crown of head dusky-brown with a tinge of lead-grey, becoming paler on the base of the forehead and sides of face ; back smoke-brown, the bases of the feathers dark lead-grey ; upper tail-coverts ochreous with buffy-white bases to the feathers ; wings, for the most part, dark chestnut ; bastard-wing, primary- coverts, and flight-quills blackish-brown, with pale margins to the outer and inner webs of. the last, some of the primary-quills of one wing marked with smoke-brown on the inner webs near the tips ; tail dark lavender-blue with obsolete cross-bars, some of the feathers have pale narrow edgings and others more or less marked with smoke-brown ; lores and rictal bristles black ; throat and breast greyish-white inclining to pure white on the breast and abdomen ; sides of body ochreous-brown ; thighs dusky ; under tail-coverts buff at the base becoming darker at the tips ; under wing-coverts and inner margins of quills below cinnamon-buff, remainder of quill lining dark brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface. Bill black, eyes dark brown, feet and legs deep hazel-brown. Total length 155 mm. ; culmen 9, wing 53, tail 87, tarsus 28. Figured. Collected at Wilson’s Inlet, South- west Australia, on the 8th of May, 1909. Adult female. Similar to the above, but with bill and lores buff. Nest. Dome-shaped, with entrance near the top, composed of grass and lined with feathers. 4 to 5 inches long by 3 to 4 wide. Eggs. Clutch, three to five. Pinkish-white, with small marks of reddish-brown, all over, but more at the larger end. 15 mm by 12. This bird was beautifully figured as a new species in the first number of the Birds of Australia and the Adjacent Islands, as from “ East Coast Australia.” After this had appeared, Gould conceived the idea of going to Australia and dropped the publication. When he recommenced the work after his return he ordered the destruction of the parts (only two in a number), replacing them with two others later. He then wrote : “ It is an inhabitant of the western coast of Australia ; all the specimens I possess were collected at Swan River, where it is tolerably abundant. . . The males are subject to the same law relative to the seasonal change of plumage as the Malurus cyaneus and the other members of the genus. The gay nuptial costume of these birds renders them conspicuously different from the Prinice of India, to which they have otherwise a seeming alliance.” Mr. Tom Carter has written me : “ The Red-winged Wren is given in your 1912 ‘ Reference List 5 as occurring throughout West Australia. My own experience is, that its chief habitats are the swampy coastal districts of the south-western corner, where they have been noted as fairly common from Albany round to the Vasse River, also about forty miles up the Blackwood River. They seem particularly partial to the neighbourhood of swampy ground, and the extra dense vegetation and scrub prevailing in such situations. By remaining quietly in such places, one seldom has to wait long before a small party of these birds pass along. They travel rather quickly when feeding, and the full-plumaged males are shy.” 104 RED-WINGED WREN. Whitlock’s account may be here transcribed to draw attention : “ Mr. Milligan records that he shot a beautiful male when a fourth of the way up Mount Toolbrunup. I did not reach as far east as this, but I consider it much to be regretted that this specimen, and also other equally interesting ones, were lost, owing to an accident to a pickle tank. I think it very probable that a careful examination and comparison with the south coast form would have revealed differences in plumage due to climate, as I have never found the coastal bird in other than low wet situations. It breeds on my own ground, but so closely does it hug the swamps that I have never seen it on the adj acent jarrah hills, despite the fact that the latter are clothed with plenty of low growing scrub.” Alexander has written regarding the Birds of Perth : “ Resident. Formerly occurred and nested near Herdsman’s Lake, but does not now appear to be found in the immediate neighbourhood of Perth. It is doubtless still found on the borders of some of the remoter swamps ; it occurs at Gingin, in the north of the district.” It will be seen that there is not much on record regarding this species, mainly due to its restricted range, where even there it does not seem to be common. I recently distinguished the Warren River birds on account of the darker coloration of the females, and we may admit Leggeornis elegans elegans (Gould). South-west Australia (Perth District). Leggeornis elegans warreni Mathews. South-west Australia (Warren River District;. \\ VOL. X. 105 Order PASSERIFORMES No. 559. Family SYLVIIDM. LEGGEORNIS AMABILIS. LOYELY WREJN. (Plate 463, bottom figures.) Malurus AMABILIS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1850, p. 277 (after Jan.), 1852 : Cape York, Queensland. Malurus amabilis Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1850, p. 277, 1852 ; id., Birds Austr. Suppl., pt. 2 (pi. 21), Sept. 1st, 1855 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 328, 1865; Masters, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Yol. I., p. 52, 1876 ; Ramsay, ib., Vol. II., p. 184, 1878; id., Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1875, p. 589; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 293, 1879 ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; I)e Vis, Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensland, Vol. VI., p. 236, 1890; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 16, 1899; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 176, 1901 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 225, 1904 ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 78, 1908 ; Broadbent, Emu, Vol. X., p. 237, 1910 ; Barnard, ib., Vol. XI., p. 27, 1911 ; Macgillivray, ib., Vol. XIII., p. 172, 1914 ; Campbell and Barnard, ib., Vol. XVII., p. 28, 1917 ; Macgillivray, ib., Vol. XVII., p. 202, 1918. Malurus hypoleucus Gould, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. III., Vol. XIX., p. 369, May 1st, 1867 : Cape York, Queensland ; id., Birds Austr. Suppl., pt. 4, pi. 22, Dec. 1st, 1867 ; Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1875, p. 589. Malurus pulcherrimus (not Gould), Hartert Nov. Zool., Vol. XII., p. 223, 1905. Malurus dulcis Mathews, Bull. Brit. Omith. Club, Vol. XXI., p. 100, May 30th, 1908 : South Alligator River, Northern Territory ; id.. Emu, Vol. VIII., p. 113, pi. B, 1913 ; H. L. White, ib., Vol. X., p. 133, 1910; G. F. Hill, Emu, Vol. XII., p. 258* 1913 ; Barnard, ib., Vol. XIV., p. 45, 1914 ; H. L. White, ib., p. 157, 1915 ; id., ib., Vol. XVI., p. 224, 1917. Malurus amabilis amabilis Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 361, Jan. 31st, 1912. Malurus amabilis barroni Mathews, ib : Caims, North Queensland. Malurus amabilis dulcis Mathews, ib. Malurus amabilis rogersi Mathews, ib : Napier Broome Bay, North-west Australia. Leggeornis amabilis amabilis Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 227, 1913. Leggeornis amabilis barroni Mathews, id., ib., South Austr. Ornith., Vol. 2, p. 57, 1915. Leggeornis amabilis dulcis Mathews, ib. Leggeornis amabilis rogersi Mathews, ib. Distribution. North Queensland ; Northern Territory ; North-west Australia. 106 LEGGEORNIS PULCHERRIMUS (B L, TJB-BREAS TED WREJSTj. LEGGEORNIS AMABILIS ('DO TELE WRETTJ. ' '■ - ■ . ■ ■ . ■ . t ' ■ - . ■tr.K LOVELY WREN. Adult male. Fore-part of head and sides of face, including the eye, turquoise-blue, becoming darker blue on the hinder-crown and nape ; a band across the hind-neck, rump, and upper tail-coverts velvety-black like the lores, throat, fore-neck, and breast ; interscapular region lavender-blue with whitish bases to the feathers ; scapulars and axillaries bright chestnut ; upper wing-coverts and outer aspect of flight-quills dark earth-brown, some of the innermost secondaries edged with white at the tips, inner-webs of quills hair-brown ; tail dark blue with dark obsolete cross-bars, some of the feathers margined and tinged with white ; abdomen, flanks, and under tail-coverts white with dark centres to the feathers of the last ; thighs whitish, varied with dark bases to some of the feathers ; under wing-coverts white ; under- surface of flight-quills hair-brown, slightly paler on the margins ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface. Bill black, eyes dark umber, feet greyish- black. Total length 135 mm. ; culmen 9, wing 51, tail 60, tarsus 22. Figured. Collected at Napier Broome Bay, North-west Australia, on the 13th of March, 1910, and is the type of Malurus amabilis rogersi. Adult female. General colour of the upper-surface lavender-blue, including the top of the head, sides of face, sides of neck, hind-neck, entire back, scapulars, and upper tail-coverts ; wings hair-brown ; tail dark blue tipped with white and some of the feathers have white margins ; rictal-bristles black with white bases ; base of fore-head paler than the crown of the head ; lores and short feathers encircling the eye bright chestnut ; throat, breast, abdomen, and under tail-coverts white with dark bases to the feathers ; under wing-coverts pale buff ; under-surface of flight-quills hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface. Bill light brown ; eyes dark umber, feet dark horn. Total length 137 mm. ; culmen 10, wing 50, tail 65, tarsus 21. Figured. Collected at Napier Broome Bay, North- west Australia, on the 30th of June, 1910. Immature males. Very similar to the above, but with bills black. Nest. “ Dome-shaped and similar to other members of the genus. Built of acacia leaves on the outside and grass on the inside, lined with rootlets, and above the egg- chamber lined with kangaroo fur.” (White.) Eggs. “ Clutch, three. Ground-colour delicate pinkish-white, marked all over and particularly at the larger end with small spots and minute specks of dull reddish- brown. 16 mm. by 13.” ( ib .) Breeding-season. September to October. Inasmuch as Gould had the pleasure of discovering and describing nearly all the species of Malurus sensu lato, it is only just that his opinions should be recorded, even when proved later to be slightly erroneous, as in this case : “ The officers of Her Majesty’s Surveying Ship ‘ Rattlesnake 5 so well employed their time in collecting the natural productions of the Cape York district that they added very considerably to our knowledge of the fauna of that part of the continent. A single and somewhat imperfect specimen of this bird, bearing the words 4 Cape York, 1849,’ was transmitted by the late Captain Owen Stanley to the Zoological Society of London ; and it is from this specimen that my description was taken. It is nearly allied to the Malurus elegans, but differs from the bird in its longer bill, in the deeper and more uniform blue of the cheeks and crown, in the darker colouring of the 107 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. thighs, and in the much greater extent of the white on the tips and margins of the outer tail-feathers. I feel assured the female of M. amabilis will be found to closely resemble that sex of M. cyaneus whenever it is our good fortune to have examples transmitted to us ; and that this desideratum may soon be obtained, as well as additional skins of the male, is much to be wished. When the Cape York Peninsula is closely explored, not only this, but many other interesting species will reward the collector, and the fauna will probably be found to partake of that of the adjacent island of New Guinea, as well as of forms peculiar to New South Wales.” Later, Gould described as a distinct species M. hypoleucus, which Cockerell later pointed out was only the female. It proved so different from other females of this group, that even after Cockerell had stated that this was the female only, he was doubted, and Ramsay, dealing with birds from Queensland included Malurus amabilis and M alums hypoleucus, observing : “ These birds, whether they be of the same species or not, were found together on the open grass-lands in the neighbourhood of Cardwell, in the vicinity of scrubs. It has not by any means been proved that they are male and female of the same species, as I find neither Cockerell nor Thorpe , during their trip at Cape York, ascertained the sexes of the birds they shot by dissection ; I have made particular inquiries of Mr. Thorpe on this point, and I regret to say my collector at Rockingham Bay, when he skinned my specimens, made the same mistake and went solely by plumage ; in the same locality were shot specimens of M. lamberti. It is not improbable that Mr. Gould’s Malurus hypoleucus is quite a distinct species, or perhaps the young male of M. amabilis; but from the shape of the bill, etc., I am at present inclined to believe it to be a distinct species, the fact that they associate together in troops proves nothing on this point.” Barnard recorded it as fairly plentiful at Cape York and seen in small flocks in dense scrub. Builds in small bushes close to the ground. Macgillivray added ; “ This species represents the chestnut-shouldered group at Cape York. The female, being blue, differs markedly from the females of the other Maluri. It frequents the scrubs, where it is quite common, and is rarely seen out of them, and then only when crossing from one patch of scrub to another. The largest flock noted consisted of one fully-plumaged and two immature males and four females. In the breeding-season three birds — a male and two females — and occasionally only the pair were met with. Their call note is very feeble, and can only be heard a few feet away. Nesting takes place during the wet season.” Later : “ We found Lovely Wren Warblers frequenting the undergrowth of the scrub, and also the low heathy country behind the tea-tree swamps near the Claudie. We found a 108 LOVELY WREN. deserted nest. . The cause of desertion was not far to seek, it was near a tree named by us the ‘ birdlime 5 tree. The pods of this tree fall off in bunches and exude a tenacious material like birdlime. . . A few pairs were noted on the Archer river.” After I had described and figured this species ( M . dulcis ) from the South Alligator River, Northern Territory, G. E. Hill found the nest and eggs, and these were described by H. L. White, who recorded G. E. Hill’s field notes : “ The habitat of this species, so far as my observations went, is restricted to the rocky sandstone country near the eastern side of Napier Broome Bay. September and the early part of October appears to be the general nesting season. One set of eggs was the only result of many careful searches during the latter part of October, November and December, 1909. After the nesting season these birds are generally seen in parties of from six to ten birds, the latter number being somewhat unusual. One party of ten birds contained five adult males, one moulting and four dull-plumaged birds (5th March, 1910), while another of six birds contained two adult males and four dull-plumaged birds.” G. F. Hill later found it fairly numerous at Borroloola, and H. L. White recorded : “I described a clutch of three eggs said to be those of the above species. I now wish to alter the identification, verified by Mr. G. M. Mathews, to that of Leggeornis amabilis rogersi. The skins and eggs referred to were taken by Mr. G. F. Hill in North-west Australia. Skins (again identified by Mr. Mathews) and eggs of the true Leggeornis amabilis dulcis have now been received from Mr. H. G. Barnard taken at Borroloola.” McLennan then explored the Northern Territory for Mr. H. L. White and met with this species about the King River, H. L. White recording : “ King River. Occasional parties seen in the sandstone ranges, amongst the spinifex and brush. . . Stomach, small insects and beetles.” Gould, as noted, described the female as a distinct species, and no new form was named until I distinguished as new, Malurus didcis from Arnhem Land, a form which Dr. Hartert had previously determined as M. pulcherrimus , and of which North wrote : “ With all due respects to Dr. Hartert, Malurus pulcherrimus is not found on the Alligator River, Northern Territory. The bird he refers to under this name is my M. assimilis. The true M. pulcherrimus of Gould is strictly confined to South- western Australia. M. pulcherrimus, lamberti and assimilis are all distinct species, not ‘ forms.’ ” North erred almost as much as Hartert, as the bird Hartert had under view was not assimilis any more than it was pulcherrimus. I regarded it as quite novel and remarked upon the lavender flanks and the coloration of the female. Upon preparing my “ Reference List ” I noted the resemblance to 109 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. the Cape York species, and concluded that the differ ence was only subspecific and then added two more subspecies, arranging M alums amabilis amabilis Gould. Cape York District, North Queensland. Malurus amabilis barroni Mathews. 44 Differs from M. a. amabilis in having the chestnut scapulars much darker. Cairns, North Queensland.” Cairns District, North Queensland. Malurus amabilis dulcis Mathews. Malurus amabilis rogersi Mathews. “ Much paler on the head and back than M. a. dulcis , and also lacking the lavender flanks characteristic of that form. The female is very different in coloration. Napier Broome Bay.” North-west Australia. With transference to the genus Leggeornis, these four were similarly arranged in my 1913 “ List.” Campbell and Barnard have observed : 44 These 4 beauties of the bush ’ were first observed at the rear of the township of Cardwell, and afterwards were seen, amongst the rushes of dry lagoons or in the undergrowth of forest country. There is little or no difference between the Cardwell birds and Gould’s species amabilis from Cape York — in the males, at all events ; but in specimens compared, the Cape female appears a little bluer in colour, perhaps accounted for by the different time of season when taken.” 110 Order PASSERIFORMES No. 560. Family SYLVI1DM. LEGGEORNIS PULCHERRIMUS. BLUE-BREASTED WREN. (Plate 463, two top figures.) Malurus pulcherrimus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1844, p. 106, October : West Australia=Wongan Hills. Malurus 'pulcherrimus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1844, p. 106; id.. Birds Austr., pt. xx. (Yol. III., pi. 23), Sept. 1st, 1845 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 326, 1865 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 184, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 294, 1879 ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 16, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 177, 1901 ; Milligan, Emu, Vol. III., p. 14, 1903 ; id., ib., p. 220, 1904; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 228, 1904 ; Milligan, Emu, Vol. IV., pp. 6, 152, 1904-5 ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 79, 1908 ; Carter, Emu, Vol. VTII., p. 105, 1908 ; id., Ibis, 1910, p. 653 ; Crossmann, Emu, Vol. IX., p. 88, 1909 ; Whitlock, ib., Vol. X., p. 307, 1911 ; id., ib., Vol. XI., p. 243, 1912 ; Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 361, 1912. Malurus caeruleicapillus Gray, Handl. Gen. Sp. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. I., p. 204, 186 9 before Feb. 2nd, 1870, ex Gould MS. ( nomen nudum). Malurus pulcherrimus stirlingi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 8, p. 192, March 20th, 1913 : Stirling Ranges, South-west Australia. Leggeornis pulcherrimus pulcherrimus Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 227, 1913. Leggeornis pulcherrimus stirlingi Mathews, ib. Distribution. South-west Australia only ; Wongan Hills and Stirling Ranges. Adult male. Crown of head, nape, and upper-back, cobalt-blue ; base of forehead and sides of face, including the short feathers encircling the eye, inclining to turquoise- blue ; scapulars bright chestnut encroaching more or less on the upper wing- coverts ; a band across the hind-neck, rump and upper tail-coverts velvety-black ; upper wing-coverts and flight-quills above and below hair-brown ; tail lavender- blue with obsolete cross-bars, some of the feathers tipped with white ; lores, throat, upper-breast, and sides of neck dark blue-black ; lower breast, abdomen and under tail-coverts white ; lower flanks and thighs ochreous-brown ; under wing-coverts pale cinnamon-buff ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface. Bill black, eyes deep brown, feet very dark brown. Total length 142 mm. ; culmen 9, wing 51, tail 78, tarsus 25. Figured. Collected in the Stirling Ranges, South-west Australia, on the 16th of September, 1911. Immature males. Are very like the adult females, but have the bill and lores black. Ill THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Adult female. General colour of the upper-surface mouse-brown, including the top of the head, sides of the face, hind-neck, back, upper tail-coverts and wings ; tail lavender-blue with obsolete cross-bars, some of the feathers edged with white at the tips ; lores and short feathers round the eye bright chestnut ; throat and remainder of under-surface pale grey with more or less white on the middle of the abdomen ; under wing-coverts pale cinnamon-buff ; under-surface of flight-quills hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface. Bill dark brown. Feet brown, eyes dark brown. Total length 132 mm. ; culmen 8, wing 48, tail 65, tarsus 25. Figured. Collected at Lake Kirk, West Australia, on the 28th of October, 1905. Nest. Dome-shaped, with side entrance. Eggs. Clutch, three, white, spotted with reddish-brown at the top. 16 mm. by 12. Breeding-season. September to November. It is doubtful whether this species is not the “ most beautiful ” of the genus as christened by Gould, wdio recorded : “ For a knowledge of this species I am indebted to the researches of Gilbert, who informs me that £ it appears to be exclusively confined to the thickets of the interior of Western Australia ; in habits and manners it greatly resembles the other members of the genus, but its nest is somewhat smaller than that of either of them.’ ” Mr. Tom Carter states : “ This species appears to be very local in its habitat and rarely seen. The only occasion on which it came under my notice was August 28th, 1908, when a party of five or six were seen in some scrub on a sand-plain, some miles east of Broome Hill. They were very wrild and shy of approach, but I obtained one male and two females, which were in full moult. The same locality was visited on several occasions but no more birds seen there.” Masters’ notes, published by North : “ It is an inland and by no means common species, remarkably shy, and never observed in within less than sixty miles of the coast. Those procured were frequenting the margins of belts of ‘ marlock ’ trees, which grow in patches or belts resembling mallee scrubs, and vary from five to ten feet in height.” Milligan has given a good account of the discovery of this species in the Stirling Ranges, especially dealing with the identity of the species, writing : “ Although there is not, perhaps, any doubt that the birds we secured wrere M. pulcherrimus, nevertheless there are some minor differences between them and Gould’s bird that it may be desirable to mention. In the first place, the total length of Gould’s bird is given as 5J inches, and the tail as inches. In the Stirling Range bird the total length is J of an inch greater, but the total measurements are equal, thus confirming the difference to the body length, wdiich is material. Gould’s measurements, however, are not always reliable, and as an example of such let me mention a similar inaccuracy in Gould’s recorded measurements of M. elegans. Again, Gould gives the measurements 112 BLUE-BREASTED WREN. of the bill of his bird as A of an inch. Obviously this is an error, and should read A. I think, therefore, these points of difference may be put aside. Now, on the question of colour, Gould gives the colours of the crown of the head and eye-spaces of his bird as glossy , violet blue and verditer blue respectively. In the Stirling Range bird the colours are deep violet blue with a purple tint and light cobalt respectively. Possibly and probably, on comparison, the shades of blue in each bird would prove identical, and the differences may only rest in the discrimination of the respective writers. Some other minor differences appear in the tail colours and in the purity of the white on the abdomen, but these may be regarded as trivial. Attention, however, must be directed to the fact that in each of the Stirling Range birds dingy brown feathers appear in the cap, and that the upper tail-coverts are of the same shade. Later, in the Wong an Hills, Milligan wrote : “We found pleasure in meeting one of Gilbert’s discoveries, Malurus pulcherrimus , at its scientific ‘ birthplace.’ On our first day’s outing on the hills, the first two birds shot fell to my gun, the second of which was a handsome male bird of the Wren in full nuptial plumage. We found the species very numerous in the general tracts or rock patches in and about the hills. I had ample opportunity of observing them in their native haunts, and frequently brought the little families to my feet by imitating the calls of a young bird in distress. Great rivalry appears to exist between the males in their song, and on one occasioix I found two of them in fierce combat. It would have been possible to shoot at least a dozen males without trouble, but after killing the second male I felt that I had done enough ‘ murder ’ among these charming creatures. We were too late for their nests and eggs, as all their broods were out. I caught several young birds at different times, but after examining them returned them to their parents’ care. I have now found and have recorded this species at two different places in Western Australia — the first at the Stirling Ranges in the south, the second at the Wongan Hills. These I take to be the most southern and northern limits respectively of the species, but I shall be surprised, indeed, if the species is not afterwards found at elevated rocky places between the above limits. They undoubtedly are not only lovers of stony and rocky places, but also of mountainous ones.” It is peculiar that he makes no comparison whatever this time. Some years later Whitlock went to the Stirling Ranges and recorded : “ Regarding the Blue-breasted Wren ( Malurus pulcherrimus) one wants a calm, sunny day to find it, for it is by no means vociferous, and I regard it as one of the most secretive of the whole family. The favourite haunt appeared to be some low rounded hill littered with ironstone, and clothed with a not too dense and rather low, growth of marlock or mallee, and other VOL. x. 113 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. a smaller scrubs. Naturally at the foot of the slopes of such a hill one finds a shallow creek. I found it a good plan to follow up the creek, keeping a sharp look out and having both ears open for the feeble, but high-pitched alarm note. With the aid of a little artifice in the imitation of the call note, or failing that, with a representation of the cry of a wounded bird, the female may generally be induced to show herself, and after a time, in most cases, the male ; but the latter, perhaps, being devoid of what is termed feminine ’ curiosity, soon retires again. . . M. pulcherrimus is, I believe, strictly confined to the south-west of this State ; but I hardly think it touches the coastal districts anywhere, its place being taken by M. elegans, also a dark blue-breasted bird, but easily distinguished by the very pale blue (or bluish-white) of the back. I may also state that in the brown plumage both sexes of these species are readily separable. In the adult male the beak, once it becomes black, remains black ; but in females and young males the beak of M. elegans is of a light cinnamon brown, in contrast with dark hazel brown in the case of M. pulcherrimus. Also, the loral stripe differs in the same degree, being deep chocolate in M. pulcherrimus and warm brown in M. elegans. I may add that these features in another species, found also in localities frequented by both the former, viz., M. splendens — are still lighter, the beak being cinnamon and the loral stripe of quite a pale ferru- ginous tint. But in the cases of M. pulcherrimus and M. elegans a surer guide exists in the colour of the upper parts. M. pulcherrimus has these more like M. splendens, being rather ashy in tint, whereas in M. elegans the whole of the wing is of a dull snuff colour. I also find that the throat and breast of M. elegans are much paler than in the case of M. pulcherrimus, the same tendency towards ‘ ashiness 5 being observable in the latter.” Although Milligan recorded the differences he recognised from descrip- tion, apparently he never confirmed them by actual comparison, yet they actually exist and from specimens I named Malurus pulcherrimus stirlingi. “ Differs from M. p. pulcherrimus in having the chestnut scapulars and the head much darker, and the ear-coverts lighter ; the flanks also are browner. (Type of M. pulcherrimus is from the Wongan Hills) Stirling Ranges, South-west Australia.” In my 1913 “List” I referred them to the genus Leggeornis , writing Leggeornis pulcherrimus pulcherrimus Gould. Wongan Hills, South-west Australia. Leggeornis pulcherrimus stirlingi Mathews. Stirling Ranges, South-west Australia. And apparently nothing since then has been recorded. 114 Genus — R Y A N I A . Ryania Mathews, Austral Ay. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 113, Dec. 24, 1912. Type (by original desig- nation) ... ... ... Muscicapa melanocephala Latham. Although I only stated : “ Differs from Malurus in its shorter wing and tail, and in lacking the erectile ear-coverts ” there seems to be no very close relationship between this group and the ones just preceding. The bill is short and stout, culmen a little arched and keeled, the tip little decurved and the expansion of the base comparatively less than in the preceding ; there are three weak rictal and no nasal bristles ; the linear nostrils lie in a nasal groove which is more than one-third the length of the culmen ; the under mandible comparatively stout, the interramal space small and feathered. The wing has the third and’ fourth primaries subequal and longest, the fifth and sixth a little shorter successively, the second is equal to the eighth and is a little shorter than the secondaries ; the first primary is short and less than half the second primary in length. The tail is long, but comparatively shorter and less graduated than in the preceding forms. The legs are similar and are comparatively a little stouter, but the claws are noticeably longer and less curved, especially the hind claw ; the hind toe and claw are equal in length to the middle toe and claw, but not much stouter ; while the inner and outer toes are equal and with the claw equal to the middle toe alone. 115 Order PASSERIFORMES No. 561. Family SYLVIIDJE. BYANIA MELANOCEPHALA. RED-BACKED WREN. (Plate 464.) Mtjscicapa melanocephala Latham, Index Ornith. SuppL, p. lh. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales, based on Watling painting No. 187. Muscicapa melanocephala Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. lii., 1801. Orange-rumped Ely(catcher) Latham, Gen. Synops., Suppl. II., p. 225, 1801. Sylvia dorsalis Lewin, Birds of New Holland, pi. 14, 1808 : New South Wales. Malurus melanocephalus Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 222, 1827 ; Gould, Birds Austr., pt. m., Vol. III., pi. 26, June 1st, 1841 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 333, 1865; Bamsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1875, p. 589; id., Proc. linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 184, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 296, 1879 ; Bamsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 17, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 180, 1901 ; C. A. Barnard, Emu, Vol. IV., p. 68, 1904 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 229, 1904 ; E. I). Barnard, Emu, Vol. V., p. 37, 1905 ; Mathews, Hand!. Birds Austral., p. 79, 1908; Mellor, Emu, Vol. X., p. 208, 1910; C. A. Barnard, ib., Vol. XVI., p. 235, 1917. Malarus brownii Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 223, Feb. 17th, 1827 : Thirsty Sound, South Queensland ; Gould, Birds Austr., pt. m., Vol. III., pi. 27, June 1st, 1841. Malurus cruentatus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1839, p. 143, March 1840 : North- west Coast Australia = Port Essington, Northern Territory; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 334, 1865; Bamsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 233, 1904 ; Mathews, Hand! Birds Austral., p. 79, 1908 ; id., Emu, Vol. IX., pp. 11, 61, 1909 ; Broadbent, ib., Vol. X., p. 237, 1911 (N.Q.) ; Barnard, ib., Vol. XI., p. 27, 1911 (Cape York) ; G. F. Hill, ib., Vol. XII., p. 258, 1913 (N.T.); Barnard, ib., Vol. XIII., p. 209, 1914 (N.T.) ; id., ib., Vol. XIV., p. 45, 1914 ; H. L. White, ib., Vol. XVI., p. 224, 1917 ; MacgiUivray, ib., Vol. XVH., p. 202, 1918 (N.Q.) ; Campbell, ib., Vol. XVIII., p. 184, 1919 (N.Q.) ; Harvey, ib., Vol. XIX., p. 40, 1919. Malurus dorsalis Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 296, 1879 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 17, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 179, 1901 ; k 116 H Gronvold. del Withe Kby & C° RYANIA MEL ANOCEPH AL A (RED-BACKED WRENJ. ROSIN A CORONATA (P URPL E-CRO WDfE D WR E AT). . ! RED-BACKED WREN. Hall, Emu, Vol. I., p. 89, 1902 ; Le Souef, ib., Vol. II., p. 145, 1903 ; Hall and Rogers, ib., Vol. VII., p. 140, 1908 ; Cornwall, ib., p. 175, 1908. Malurus cruentatus boweri Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Ser. II., Vol. I., 1886, p. 1100, Feb. 22nd, 1887 : Derby, North-west Australia ; id.. Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888. Malurus boweri Hall, Emu, Key Birds Austr., p. 17, 1899. Malurus melanocephalus melanocephalus Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 362, Jan. 31st, 1912. Malurus melanocephalus pyrrhonotus Mathews, ib. ; Cairns, North Queensland : id., Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., p. 60, 1912. Malurus melanocephalus cruentatus Mathews, ib. Malurus melanocephalus melvillensis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 45, April 2nd, 1912 : Melville Island, Northern Territory. Ryania melanocephala melanocephala Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 228, 1913. Ryania melanocephala pyrrhonota Mathews, ib. ; id., South Austr. Ornith., Vol. 2, p. 57, 1915. Ryania melanocephala cruentata Mathews, ib. Ryania melanocephala boweri Mathews, ib. ; id., South Austr. Ornith., Vol. 3, p. 176, 1918. Malurus ( cruentatus ) pyrrhonotus Campbell and Barnard, Emu, Vol. XVII., p. 28, 1917. Distribution. Northern Tropical Australia extending as far south as Derby on the west and reaching outside the tropics to New South Wales in the east. Adult male. Crown of the head, hind-neck, sides of neck, sides of face, throat, breast, abdomen, sides of body, thighs, under tail-coverts, and under wing-coverts deep black like the upper wing-coverts, upper tail-coverts and tail, both above and below ; flight-quills dark brown with pale edges to the outer webs, under-surface of quills similar but more uniform ; scapulars and middle of back deep orange- red with yellow bases to the feathers. Bill black, eyes brown, feet flesh. Total length 100 mm. ; culmen 9, wing 48, tail 48, tarsus 22. Figured. Collected at Cairns, North Queensland, in October, 1908. Adult female. Top of head, sides of face, sides of neck and hind-neck mouse-brown ; back, wings, and tail rust-brown ; inner webs of bastard-wing, primary-coverts, and flight- quills dark brown ; tail dark brown on the terminal portion with obsolete cross-bars, and whitish tips and pale margins to some of the feathers ; rictal-bristles black ; the short feathers in front of the eye have black hair-like tips which are bristly in texture ; throat, breast, and abdomen cream-white ; sides of body, thighs, under tail-coverts, under wing-coverts, and inner margins of quills below fawn-colour ; remainder of quill-lining hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface but rather paler. Bill light horn-colour, eyes brown ; feet light yellow-brown. Total length 117 mm. ; culmen 9, wing 45, tail 58, tarsus 20. Figured. Collected at Cairns, North Queensland, in August, 1908. Immature male. Crown of the head, sides of face, sides of neck, and hind-neck dusky- brown with black centres to the feathers ; entire back, scapulars, and upper tail- coverts bright red ; outer aspect of the wings earth-brown becoming darker on the inner-webs of the flight-quills ; tail dark brown with pale edges to the feathers ; chin, throat, breast, and abdomen white with black tips to many of the feathers ; sides of body and thighs inclining to buff ; under wing-coverts and inner margins of flight-quills pale buff ; remainder of quill-lining hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail 117 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. similar to its upper surface but rather paler. Eyes brown ; bill dark brown above, light brown below, feet brown. Collected at Inkerman, North Queensland, on the 19th of October, 1907. Nest. Dome-shaped, placed in the grass, with side entrance near the top. Composed of dried grass, and lined with finer material. 4| inches high by 4 wide. Eggs- — Clutch, three or four. White, with reddish-brown spots on the larger end. 15 mm. by 12. Breeding-season. August to February. Latham’s Orange-rumped Fly(catcher) was thus described: “The head and neck in this species are pretty full of feathers, and black; back and rump orange colour or reddish ; all the underparts of the body are white, marked with several longish streaks of black on the breast ; wings and tail brown ; the feathers of the last have the webs much separated and distinct from each other, as in the Soft-tailed Flycatcher ; legs pale brown. Inhabits New South Wales ; and is an active species, frequently carrying the tail erect, and expanding the same at the moment it springs from a branch on its prey.” As the scientific name, Latham selected Muscicapa melanocephala. The above refers to the plumage of a young bird and was probably unknown to him when Lewin gave a good painting of it in full plumage, calling it the Scarlet-backed Warbler, Sylvia dorsalis. Apparently Vigors and Horsfield neglected to refer in this instance to Lewin’ s work, as they introduced as a new species “ M alurus brownii .” This species is very nearly allied to M. melanocephalus in the general disposition of the colours. It differs, however, in the black being more intense, and covering the whole of the underparts, the tail being darker, and the size of the bird much smaller. The bill also is black, which is of a pale yellowish colour in the preceding species. It is marked by Mr. Brown, to whom the Society is indebted for the specimen, as having been obtained at the Bay of Inlets, near the inner entrance of Thirsty Sound, September, 1802. It was soon recognised that these all referred to plumage changes of the same species, but before that event occurred another complication ensued. Thus Gould described a new species from Port Essington, Northern Territory, under the name of M alurus cruentatus, and then figured it in the folio edition as M alurus brownii, correcting his error in his “ Handbook.” Gould’s notes read : “ The Black-headed Superb Warbler, which probably inhabits all the south-eastern portion of Australia, is a local species, not being generally diffused over the face of the country, like several other members of the group, but confined to grassy ravines and gullies, particularly those that lead down from the mountain ranges. I obtained several pairs of adult birds in very fine plumage in the valleys under the Liverpool Range, all of 118 RED-BACKED WREN. which I discovered among the high grasses which there abound ; but as the period of my visit was their breeding season, I never observed more than a pair together, each pair being always stationed at some distance from the other, and in such parts of the gullies as were studded with small clumps of scrubby trees. This Superb Warbler has many actions in common with the M. cyaneus, and like that species carries its tail erect ; it also frequently perches on a stem of the most prominent grasses, where it displays its richly coloured back, and poms forth its simple song. I did not succeed in finding the nest, although I knew they were breeding around me ; it was probably placed among the grasses, but was so artfully concealed as to completely baffle my research. One might suppose the greater development of feather on the back of this species to have been given it as a defence against the damp and dense grasses of the ravines, among which it usually resides ; but from the circumstances of the female not possessing this character of plumage, and the rich garb being only seasonal in the male, this supposition falls to the ground. In their winter dress the sexes very nearly resemble each other ; but the males may always be distinguished by the black colouring of the bill and tail-feathers. The young male of the year has the tail-feathers brown, like the females ; and it is a curious fact that at this age these feathers are much longer than in the adult.” Mr. Chas. Barnard has written in 1908 : “ This bird was common about Quaringe (Coomooboolaroo) before the big drought of 1902, but for the next three years not a single specimen was seen. But now a few families are about.” Mr. J. W. Mellor writes : “ This pretty black and red Wren is to be found in the Queensland scrubs, also in those of New South Wales. I noted it only in small numbers in the Blackall Ranges about Mt. Cooroy ; it seemed to keep to the long grass about the sides of cuttings and ravines. I saw them on the Tweed River in New South Wales at Tungulbum, where they kept to the moist, grassy open flats, where wire and cutting grass was growing in profusion.” Macgillivray’s notes are here quoted : “ Mr. McLennan obtained his first nest of this species at Cairns on the 1st December, 1909, where he found the birds rather plentiful. He next met with him at Sedan on 20th February, 1910, in a long Mitchell and cane-grass swamp. A male was secured in brown plumage with a crimson dorsal patch. These birds probably assume their full breeding dress in the spring, rear a brood, lose their livery, and then, with the revival of all vegetable and insect life which follows the summer rains, breed again in their ordinary brown dress. This male was found to have enlarged sexual organs. Irides blackish, bill dark brown, legs reddish- brown, The accompanying females were found to be tending a young bird 119 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. that had only recently left the nest. Another pair was found building a nest, which was afterwards deserted. At Byromine on the 10th April, Mr. McLennan was rather puzzled with these birds when he found them mated and nesting, with both male and female alike in plain brown plumage. He found two nests containing eggs and secured the pair of birds from the second one. Both were brown. Stomach contents in both, small grasshoppers and other insects. Another pair was found building and specimens were secured. The breeding male was also in plain brown dress. They were again noted at Cloncurry and on the Leichhardt, where they were very plentiful, and all brown, in June. Writing from Augustus Downs, on the Leichhardt, under date 4th July? Mr. McLennan states : “ One thing I noticed regarding these birds is that the three lots that I found breeding were three pairs only — not a male and two or three females as with other species ; but now I am finding them in small flocks.” Until after this date Mr. McLennan was of opinion that the plain brown Wren Warblers were a species apart from the other, in which the males were always brown. However, he changed his opinion at this camp, where he found these Wrens in large flocks, as many as thirty in some of them. From one of these flocks he shot two specimens, one of which had a few crimson feathers on the back and a few black ones round the eyes and on the head, showing that the birds were M. cruentatus, changing their winter plumage for the early spring breeding. At Cape York this species frequents the open pockets and is never found in the scrub. I have com- pared fully-plumaged males from Cairns, Cape York and the Gulf country, and can find little, if any, difference.” Harvey Brothers have written about Mackay birds : “ This is the only M alums found in our locality. It frequents grassy flats and open forest country, and is plentiful all over the district. Odd nests of this species, containing either eggs or young, are to be found all the year round, but the majority nest between the months of December and March. The nest is composed chiefly of grass stems and Melaleuca bark and lined with horse- hair. The male bird assists with the building, but his plain little mate does the lion’s share. He also takes part in feeding the young ones, although in one case that came under our notice the young birds were being fed by two females. When the young are very small they are fed almost ex- clusively on ‘ lacewings,’ but as they become stronger, cicadas and other large insects are preferred. The Wren is a favourite foster parent of the Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo, and is also imposed upon by the Square- tailed Cuckoo.” Mr. J. P. Rogers’ notes are here transcribed: “Derby, September 10, 1908. These birds feed very late. This evening I saw a party of these 120 0 RED-BACKED WREN. birds going to their roosting place and they were feeding as they went. When travelling late they run on the ground and do not fly. It was nearly dark and I could not distinguish the birds, but knew their call, and knew they were feeding because I could hear their bills snapping as they caught insects. These birds have a short squeaky call when feeding. Have seen one of these birds stay behind its companions when pursuing an insect ; suddenly it gave a call and listened, but got no reply ; it then got excited and flew round and then into a bush ; it then called again and listened, and repeated this several times but got no reply ; it then flew after its companions and alighted about twenty-five yards ahead of them and then called loudly; it was answered immediately and at that the bird commenced feeding again. September 16. Saw small family party with two males in full plumage. In other small lots seen there were no full-plumaged males. October 7. Saw four males in breeding plumage chasing each other round a bush ; they are very lively here now. November 10. When feeding, these birds frequent every situation. They are to be seen in tall trees, scrub, long or short grass, bare ground and dense tangle of vines, etc., on bank of Parry’s Creek. They are equally distributed over all classes of country, being found in numbers on open plains with hardly any bushes, in forest country, in the rank-grassed creek flats and the barren ranges, and seem at home everywhere. This species was very rare at Marngle Creek, but none was seen at Mungi. On my return trip the first of these birds was seen on Jegarra Creek at a point ten miles south of the Eitzroy River. I found them numerous along the banks of the Eitzroy River, usually in dense bushes or patches of cane grass . . . Melville Island, Cooper’s Camp. Nov. 20, 1911. This species is numerous and their habits the same as the birds at Derby and Wyndham. Dec. 10. Appears to be mating now. Dec. 20. 10 miles S.E. of Snake Bay. Are numerous here. Eeb. 6, 1912. Males are now in fine plumage in pairs. Ignoring the fundamental principles of species-recognition as utilised to-day, Sharpe considered that the North-western bird should bear the name dorsalis Lewin. Ramsay correctly rebuked him, writing : “ I cannot agree with Mr. Sharpe (Brit. Mus. Cat . Bds., Vol. IV., p. 297), that Lewin’s Sylvia dorsalis is identical with the present species ; Lewin’s birds came from N.S. Wales, being obtained on the Paterson River, and are undoubtedly the M alums melanocephlus, V. and H., as figured by Gould, fob Vol. III., pi. 26. The measurements also agree. Gould’s M. cruentatus is much smaller, and was obtained in N.W. Australia. I hold that M. Brownii, V. & H. (Trans. Linn Soc., Vol. XV., p. 223) may be the same as Gould’s M. cruentatus , but is certainly not Lewin’s Sylvia dorsalis. The facts are that Malurus melanoceph- alus has the back orange-red, and is found as far south as the Clarence and VOL. X. 121 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Richmond Rivers. It is stated to have been obtained on the Upper Hunter and Paterson Rivers, and extends to the Dawson River, Queensland. As we go further north and reach the Burdekin and Herbert Rivers, the birds are of a deeper tint, almost of a blood-red on the back ; this variety is found inland as far as the Norman River and Port Essington, whence I have obtained specimens ; still further west at Port Dawson and Derby the birds become deepest in colour and of a dear blood-red on the back.” He then wrote : “Among an interesting series of Red-backed Wrens, I find the skin of a young individual which has a few crimson feathers on the shoulder, back and rump ; the remainder and upper tail-coverts and flanks are fight fawn colour ; wings and tail feathers brown margined with fawn ; throat and abdomen white, the sides and adjacent flank feathers and thighs tinged with cinnabar- red, under tail-coverts fight fawn colour ; bill brown ; an ashy spot in front of the eye ; two or three of the outer tail-feathers tipped with fight fawn colour or fight brown. This may, hereafter, be proved to belong to a distinct species, and, if so, should bear the name of its discoverer, Mr. Boyer- Bower, Malurus cruentatus Boweri .” In my “ Reference List ” in 1912, I ranged the species under three subspecies, thus : Malurus melanocephalus melanocephalus Latham. New South Wales, South Queensland. Malurus melanocephalus pyrrhonotus Mathew's. “ Has the general coloration of M. m. cruentatus, but is slightly larger ; wing 44-47 mm. ; M. m. cruentatus, 38-47 mm. Cairns.” North Queensland. Malurus melanocephalus cruentatus Gould. North-west Australia. Shortly afterward I received specimens from Melville Island and I fixed the type locality of M. cruentatus as Derby, North-west Australia, and named Malurus melanocephalus melvillensis. “ Differs from M. m. cruentatus in its much deeper, darker red back. Melville Island.” Melville Island, Northern Territory. Then Witmer Stone, reviewing the types in the Philadelphia collection, wrote : “ North-west Coast, $ Port Essington=Type. All the series are labelled brownii Vig., the name used in the Birds of Australia .” Consequent upon this conclusion, I admitted in my 1913 “ List ” four subspecies using the generic name Ryania, as Piyania melanocephala melanocephala (Latham). New South Wales, South Queensland. 122 RED-BACKED WREN. Of this form Sylvia dorsalis Lewin and Malurus brownii Vigors and Horsfield must be cited as synonyms. Ryania melanocephala pyrrhonoia (Mathews). North Queensland. Ryania melanocephala crnentata (Gould). Northern Territory. I doubtfully attached to this form as a synonym my M. melanocephalus melvillensis, as no series from Port Essington was available for comparison. Ryania melanocephala boweri (Ramsay). North-west Australia. Dealing with Cardwell birds, Campbell and Barnard wrote : “ The males of this Wren Warbler were always pretty objects, with their black and red colour, as they flew before the observer. The constancy of their dark red (blood-coloured) backs separates them from the southern form, with more orange-coloured back, melanocephala. Blood-backed Wrens were observed both on the lowlands and on the tableland, and several nests were secured.” Later, criticising birds from the King River, Northern Territory, Campbell accepted the differences, but demurred at the acceptance of Port Essington as the type locality, in view of Gould’s North-west Coast of Australia. At the time Gould wrote (and practically to anyone ignorant of the usage of Australians to-day), Port Essington would be correctly ranged as in the North-west of Austr aha, and Gould’s own specimen has on the label “ North- west Coast, d Port Essington.” 123 Genus — R OSINA. Rosina Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 113. Dec. 24, 1912. Type (by original designation) Malurus coronatus Gould. This well differentiated genus was simply diagnosed thus : “ Differs from Malurus in its much longer, stouter bill with curved-over tip ; much stronger feet and the first primary longer, the second proportionately shorter.” The birds are larger, with longer wings, long wedge tail, and long legs and short feet. The bill is long, almost as long as the head, comparatively broader than that of Malurus , the culmen arched with sharply, strongly decurved tip ; the nasal groove extends more than one-third the length of the culmen, the operculum pronounced, the nasal apertures linear placed very forward in the groove ; there are no nasal bristles, but five very strong rectal bristles ; the under mandible is stout, broad at base, the interramal space extending more than one-third the length of the mandible and only partly feathered. The wing is longer and rounded ; the fourth, fifth and sixth primaries are equal and longest, the third a little shorter and equal to the eighth and equalled by the secondaries ; the second noticeably less and a little longer than the first, which is half the length of the third. The tail is very long and strongly wedge-shaped. The legs are long and stout for this group ; the feet stouter than in any of the preceding groups, the claws stouter, otherwise similarly formed. 124 Order PASSERIFORMES No. 562. Family SYLVIIDJE. EOSINA CORONATA. PURPLE-CROWNED WREN. (Plate 464.) Malurus coronatus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1857, p. 221, Jan. 12th, 1858 : Victoria River, Northern Territory. Malurus coronatus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1857, p. 221, 1858 ; id., Birds Austr. Suppl., pt. 3, pi. 20, Sept. 1st, 1859 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 329, 1865 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 184, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 295, 1879 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Ser. 2, Vol. I., p. 1089, 1887 ; Vol. II., p. 168, 1887 ; id., Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 17, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 178, 1901 ; Hall, Emu, Vol. I., p. 91, 1902 (N.W.A.) ; Kilgour, ib., Vol. IV., p. 42, 1904 (N.W.A.) ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. L, p. 233, 1904 ; Rogers, Emu, Vol. VII., p. 155, 1908 (N.W.A.) ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 79, 1908 ; id., Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 361, 1912 ; Witmer Stone, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., p. 166, 1913 ; Hill, Emu, Vol. XII., p. 258, 1913 (N.T.) ; Campbell and Kershaw, ib., p. 278 (N.T.) ; Macgilhvray, ib., Vol. XIII., p. 172, 1914 (N.T.) ; Barnard, ib., Vol. XIV., p. 45, 1914 (N.T.) ; H. L. White, ib., p. 59 (eggs) ; id., ib., Vol. XVI., p. 224, 1917. Malurus coronatus macgillivrayi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., pt. i., p. 9, Aug. 2nd, 1913 : Augustus Downs, Leichhardt River, Gulf of Carpentaria. Rosina coronata coronata Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 227, 1913 ; id., South Austr. Ornith., Vol. 3, p. 174, 1918. Rosina coronata macgillivrayi Mathews, ib., p. 228, 1913. Distribution. North-west Australia from Derby, through Northern Territory, to Leich- hardt River, West Queensland. Adult male. Crown of the head and nape bright lilac with an irregular patch of black in the middle ; back and wings pale rust-brown like the rump ; lesser upper wing- coverts ash-grey ; bastard-wing and primary-coverts dark brown with pale edges ; outer aspect of flight-quills like the back, inner webs dark brown with pale inner edges ; upper tail-coverts and tail verditer-blue with obsolete cross-bars on the latter, some of the feathers tipped with, and the outer ones margined with, white along the outer web ; lores and sides of face deep black ; rictal bristles black ; the feathers in front of the eye bristly in structure ; chin and throat cream- white ; breast, abdomen, 125 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. sides of body, thighs, under tail-coverts, and under wing-coverts pale fawn colour ; under-surface of flight-quills dark brown, slightly paler on the edges ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface. Bill black, eyes brown, legs light slate. Total length 143 mm. ; culmen 10, wing 55, tail 72, tarsus 25. Figured. Collected on Augusta Downs, Leichhardt River, Gulf of Carpentaria, North Queensland, on the 24th of June, 1910, and is the type of Malurus coronatus macgillivrayi. Male immature. Crown of the head, hind-neck, sides of neck, back, upper tail-coverts and wings burnt sienna, inner webs of flight-quills hair-brown ; tail verditer-blue, the outer feathers margined with white on the outer webs ; lores and feathers encircling the eye buffy-white ; rictal bristles black ; the feathers in front of the eye bristly in texture and blackish in colour ; throat and breast cream-white ; abdomen, sides of body, thighs, under tail-coverts, and wing-coverts fawn-colour ; under-surface of flight- quills, liair-browm with buffy-white margins ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface. Bill blackish-brown, eyes brown, legs light slate. Total length 153 mm. ; culmen 10, wing 51, tail 70, tarsus 25. Figured. Collected at Caloola, Leichhardt River, Gulf of Carpentaria, North Queensland, on the 14th of June, 1910. Adult female. Similar to the above. Nest. Eggs. Breeding-season. January to June (July to December). I am inclined to agree with Gonld when he wrote : “ Charming as are many of the smaller Australian birds, I think the present species is entitled to the palm for elegance and beauty, not only among the members of its own genus, numerous and beautiful as they really are, but among all other groups of birds yet discovered. The charm too, is considerably enhanced by the great novelty in the style of its colouring ; for in how few birds do we find the lovely lilac tint which encircles and adorns the head of this bird ; a similar tint, it is true, appears in the nape of the Bower-birds ( Chlamydoderae ) ; but I scarcely know of a third instance.” I would like to add the third instance is the Pink-eared Duck ( Malacor - hynchus membranaceus). Gould continued with a personal narrative which I have also pleasure in copying and in confirming : “ Having premised thus much respecting this new Malurus, I now come to the painful task of naming its collector ; I say painful, because the gentleman who shot and brought it to this country has fallen, like many other Australian explorers, a victim to the climate of that country, congenial to Europeans as it generally is. It will be recol- lected by all those who take an interest in scientific explorations, that Mr. Elsey accompanied A. C. Gregory, Esq., as surgeon and naturalist on “ A bulky structure, composed of strips of paper bark and blades of cane grass, lined with fine grass-roots ; the opening at the side, near the top, has a platform of grass built out under it for a distance of almost 3 inches.” (H. L. White.) “ Clutch three, pinkish-white marked all over, but principally at the larger end, with ill-defined spots and splashes of dark brownish-pink. 15-16 mm. bv 13.” (ib.) 126 PURPLE-CROWNED WREN. his great journey from the Victoria River to Moreton Bay. Soon after his return to England it became evident that he had contracted the disease called hcemoptysis, which speedily obliged him to remove to a warmer climate ; he selected one of the West Indian Islands, and, on arriving, commenced his investigations with his usual spirit, but he rapidly became worse, and science shortly had to deplore the loss of one of her most enthusiastic votaries. . . The little I saw of this gentleman impressed me with the belief that he had a true love for nature ; and, had he been spared, I feel assured he would have distinguished himself greatly in one or other branch of the natural sciences.” Gould only added : “ The M alums coronatus is an inhabitant of the countries bordering the Victoria River. Both sexes were procured, and they now form part of the collection in the British Museum.” Notwithstanding this clear statement, over fifty years afterwards it was claimed by two prominent Australian ornithologists as a “ new ” bird for the Northern Territory, and a note was given : “ A female only of the latter was obtained, which appears darker in general coloration than Gould’s figure ( Birds of Australia, Suppl. pi. 20).” They may have been misled through the fact that Rogers had found it numerous at Wyndham in the North-west, and previously on the Eitzrov River, near Derby. Hall had printed Rogers’ notes on his first acquaintance : “I showed these skins to a black boy who resides up the river. He says they are always found in the billabongs high up the Margaret River, a tributary of the Fitz- roy and about 150 miles from here. A black boy from the coast to the north of Derby did not know the species. I got the specimens in dense long grass and found them very shy. When feeding, it searches amongst dead leaves upon the ground, upon which I found it feeding. It rapidly hops and occasionally flies a few paces when feeding. It also takes insects,, like Flycatchers, upon the wing. On 7/11/00, I noticed two males and one feihale; the female securing a large grub, the duller of the males immediately followed her, and, watching his opportunity, secured one end of it. After a tug for mastery during thirty seconds, he robbed her and flew away. A few seconds later the finer-plumaged male was preening her feathers.” Bowyer-Bower’s notes read: “These birds are found in a bamboo-like growth, some times many yards from the riverside. . . They are very inquisitive, the females coming within two or three yards of one. They all have the power of raising the feathers of the crown of the head, which greatly increases the apparent size of that part. The females seem to lead the parties or families, and they are never far from the water’s edge. While moving along, they constantly utter a call 4 chirrip 5 which seems to be repeated by each 127 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. member. The number of these parties varies from five to seven. The tail is carried much like Malurus, but not so far over the back. They often take insects on the wing, but appear to live on larger ones than Ryania. The male is shy when in adult plumage, but he is truly a lovely bird, and the colours of the head show out in the light to a remarkable extent. They have no song, and the 4 chrrip ’ uttered while moving along in flocks is far stronger, and easily recognised from that of Ryania. They always select long rushes or bamboos, up the stems of which they climb with ease ; they also feed more on the wing than Ryania .” Kilgour writing of the Ord River, near Wyndham, also stated : “ Almost wherever there is water the Purple-crowned Wren ( Malurus coronatus) is to be seen. It is indeed a beautiful little creature, and has an exquisite little collection of notes.” Macgillivray has recorded : “ Mr. McLennan first met with this fine large Malurus on the Leichhardt River, 25 miles beyond Caloola Station, where it inhabited the cane-grass growing near the water’s edge. This river may be regarded as marking its eastern range. It was common in the cane-grass and pandanus along the Gregory River. Its call note is very loud, and like that of Sericornis frontalis of southern parts. When he was standing still, this bird came within 4 feet of Mr. McLennan, and showed no sign of fear.” Barnard added : “ A purple- crowned Malurus was very plentiful in the cane-grass along the river from Borroloola to the tableland divide. From a number of skins sent it was identified as above. This bird was recently discovered by Mr. W. McLennan while collecting for Dr. Mac- gillivray on the Leichhardt River. Eggs of this bird were taken by me and described by Mr. White of Belltrees. This bird was noted as the foster- parent of Cacomantis variolosus ( C . jpyrrhophanus dumetorum).','> H. L. White then described the nest and eggs, and wrote : “ the colora- tion of the crown of the full-plumaged male being of a distinct shade to that of the North-west form ; in my opinion, Mr. Mathews was justified in separating the two.” It may be here noted that although the species was first described from Northern Territory, the name is applicable to the North-west form that occurs at Wyndham, as that is faunally a part of the western Northern Territory as regards many bird forms. Ramsay recording Derby birds collected by Cairn wrote : “ Several specimens of this beautiful and rare species were obtained inland. I believe these are the first recorded since the types described by Mr. Gould were obtained,” and then added from Bo wy er - B o wer ’ s collection at the same place 128 PURPLE-CROWNED WREN. 44 Many specimens of this beautiful species were obtained during the months of September and October ; judging from some young individuals they must have been breeding as early as June. During the first year the young males resemble the females in plumage, with the exception of the ear-coverts.” Although this bird was known from the North-west and the Northern Territory, no subspecies were named until I received specimens from their furthest east point, when I proposed : M alums coronatus macgillivmyi. 44 Differs from M. c. coronatus in having a bluish-mauve crown to its head, not pinkish-mauve, and the black collar on the nape only indicated. Augustus Downs, Leichhardt River, Gulf of Carpentaria,” and in my 1913 44 List ” I used the genus Bosina allowing : Rosina coronata coronala (Gould). Northern Territory, North-west Australia. Rosina coronata macgillivrayi (Mathews). Interior of Mid-Queensland. I admit the above, but restrict R. c. coronata to Northern Territory and the adjoining parts of the North-west Australia, and separate : Rosina coronata rogersiana subsp. nov. 44 Differs from R. c. coronata (Gould) in its slightty paler coloration generally, the pinkish-mauve crown being slightly darker. Derby.” North-west Australia. VOL. X. 129 Genus— STIPITURUS. Stipiturus Lesson, Traite d’Ornith., livr. 6, p. 414, Feb. 13, 1831. Type (by monotypy) Muscicapa malachura Shaw. V ery small birds with short bills, short rounded wings, extraordinary tail of six filamentose feathers, and long legs and small feet. The bill is short and stout for the size, the culmen arched, laterally compressed with little basal expansion ; the nasal groove short, the linear nostrils placed anteriorly in the groove, strongly operculate, a few small nasal bristles not projecting over the nostrils; six rictal bristles, strong and prominent ; under mandible stout, interramal space small, less than half the length of the mandible and fully feathered. The wing is short and rounded, the first primary short, less than half the third which is less than the ninth, and just exceeds the secondaries, the second being shorter ; the fourth to eighth subequal and longest. The tail is very long, and is composed of six very long narrow feathers forming a long wedge ; the feathers showing disintegrate webbing, making the genus unique in character. The legs are long for the size of the bird and slender, the tarsus booted in front and bilaminate posteriorly ; the feet are small, the hind toe and claw longer than the middle toe and claw, the hind claw being longer ; the outer and inner toes are subequal and with the claw equal to the inner toe alone. The relationships of this peculiar little form appear to be with Cisticola, and I suggest it is descended from an ancestral Cisticoline form which reached Australia and penetrated into Tasmania, and that the recent Cisticola is a late immigrant which has extended over Australia since Tasmania was separated. It is noteworthy that Stipiturus is practically restricted to extra-tropical Australia and is found in all that area, including Tasmania. Key to the Species. Ear-coverts blue, crown of head rufous Ear-coverts brown, crown striped with dark brown ruficeps. malachurus. 130 STIPITURUS MALACHURUS (EMU- WREN). Order PASSERIFORMES Family SYLVIIDJE. No, 563. STIPITURUS MALACHURUS. EMU-WREN. (Plate 465.) Muscicapa malachura Shaw, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. IV., p. 242, May 24th, 1798 : New South Wales. Muscicapa malachura Shaw, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. IV., p. 242, 1798 ; Latham, Suppl. Index Ornith., p. 211, 1801. Motacilla fimbriata Wilkes, Encycl. Londinensis, Vol. XVI., p. 102, 1817 : based on Le Vaillant, Ois. d’Afrique, Vol. III., pi. 130, f. 2 : New South Wales, c/. Austral Av. Rec., Vol. IV., pt, 6, p. 143, 1921. Malurus palustris Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., nouv. ed., Vol. XX., p. 213, May 30th, 1818 : new name for M. malachura Shaw. Malurus gularis Stephens in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., Vol. XIII., pt. n., p. 224, Feb. 18th, 1826 : new name for M. malachura Shaw. Malurus malachurus Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 224, 1827. Stiviturus malachurus Lesson, Traite d’Orn., livr. 6, p. 415, 1831 ; Gould, Birds Austr., pt. m. (Vol. III., pi. 31), June 1st, 1841 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 339, 1865 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 184, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. VII., p. 100, 1883 ; Legge, Papers Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasm., 1886, p. 240, 1887 ; id., ib., 1887, p. 90, 1888 (Tas.) ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Keartland, Trans. Roy. Soc. South Austr., Vol. XXII., p. 176, 1898 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 23, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 214, 1901 ; Milligan, Emu, Vol. II., p. 71, 1902 (W.A.) ; id., ib., Vol. III., p. 17, 1903 (W.A.) ; Carter, ib., Vol. III., p. 39, 1903 (W.A.) ; Fletcher, ib., Vol. IV., p. 16, 1904 (Tas.) ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 242, 1904; A. G. Campbell, Emu, Vol. IV., pp. 112-146, 1905 (Vic. and Tas.) ; Batey, ib., Vol. VII., p. 6, 1907 (Vic.) ; Mathews, Hancll. Birds Austral., p. 79, 1908 ; Carter, Emu, Vol. VIII., p. 105, 1908 (W.A.) ; Campbell, ib., note ; Ingle, ib., Vol. X., p. 123, 1910 (Vic.) ; Littler, Handb. Birds Tasm., p. 31, 1910 ; Cleland, Emu, Vol. XI., p. 87, 1910 (Food.); id., ib., Vol. XII., p. 12, 1912 (Food.); Fletcher, ib., Vol. XII., p. 168, 1913 (Tas.) ; id., ib., Vol. XIII., p. 50, 1913 (Tas.) ; S. A. White, ib., Vol. XIV., p. 142, 1915 (Mallacoota, Vic.) ; Campbell, ib., p. 173, 1915 (N.Q.) ; Fletcher, ib., p. 213 (Tas.) ; Purnell, ib., Vol. XV., p. 43, 1915 (Vic.) ; 131 THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. Barrett, ib., p. 48 (Tas.) ; Fletcher, ib., Vol. XVIII., p. 98, 1918 (Tas.) ; Le Souef and Macpherson, ib., Vol. XX., p. 88, 1920 (N.S.W.). Malurus emitis Ewing, Tasm. Journ. Sci., Vol. I., p. 53, 1841 : new name for Shaw’s bird. Stipiturus mattee Campbell, Emu, Vol. VIII., pt. I., p. 34, July 1st, 1908 : Mallee, Victoria; Howe, ib., Vol. IX., p. 232, 1910 ; id., ib., Vol. X., p. 336, 1911 ; Campbell, ib., Vol. XI., p. 247, 1912 ; Wilson, Emu, Vol. XII., p. 36, 1912 ; Howe and Tregellas, ib., Vol. XIV., p. 73, 1914. Stipiturus westernensis Campbell, Vol. XI., pt. 3, p. 222, Jan. 1st, 1912 : (Ellensbrook), West Australia ; id., ib., p. 246 ; H. L. White, ib., Vol. XII., p. 46, 1912. Stipiturus malachurus malachurus Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 362, 1912 ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 229, 1913. Stipiturus malachurus mallee Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 363, 1912 ; id.. List Birds Austr., p. 229, 1913. Stipiturus malachurus littleri Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 363, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Tasmania ; id., ib., List Birds Austr., p. 229, 1913 ; Ashby, Emu, Vol. XIX., p. 303, 1920. Stipiturus malachurus rothschildi Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 363, Jan. 31st, 1912 : (Albany), West Australia. Stipiturus malachurus tregellasi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 45, April 2nd, 1912 : Frankston, Victoria ; Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 229, 1913 ; Belcher, Birds Geelong, p. 287, 1914 ; Ashby, Emu, Vol. XIX., p. 303, 1920. Stipiturus malachurus westernensis Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., p. 45, 1912 ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 229, 1913 ; Carter, Ibis, 1921, p. 62. Stipiturus malachurus hartogi Carter, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXXVII., p. 6, Oct. 24th, 1916 : Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia ; id., Ibis, 1917, p. 597, pi. xi. ; Campbell, Emu, Vol. XVIII., p. 262, 1919 ; Whitlock, ib., Vol. XX., p. 182, pi. xvm., 1921 ; H. L. White, ib., p. 187. Stipiturus malachurus media Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XL., p. 45, Dec. 8th, 1919 : Gnowangerup, South-west Australia ; Carter, Ibis, 1921, p. 62. Stipiturus malachurus halmaturina Parsons, South Austr. Ornith., Vol. V., pt. i., p. 15, Jan. 1st, 1920 ; Kangaroo Island, South Australia ; Ashby, Emu, Vol. XIX., p. 303, 1920. Stipiturus malachurus intermedium Ashby, Emu, Vol. XIX., pt. iv., p. 303, May 29th, 1920 : Mt. Compass, South Australia. Distribution. Extra-tropical Australia and Tasmania, ranging northwards in the east to Cardwell and Bellenden Ker Plains ? and in South-west Australia. Adult male. Fore-part of head dull rufous with dark centres to the feathers on the hinder- crown ; hind-neck, mantle, back, and scapulars blackish with grey or pale ferru- gineous margins to the feathers ; upper wing-coverts similar but the margins of the feathers deeper in colour ; flight-quills hair-brown slightly edged with ferru- gineous on the outer webs and more broadly margined with cinnamon on the inner ones ; upper tail-coverts similar to the back ; tail blackish-brown, the webs of the feathers narrow, disintegrated and transparent ; rictal bristles black, well developed, and directed forward ; a slightly indicated supra-loral line of pale blue, 132 EMU-WREN. which extends over the eye ; the short feathers round the eye whitish ; sides of face similar to the crown of the head with whitish shaft-lines to the feathers ; throat, cheeks, and fore-neck pale lavender-blue ; sides of neck, a band across the breast, sides of body, thighs, and under tail-coverts pale ferrugineous, remainder of breast and abdomen white ; axillaries, under wing-coverts, and inner margins of flight- quills below cinnamon, remainder of quill-lining hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail whitish at the base, the remainder similar to its upper-surface. Eyes brown, feet light horn ; bill black. Total length 170 mm. ; culmen 8, wing 43, tail 116, tarsus 20. Figured. Collected at Franketon, Victoria, on the 17th of May, 1909, and is the type of Stipiturus malachurus tregellasi. (Bottom left-hand figure.) Adult female. Crown of head and hind-neck black with olive-grey margins to the feathers, the margins becoming dark ochreous on the back and wings ; flight- quills hair- brown edged with buffy-white on the inner webs ; tail blackish, the webs disin- tegrated, and transparent ; sides of face rufous-brown minutely dotted with buffy- white ; rictal bristles black and well developed ; chin, throat, fore-neck, sides of breast, sides of body, thighs, and under tail-coverts cinnamon-rufous like the axil- laries, under wing-coverts, and inner margins of the quills below ; remainder of quill-lining hair-brown ; breast and abdomen white ; lower aspect of tail whitish at the base, the remainder blackish like its upper-surface. Eyes hazel ; feet dark yellow ; bill horn. Total length 163 mm. ; culmen 8, wing 42, tail 105, tarsus 19. Figured. Collected at Selby, Victoria, on the 25th of December, 1911. (Top right-hand figure.) Adult male. Upper-parts dusky-brown, all the feathers mesially streaked with dark brown ; quills dark brown edged with rufous-brown ; tail-feathers disintegrated, are blackish or rufous-brown ; forehead and sides of crown chestnut ; throat a supraloral streak, which is continued over the eye, and foreneck pale blue ; remainder of the under-surface, including the under wing-coverts and under tail-coverts, tawny-rufous. Total length 127 mm. ; culmen 13, wing 39, tail 83, tarsus 15. Collected at Hopetown Mallee, Victoria, in 1906, and is the type of Stipiturus mallee Campbell. Adult female. General colour above dusky greyish-brown with dark brown shaft-streaks, inclining to rufous-brown on the wing-coverts ; primary and secondary- quills uniform pale brown ; tail dark brown with black shafts, which are somewhat paler at the base ; forehead and fore-part of head inclining to dark rufous ; ear-coverts brown with white shaft-streaks ; cheeks, chin, sides of neck, and entire under- surface bright cinnamon-rufous, becoming paler and less rufous on the abdomen and under tail-coverts ; under wing-coverts and inner edges of quills also rufous ; all the feathers of the under-parts have dull black bases. Collected in the Mallee, Victoria. Adult male. Crown of the head and nape pale fulvous-brown with dark elongated centres to the feathers ; mantle, upper-back, and scapulars blackish-brown with drab- grey margins to the feathers, becoming more uniform grey on the lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts where the feathers have blackish bases ; upper wing- coverts and flight-quills dark brown, or blackish, the feathers margined with grey ; tail blackish, slightly paler on the margins of the feathers, which are transparent and disintegrated ; rictal bristles black with white bases ; sides of face, including the eye, brown with bluish- white shaft-lines to the feathers ; chin, throat, and fore-neck lavender-blue with blackish bases to some of the feathers ; sides of neck, sides of body, thighs, and under wing-coverts rufous-buff, with blackish bases to the feathers on the flanks, middle of breast, middle of abdomen, and under tail- coverts paler than the flanks and inclining to whitish, the bases of the feathers are blackish like the flanks ; under-surface of flight-quills hair-brown ; lower aspect 133 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. of tail whitish at the base, the remaining portion similar to its upper-surface. Eyes reddish ; feet and legs yellow, soles bright yellow, bill purple-horn. Total length 180 mm. , culmen 8, wing 40, tail 122, tarsus 21. Figured. Collected on Dirk Hartog Island, West Australia, on the 7th of May, 1916, and is the type of Stipiturus malachurus hartogi. (Bottom figure.) Adult female. General colour of the upper-surface drab-grey with dark brown, or blackish elongated centres to the feathers, including the top of head, back, and wings, becoming more uniform on the lower-back, and rump ; flight-quills dark hair- brown with pale edges both on the outer and inner webs ; tail dark brown, the webs of the feathers transparent and disintegrated ; rictal bristles black with white bases ; eye-ring whitish ; sides of face drab-grey with whitish shaft-streaks ; lores, throat, breast, abdomen, sides of body, under tail-coverts, and under wing-coverts pale cinnamon-buff with blackish bases to most of the feathers ; under-surface of flight-quills hair-brown ; base of tail white ; the remainder similar to its upper- surface. Eyes pale reddish ; feet brownish, legs yellow ; bill purple-horn. Total length 150 mm. ; culmen 7, wing 40, tail 100, tarsus 19. Figured. Collected on Dirk Hartog Island, West Australia, on the 28th of April, 1916. (Middle right- hand figure.) Immature female ( nearly adult). General colour of the upper-surface drab-grey with blackish centres to the feathers and dark dusky bases including the top of the head, back, and wings ; flight-quills blackish with pale margins, the innermost secondaries somewhat darker than the primaries and edged with fulvous ; upper tail-coverts pale at the tips ; tail feathers blackish ; lores whitish ; sides of face grey, more or less speckled with white ; rictal bristles black ; chin, throat, breast, sides of body, abdomen, thighs and under-tail coverts cinnamon like the under wing-coverts ; under-surface of flight-quills blackish as is also the lower aspect of the tail. Bill purple horn. Eyes hazel. Feet and legs purplish flesh. Collected at Gnowangerup, South-west Australia on February 13th, 1919. N est. Round, with side entrance, loosely put together and constructed of grass and lined with finer grass. 4 to 6 inches high by 3 wide. Eggs. Clutch three to four, white freckled or spotted all over with bright red, especially at the larger end. 17 mm. by 12. Breeding-season. August to December. General Davies gave a full account of this bird, writing : “ Having had the good fortune to procure fine specimens of the male and female of a singular bird from New South Wales which the natives of that country call the Merion Binnion or Cassowary Bird. . . All the information I have been able to procure respecting it, from Governor Philip, Colonel Nepean, and other gentlemen, who resided some years in New South Wales, is, that it is found about Sidney and Botany Bay in marshy places, abounding with long grass and fine rushes, in which it hides itself very dexterously ; that, when disturbed, its flight is very short, like that of a grasshopper ; and that it no sooner alights than it runs with such great agility that many who have been confident of their having covered birds with their hats, have, to their great surprise, seen them again take wing at no great distance, so that they are always difficult to catch. . . The natives of New South Wales give 134 EMU-WREN. the name of Merion Binnion to this bird, on account of the great resem- blance of its tail to the feathers of the Cassowary.” As Davies, though a wonderful collector, great artist and fine ornitho- logist, did not profess systematics, he allowed G. Shaw, the Keeper of Zoology of the British Museum, to give a Latin designation to this extra- ordinary species. The next note is that published by Vigors and Horsfield : ‘‘This bird” Mr. Caley observes, “ is called Emu Bird by the colonists. The native name is Wawguljelly. I have never known it called Merion Binnion , as published in the Linnean Society Transactions . The native name of an Emu is Murring. The species is an inhabitant of scrubs, which are principally composed of different kinds of Banksia , particularly where the ground is moist or inclining to be marshy. The natives tell me it may be run down. It has a small shining black eye, with a hazel-brown iris.” Gould’s notes read : “ The Emu- Wren is especially fond of low marshy districts covered with rank high grasses and rushes, where it conceals itself from view by keeping near the ground in the midst of the more dense parts of the grassbeds. Its extremely short round wings ill adapt it for flight, and this power is consequently seldom employed, the bird depending for progression upon its extraordinary capacity for running, in fact, when the grasses are wet from dew or rain, its wings are rendered perfectly unavailable. On the ground it is altogether as nimble and active, its creeping, mouse- like motions, and the extreme facility with which it turns and bounds over the surface, enabling it easily to elude pursuit, and amply compensating for the paucity of its power of flight. The tail is carried in an erect position, and is even occasionally retroverted over the back.” Ramsay later found its eggs and gave the following notes : “ The only note of the bird, besides a slight chirp when flushed and separated, \ is a slight twitter, not unlike a faint attempt to imitate the M alurus cyaneus. While in the swamp, which at the time was nearly dry, I observed several separate flocks ; of these some were hopping along the ground, picking up something here and there ; others, whose appetites seemed appeased, were creeping along through the reeds about a foot from the ground, but as the reeds thickened I soon lost sight of them. They seldom took wing, except when disturbed, and not always then, seeming very averse to showing themselves. While watching them I observed one now and then hop to the top of a tall reed as if to get a glimpse of the world above. Upon coming suddenly upon a flock and following them, they keep to the reeds just in front of you, and never take wing unless hard driven, when they separate and do not collect again for some time.” 135 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Captain S. A. White has written me : “ The only place in which I have met with this bird in South Australia is the Myponga District, between thirty and forty miles south of Adelaide. There in the thickly timbered hills, dense masses of Leptospermum and other damp-loving vegetation grow in the wet gully flats and amidst this mass of undergrowth this strange little bird is to be met with, but it is so shy and timid that many who have lived in the district for a lifetime were not aware of its presence. It was only by means of keeping within cover and calling incessantly for quite a time that I was able to procure specimens. At the slightest sound they darted like mice to cover and could not be persuaded to show themselves on the outskirts of the cover again.” Parsons wrote of the Kangaroo Island form: “We found that at the time of our visit (October, 1919) these little birds were breeding, and most of the adult birds were accompanied by their brood of three young ones, with tails varying in length from about \ inch to almost full length. Our experience of the situation these birds prefer was contrary to expectations. We did not find any birds in the cool, damp gullies, but in every instance they were encountered on the tops of dry, inhospitable flat-topped hills, covered with a low growth of ‘ bull oak,’ 4 broombush ’ and ‘ grass-tree.’ ” Mr. L. G. Chandler has written me : “ These beautiful birds were once numerous around Bayswater and Croydon. With the exception of a pair at Croydon in October, 1908, I have not seen them in that locality for years. Bush fires, I think, helped to thin their numbers, for having such weak wing power they have little chance of escape. At Frankston they are plentiful, and being of a timid disposition and inhabiting as they do the dense, rank grassed lands, one is likely to under-estimate rather than over-estimate their numbers. Walking through a tangle of grass and scrub up to the shoulders one is attracted by a few weak notes a short distance away. Presently he may catch sight of a tiny form creeping through the bushes, and though the birds be squeaking all around him, not another glimpse can be obtained of them. The open bayonet-grass country presents a better opportunity for getting into closer contact with the birds. Any swampy locality — where the bayonet-grass grows — seems to find favour in their eyes as a feeding ground. At Frankston on April 22nd, 1908, I met with them on the side of a hill, where the vegetation consisted chiefly of stunted scrub, bayonet and other grasses with bunches of small saplings interspersed. They were feeding in company with the Blue Wrens and the two families seemed on friendly terms. It is a difficult matter to flush these birds, for they seem to trust almost entirely to their powers of running and hiding before taking flight. When they rise, they endeavour to fly side on and slightly to the 136 EMU-WREN. wind, for their tail feathers w'ould upset them if they flew w'ith the breeze. They do not attempt a long flight at any time, rarely fluttering more than twenty yards. Once they have settled, it is almost impossible to flush them again. On Oct. 4th, 1908, at Erankston, in a thicket of Melaleuca and Leptos- permum, a pair of birds wrere flying around us as though a nest was concealed not far away. They would advance from stem to stem and peer curiously at us through the bushes and then retreat again, uttering weak squeaky notes. We searched the scrub well in the locality and watched the birds for a considerable time, but they did not betray the nest. Their twitter resembles slightly the song of the Blue Wren, but it is very weak in com- parison.” Mr. Edwin Ashby’s notes read : “ This active little bird was very common in swampy ground near Cranbrook, Victoria. They frequented some dense low bushes not more than three or four feet high, perhaps five or six through. The birds would fly from the top of one bush to the base of the next, only a few feet, and commence rapidly ascending the bush, and traversing it from one side to the other ; suddenly the bird would emerge out of the top on the far side, and immediately fly to the base of the next bush, and this restlessness made them difficult to shoot. It was most remarkable how they made their way with such rapidity through the very dense bushes and yet their long fragile tails were uninjured.” Mr. J. W. Mellor’s notes confirm the preceding, and he states he noted them on a sedgy flat at Ourimbah in the Gosford District in New South Wales ; he saw them just outside Launceston, Tasmania, and that formerly they were plentiful at the Reed-beds, South Australia, but that recently they have never been met with. They may exist in the swampy and grassy localities near Mount Gambier in the south-east of the State (South Australia).” \\ Mr. Frank Littler wrote me about the Tasmanian form : “ Prefers thick, scrubby tracts, with plenty of undergrowth and long grass, in which it is able to conceal itself with ease. This fact and an extreme nimbleness of foot explain the reason why it is so seldom seen. The wings are very little used ; in fact, there is hardly any need to use them, as nearly the whole of the life of the bird is passed among tangled thickets. Its food consists of insects of all descriptions, both winged and creeping. These are procured from the ground and on the limbs of the fallen trees. It rarely ascends into the trees. It backs into the nest and its tail may be seen over the bird’s back.” Miss J. A. Fletcher has published several accounts of this bird in the Emu, to which reference may be made, but I here transcribe the notes sent VOL. X. 137 THE BIRDS OP AUSTRALIA. me some time ago. Miss Fletcher wrote : “ These birds are fairly common in this district. As a general rule each pair has its own haunt about which it keeps throughout the year. I have seen as many as five together in the autumn. Probably these were the young of last season not yet driven off by the parents. The rustling noise they make among the reeds often betrays them long before their presence would otherwise be known, or their ‘ Tit-like ’ call recognised. When feeding quietly together their twittering resembles that of the Acanthizae. Their warning call also is very like that of the Tasmanian Tit, but the song of the male sounds like a feeble edition of that of the Maluri. As far as my observations have gone, I find that the Emu-Wrens are slow builders and also that the female does all the work. The male follows her as she collects and files to the nest with material, but does not assist his mate otherwise than by cheering her with a song. When flying with a piece of grass, she rolls it first into a neat bundle, and does not fly with a long piece hanging, after the manner of some birds. On reaching the swamp she drops into the centre of a tussock, slips out the other side, and continues so from clump to clump until the nesting site is reached. So far in this district these sword-grass tussocks appear to be the favourite places for their nests ... I found a nest with young ones ; even when I touched the tussock the nest was placed in, and the young wrens cried out, it was a few seconds before I found it. It was situated in a small sword- grass clump on the outside of the larger rushes and just on the edge of a sheep track through the bog. When building, the bird must have alighted on a Pampas clump and run along the ground to its nest. As far as I could judge the chicks were about four or five days old. Their eyes were closed and the feathers were showing on the wings and displacing the long black down. Every time the reeds rustled the little things opened their mouths . . The parents came around and watched with anxiety, and after a time gained confidence and fed the youngsters while we watched. Next day the chicks had their eyes open which were black ; the tail was developing ; they were feathering freely and the feathers were showing a yellowish tinge, those on the throat being bluish. . . Occasionally a bird will mount in a hopping manner to the top of a grass stem and peer round and then drop below the reeds again. Short flights are sometimes taken after an insect hovering over a few inches of water. . . I have also seen them picking up grass seeds. I have sometimes pursued them from clump to clump till finally, when the cover was exhausted, they have suddenly turned and flit past me in a nervous jerky manner and dropped into shelter again.” After this, Miss Fletcher made exhaustive studies of this bird, her results appearing in the Emu from time to time and reference can be made 138 EMU-WREN. for the complete details. I extract the following items : “ Each pair of birds keeps to its particular haunt throughout the year. After travelling some distance in search of food, the birds will invariably be found back at the home-corner in the evening or morning. . . The young of the last brood remain with their parents until May or June, when they are driven off to seek companions and a haunt of their own. They are not permitted to remain in the area which their parents inhabit. Though generally considered to be weak flyers, I find that, should occasion arise, these birds are capable of sustained flight. Particularly is this the case with the female. The angle at which the tail is held previous to alighting rather gives the impression that its author is exhausted, but this is not so. The male Emu- Wren — or ‘ Blue-beard ’ as he is called locally — retains his blue throat throughout the year, and is never seen ragged and unkempt as are the males of the Wren Warblers ( Malurus ). The manners and habits of the birds under notice appear intermediate between those of the Acanthizae and the Maluri. In the strain of their feeble song, which is, however, uttered by both sexes, and also in the nest building, they resemble the Wren Warblers. Again, their alarm notes, their calls to one another, their method of capturing some of their food, the female’s manner of dropping from the nest when disturbed, and the attaining by the young of the full plumage from the nest, all indicate kinship with the Tit Warblers. . . The female does all the work of nest- construction, and, being a wise little creature, stops work at II a.m. and does not resume until nearly 4 p.m. The interval is spent in ‘Blue-beard’s’ company, feeding and resting. . . The eggs are generally laid by 11 a.m. When sitting, the female returns to her duties at the same hour, having quitted the nest between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. She also takes a short feeding flight again in the evening. . . My observations show that an egg is laid each day till the clutch is complete, and the female begins to brood on the day on which the last egg is laid. She does all the brooding, which extends over 10 or 12 days. When first hatched the young are naked, except for a few tufts of blackish down on the head, shoulders and tail. They become fledged rapidly, the blue feathers of the males appearing on the fifth day. If the young are constantly inspected the parents become very apprehensive, and soon remove the brood from the nest. In one case the chicks were among the rushes as early as the eighth day. Both parents feed the chicks. . . The first brood appears about the second week in September, and by the middle of November these are cast off and a second nest is built. Still there are exceptions. In two cases last season the young followed their parents though the female was brooding on the second clutch of eggs.” 139 THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. Mr Tom Carter has given me the following account : “ The Westralian Emu- Wren appears to be restricted to the south-west, occurring commonly m the coastal scrubs and swamps, where its presence can be easily over- looked unless one is aware of the bird’s seclusive habits. The number of residents in districts where Emu-Wrens are common, who have ever noticed their presence, is really remarkably few. These birds, however, are to be met with on open, sand-plain country. In December, 1902, a farmer friend of mine residing at the Vasse River, who takes an interest in bird life, tried to describe to me some curious small birds that he had never pre- viously seen, and which he had noticed on a sand-plain in that neighbourhood. We rode out next day to try and identify them, and while riding about the place where he had seen them, a small bird darted from some low scrub, and flew rapidly and strongly for about two hundred yards. I dismounted, and advancing with my gun, flushed it again. A snapshot on its second flight proved it to be an Emu-Wren. This species was also shot on similar sand-plain, east of Broome Hill, on July 25, 1908, and I have got specimens on similar open country close to the coast near Albany, but swampy scrub-land is their favourite habitat. This bird appears to be much less numerous now about Albany than it was ten years ago. Probably wild domestic cats are responsible for this, also bush fires. A male bird I once procured at Albany measured 7§ inches in length. Mr. Tom Carter’s recent notes on the different forms are here quoted : The Dirk Hartog Emu-Wren is another most interesting discovery made on that island last year, because, so far as is known at present, this island form is not a connecting link between Stipiturus m. westernensis of the extreme south-west corner of Western Australia (about 600 miles to the south) and Stipiturus m. ruficeps, which occurs 250 miles north on the North-west Cape Peninsula, and so far has not been recorded south of there. The subspecies under consideration is quite distinct from either of the above, and was only observed on Dirk Hartog. When riding towards the north end of the island with Mr. Lloyd on 27th April, 1916, I was so much struck with the great probability of the prevailing scrub containing Emu-Wrens, that I asked Mr. Lloyd if he had ever seen any there, and described the general appearance of the birds. Mr. Lloyd replied that he thought he had noticed such birds, and as he was riding ahead of me, he promised to keep a look out for any. On the afternoon of the second day (April 28th), he stopped and shouted that he thought he saw a pair of the birds creeping about in the lower part of a small wattle bush. One of them was soon secured, a male, differing from any Emu- Wren previously handled by me ; and further on our way the same afternoon three more specimens were obtained. No more of the birds were 140 EMU-WREN. observed while at my camp at the north-west corner of the island, but a few were seen on the west coast, and when riding across the island on May 5th, back to the east coast, more Emu-Wrens were seen than at any subsequent date. On one part of the track the dense growth of low thick scrub matted with creepers and also patches of dwarf Ti-tree ( Melalenea ) seemed full of them, and as these birds are extremely unobtrusive, many more would be passed unseen. They creep about in a very mouselike way, and do not fly much, but when they do, the flight is straight, with tail extended horizontally, and in bright sunlight the tail-feathers sometimes glisten in the sun, so that these tiny birds might be mistaken for large dragon-flies. At times they simply dart (run) across any patch of open ground between bushes at an extra- ordinary speed for their size, and then resemble mice more than birds. By keeping quiet, one may readily watch them, and they can be 4 chirped 5 close up, but do not come out much from the actual shelter of the bushes. The male birds always appeared to be bolder, or more inquisitive, than the females. In strong winds they naturally keep under cover, and are not seen much. They appeared to be very local in their distribution on the island, none being observed at some camps, although the scrub appeared to be suitable for them. They do not seem to have any song, and were not heard to utter any notes unless it was a faint mouse-like squeak, that to the writer (who is rather deaf), appeared to emanate from them. No breeding notes were obtained, and no young birds were seen. None of the specimens examined either on the first or second visits (April to May and October to November) showed any signs of breeding, but some were moulting in October.” 44 S. m. westernensis. Westralian Emu- Wrens were common about Augusta and Cape Leeuwin, 1916-19. S. m. media. The type specimen of this Emu-Wren was obtained by me a few miles east of Gnowangerup (thirty miles south-east of Broome Hill) on 12th February, 1919. Several small parties of these birds, from three to six in number, were sebn in scrubby sand-plain country, which is practically always dry, and devoid of any surface water. In general plumage this subspecies is lighter in colour than Stipiturus m. westernensis, and distinctly smaller in size. It comes midway between that bird and S. m. hartogi, and is a good subspecies. The habits of all three are similar. On 20th July, 1908, I shot a similar bird on a sand plain a few miles east of Broome Hill, but never saw any other there. Although the Stirling Ranges are only about twenty miles distant to the south of where the type was secured, Whitlock does not record having seen any Emu- Wrens there in his 1911 expedition (see Emu , Vol. XI.), and Milligan in his account of his trip there in 1902 ( Emu Vol. III.) only records having seen one bird, that was not secured.” 141 THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. The technical history of this species has developed within the last few years, and mainly due to the local enterprise of Australian ornithologists. Probably this is to some extent due to the greater diligence of field workers in recent years, as this bird is a skulker, and all agree very easily overlooked. As noted above, the species was described from Sydney, but was recorded from Tasmania eighty years ago in the first list of Tasmanian birds pub- lished. No variation seems to have been noticed (if specimens were com- pared), until a form was found living in the Victorian Mallee, when it was distinguished by Campbell as a distinct species. Previously, a different looking bird had been also described as a distinct species from a very far distant locality, the North-west Cape, and recently it was suggested that it was still worthy of specific rank. I might here observe that the status of some of these Central Westralian birds will not be settled until many years have passed and long series have been studied, including plumage stages from nesting to adult, and also seasonal changes considered. When I drew up my “Reference List” in 1912, I was following the continental method as then current in English first-class usage, and accepted geographical representatives as of subspecific value, whether the difference was slight and confined to obvious colour depths, or whether the difference was marked and was due to more than one factor. Dr. Lowe, of the British Museum, has recently brought to the notice of British ornithologists that there is an essential difference between a geographical subspecies and a geo- graphical representative of more than subspecific value, a point I was the first to indicate through my studies in Australian birds, and which has been noted more than once in the course of this work. Consequently I am in accord with Lowe’s remarks, on account of my greater experience of such problems, as they have commonly occurred to me. However, these pro- blems cannot be dismissed without much more study and material than is at present available. Campbell’s description of the Mallee Emu-Wren reads : “ The Mallee bird differs from the ordinary Emu-Wren of the more southern parts of Victoria and Tasmania by its general lighter colouring, by its smaller dimensions, except the bill, which is larger, and of the six loose feathers of the tail being less filamented. It appears to be an intermediate form between the common Emu-Wren and the Rufous Emu-Wren of North-west Australia.” Later, when Carter recorded his meeting with the Emu-Wren in South- west Australia, A. J. Campbell added in a footnote : “ The Western Australian form of the Emu-Wren differs from the eastern bird by the general upper -surface being lighter coloured (greyish instead of brownish), and by 142 / EMU-WREN. the width of each of the curious tail-feathers being only about half the width of those of eastern examples.” Four years later he named it Stipiturus westernensis, and then gave a figure of the tail-feathers for comparison, the western form being typified by an Ellensbrook skin, and the eastern by a Springvale, Victoria, specimen. Simultaneously, I examined the specimens in my collection and also all the rest available, and acknowledged in my 4 4 Reference List ” five sub- species thus : Stipiturus malachurus malachurus (Shaw). New South Wales, Victoria, South Aus- tralia. Stipiturus malachurus malice Campbell. Victoria (Mallee). Stipiturus malachurus littleri Mathews. 44 Altogether darker than S. m. malachurus, both above and below, and markedly so on the head. Tasmania.” Tasmania. Stipiturus malachurus rothschildi Mathews. 44 Differs from S. m. malachurus in being greyer above ; the head only slightly reddened, with the black centres to the feathers always present ; the patch between the eye and the ear-coverts is pronouncedly white shafted ; the blue on the throat darker, and with less white on the abdomen. West Australia.” South-west Australia. Stipiturus malachurus ruficeps Campbell. North-west Australia. Fortunately, the name westernensis applies to the same form as my rothschildi, as both names appeared at the same time, Campbell’s on the 1st of the month in Australia, and mine on the 31st in England. As soon as I received Campbell’s paper I made the correction, but added : Stipiturus malachurus tregellasi. 44 Differs from S. m. malachurus in having the blue of the throat dis- tinctly paler ; abdomen whiter, and the red on the forehead does not extend so far back. Frankston, Victoria.” Victoria. This is the bird that Campbell has used as typical of the eastern form, but it is obviously different from the Sydney bird. These half-dozen forms I arranged in my 1913 44 List,” and for six years no addition was made, and then in succession four new forms were added, and at present all will be allowed, but before long more will be named. 143 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. The first was the Dirk Hartog Island form which was called Stipiturus malachurus hartogi Carter who considered at first the differences he noted to be specific, but later admitted the series tended to allow subspecific variation only. I later named, also from Carter’s collecting, Stipiturus malachurus media from south-east of Broome Hill, a distinctly paler and smaller bird than the previously named S. westernensis, but owing to the extreme localisation of this group, it is probable that later my S. rothschildi will be allowed as a separate subspecies also. When Parsons described the Kangaroo Island form as Stipiturus malachurus halmaturina he stated: “Whereas the mainland forms have warm colours on the upper surface of chestnut -brown crowns, brown and black backs, the Kangaroo Island forms have a ‘ washed-out ’ appearance, with light brown crowns, light grey and very dark grey backs.” Then Ashby collected specimens at Mount Compass, South Australia, and wrote a comparative account, which may be here quoted, as of quite independent origin. “ The specimen I collected in Tasmania easily was first for the depth and brilliancy of rufous coloration of the upper plumage, and, incidentally, smaller in size than any of the others. Next came those I collected near Cranbourne in Victoria ; the whole coloration is decidely rufous, the male slightly more so than the female, and the forehead of male almost entirely rufous, the blackish mid-streak being almost absent. Then come the Mount Compass birds of the South Australian series, showing a considerably wider distinction between them and the Victorian than there is between the Victorian and Tasmanian races. In the males from Mount Compass, the nape and upper neck is distinctly edged with grey, the rufous coloration being practically confined to the forehead, and the black mid- streak being much more in evidence than in the Victorian and Tasmanian specimens ; but in the female this distinction is still more marked — the whole of the upper portion of the head and neck is grey streaked with black, and in this respect being very similar to the Kangaroo Island bird ; but whereas in the Mount Compass birds, the feathers of the wings and back are edged with pale rufous, in the Kangaroo Island skins the coloration is practically absent. A consideration of the under-surfaces shows that the Tasmanian and Victorian birds are considerably deeper in rufous coloration than is the case with either of the South Australian forms. I think it best to recognise the Mount Compass birds as an intermediate variety between the Victorian and Kangaroo Island species, with closer affinity with the latter 144 EMU- WREN. than the former ; I suggest the name intermedins, of which the Mount Compass bird will be the type.” At present then we have ten forms with prospects of more, thus : Stipiturus malachurus malachurus (Shaw). New South Wales. This was described from Sydney, and the range of this typical form is quite unknown. I have seen specimens supposed to come from the Richmond River district which have darker red heads, browner backs, longer, narrower tails and paler flanks, and this may be named : Stipiturus malachurus richmondi subsp. nov. Then we must note Stipiturus malachurus subsp. from the Bellenden Ker Plains, the furthermost northern record, but not yet substantiated. Then Stipiturus malachurus tregellasi Mathews. Victoria. Stipiturus malachurus mallee Campbell. Victorian Mallee. The range of this form is also quite unknown. Stipiturus malachurus littleri Mathews. Tasmania. Stipiturus malachurus intermedins Ashby. South Australia. Stipiturus malachurus halmaturinus Parsons. Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Stipiturus malachurus westernensis Campbell. South-west Australia. The range of this form is yet undefined, and it may be that later my Stipiturus rothschildi may prove a valid form. Stipiturus malachurus medius Mathews. South-west Australia. Range yet undefined ; type from Gnowangerup, thirty miles south- east of Broome Hill and twenty miles north of Stirling Ranges. Stipiturus mala, churns hartogi Carter. Dirk Hartog Island, West Australia. VOL. x. 145 Order PASSERIFORMES. No. 564. Family SYLVIIDJE. STIPITURUS RUPICEPS. RUFOUS-CROWNED EMU-WREN. (Plate 465, top left-hand figure.)* Stipiturus ruficeps Campbell, Victorian Naturalist, Vol. XV., p. 116, Jan. 12th, 1899: North-west Cape, Mid-west Australia. Stipiturus ruficeps Campbell, Victorian Naturalist, Vol. XV., p. 116, Jan. 12th, 1899: North- west Cape, Mid-west Australia ; id., Ibis, 1899, p. 399, pi. vn. ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 23, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 217, 1901 ; Carter, Emu, Vol. I., p. 56, 1902 (N.W. Cape) ; id., ib., Vol. III., p. 36, 1903, id. ; Mathews, Hand! Birds Austral., p. 79, 1908 ; Whitlock, Emu, Vol. IX., p. 201, 1910 ; H. L. White, ib., Vol. XVII., p. 39, 1917 (M.W.A.). Stipiturus malachurus ruficeps Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 363, 1912 ; id. . List Birds Austr., p. 230, 1913. Distribution. — North-west Cape, Mid-west Australia. Adult male. Crown of head, nape, and hinder-face cinnamon-rufous ; mantle and back dark brown, or blackish with drab-grey margins to the feathers ; upper wing- coverts cinnamon with dark shaft-lines to some of the feathers ; flight-quills hair- br wn margined with rufous, or cinnamon on the outer webs and also on some of the inner ones ; tail like other forms ; rictal bristles white at the base and black at the tips, somewhat numerous, but only feebly developed ; lores and sides of face, including the eye, blue with bright shaft-lines to the feathers ; chin, throat, and fore-neck lavender-blue with black bases to some of the feathers on the last ; breast, abdomen, sides of body, axillaries, under wing-coverts, and inner margins of quills below cinnamon-buff, remainder of quill-lining hair-brown. Culmen 8 mm. ; wing 40, tarsus 16. Figured. Collected at Yardie Creek, North-west Cape, Mid- west Australia, on the 12th of April, 1899, and is Stipiturus ruficeps Campbell. Adult female. Differs in lacking the blue on the throat and ear-coverts, these parts being buff. Adult female. Crown of head and nape rufous, which encroaches more or less on to the sides of the neck ; sides of face blackish streaked with white ; eye-ring white ; a small dark spot in front of the eye ; rictal bristles black ; back blackish, the feathers broadly margined with drab-grey and have dusky-black bases ; rump and upper tail-coverts hazel ; lesser upper wing-coverts cinnamon, the median and greater series similar, but have dark elongated centres to the feathers like the bastard- wing ; flight- quills dark hair-brown with ferruginous margins ; tail-feathers also dark hair-brown ; chin and throat pale cinnamon-buff with blackish bases to the feathers, * The Plate is lettered Stipiturus malachurus. 146 RUFOUS-CROWNED EMU-WREN. becoming darker and inclining to cinnamon rnfous on the breast, abdomen and sides of body ; somewhat paler on the under tail-coverts ; under wing-coverts pale cinnamon ; under-surface of flight-quills hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper surface. Eyes reddish-brown ; bill horn-colour ; feet and legs fleshy. Total length 115 mm. ; culmen 8, wing 37, tail broken, tarsus 17. Collected at Point Cloates, Mid-west Australia in December 31st, 1900. Nestling. General colour of the upper-surface dark rust-brown, including the top of the head, sides of the face, entire back, and tail ; the wings paler than the back and inclining to chestnut with dark shaft-lines to the feathers, which widen out towards the tips ; rictal-bristles black and strongly developed ; chin, throat, breast, abdomen, sides of body, under tail-coverts, and under wing-coverts pale buff, somewhat darker on the lower flanks and thighs ; under-surface of flight-quills dark brown with buff margins ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface but paler. Bill dark horn : gape yellowish, feet and legs pale brown, eyes deep brown. Collected at East Murchison, West Australia, on the 12th of November, 1909. Nest. “ An oval structure, with entrance at the side, like the nest of Malurus. Composed of fine bark, grass, and spiders’ webs, lined with feathers and flowers of shrubs.” (H. L. White.) Eggs. Clutch two. White, possessing a very slight trace of pinkish-buff, well marked all over, particularly at the larger end, with spots and specks of reddish-brown, intermingled with a few of light amber. Breeding- season. October. Mr. Tom Carter, the discoverer of this bird, writes : “ The Rufous-crowned Wren was first met with by me on April 14, 1898, about 38 miles north of Point Cloates, and was described from these specimens by Mr. A. J. Campbell. There is, however, no doubt, that birds of this species were obtained by Mr. G. A. Keartland in 1896 (1897 ?) at Separation Well (600 miles east of Point Cloates), when with the Calvert Exploring Expedition, but the skins, unfortunately, had to be abandoned in the ‘ desert.’ These wrens were observed on various parts of the North-west Cape Peninsula, but were nowhere abundant. They seemed to be very partial to spinifex country, especially where the ‘ buck ’ variety grew. It was always a wonderful sight to me to see a party of these birds fly headlong into a large bunch of spinifex, without any of them being impaled on the innumerable needle points. Sometimes, after being previously disturbed, a bird would remain in the midst of a bunch, and by removing the growth piecemeal (a most unpleasant task) one could catch it alive. On one occasion, some natives and myself caught one, after a sharp chase, owing to its becoming soaked with wet. The birds were also noted on low scrub on flat country, away from spinifex, on several occasions. No nest was ever found, but a brood of recently fledged young, accompanied by parents, was seen on Sept. 6, 1900. This species goes about in small family parties, uttering a high-pitched squeaking note. They were never seen to fly more than a Tew 147 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. yards at a time, but move along through large bunches of spinifex in a surprisingly rapid way. Not a single bird was seen on my trip to Yardie Creek in August, 1913.” Heartland’s account of the (at present) missing form may be here inserted : “ When approaching Separation Well we were surprised to find a species of small bird hiding in the spinifex. Numbers were seen, but, owing to their agility in concealing themselves and their disinclination to fly, it was difficult work to secure them. The first one obtained was caught by Messrs. L. A. Wells and G. L. Jones, by simply throwing a waterproof sheet over the tussock in which it secreted itself, and then removing the grass by degrees until the bird was caught. It proved to be an immature female. At the Well I succeeded in obtaining three more (two males and one female). The males were exceedingly brilliant in colour, the throat being of a very bright lavender-blue. These were all shot in a low acacia bush or a sandhill. Three of their nests were found in the spinifex, but the young ones had all taken flight. These nests closely resembled those of the Maluri , but had rather large side openings. It was extremely unfortunate that these skins were lost, as, although entered on my notes as Emu- Wrens, I am strongly of opinion that it is a separate species, as the tail-feathers were very close in texture, and the throat of the male much more highly coloured than in any specimen of Stipiturus melachurus I had previously seen.” 148 Genus— DAS YORNIS. Dasyornis Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 231, Feb. 17, 1827. Type (by monotypy) ... ... Dasyornis australis— Turdus brachypterus Latham. Sphenura Lichtenstein, Verz. doubl. Mus. Berol., p. 40 (pref. Sept.), 1823. Type (by subsequent designation) Gray, 1840, p. 20 ... ... ... ... Turdus brachypterus Latham. Also spelt — Sphcenura Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Av., Yol. I., p. 219, 1850. Not — Sphenura Lichtenstein, Verz. von Vogel, Mus. Berol., May, 1822, pp. 7/8. Type (by monotypy) ... ... ... ... S. coray a = Turdus coraya Gmelin. Small birds with medium bills, short rounded wings, long wedge tail and strong legs and feet. The bill is short, not much more than half the length of the head, which is flattened, laterally compressed, culmen keeled, not much arched, tip little decurved ; little basal expansion, and depth at base about equal to "width ; the nasal groove short, the linear nostrils overhung by a swollen operculum, frontal feathers encroaching on the groove but not hiding the nostrils, bristly feathers not projecting ; rectal bristles prominent ; under mandible medium, interramel space nearly half the length of the bill and scantily feathered. The wing is very rounded, all feathers somewhat soft, the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth primaries longest and equal, the fourth and ninth a little shorter and subequal, the third shorter than the secondaries, second notably shorter, and the first about half the length of the fourth. The tail is long and wedge-shaped, twelve rather broad, little acuminate feathers. The legs are strong, with anteriorly six strong scutes, posteriorly bila- minate, the feet also strong, the middle toe and claw longer than the hind- toe and claw, but the hind-toe stouter and the claw longer, the outer toe and claw shorter than the inner, claw notably so, and less than the middle toe alone ; all claws flattened. 149 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Sphenura is generally quoted from Lichtenstein 1823 Catalogue, published in 1823, where on p. 40 is written: “Sphenura. Novum genus, intermedium inter Certhias, Sittas, Sylvias, Turdos.” A good diagnosis is given and then “ Typus : T urdus brachypteras Lath. T. Coray a Lin. Gm. Certhia cinnamomea Lin. Gm. Fringilla macrura Lin. Gm.” The species listed in his Verzeichniss der Doubletten des zoologischen Museums, i.e., Catalogue of Duplicates of the Museum, Berlin, read : S. acacice N., 8. erythroptera (ex Lin. Gm.), 8. albicollis N., S. sulphurascens N., 8. poliocephala N., 8. superciliaris N., 8. frontalis N., 8. mentalis N., 8. cinnamomea (ex Lin. Gm.), 8. ruficeps N., 8. coray a (ex Lin. Gm.), 8. striolata N., 8. fringillaris (Fringilla macroura Lin. Gm.), and S. Tibicen N. Not. Numerus specieram hujus generis in Museo nostro hospitantium 24. For many years Sphenura has been restricted to the Australian bird, though it is obvious that the majority of the species were not congeneric. A complication now arises in the fact that Sphenura had been recorded by Lichtenstein in his earlier Catalogues and first appeared in his V erzeichniss von Vogel published in May, 1822, where on pp. 7 and 8 are listed Sphenura poliocephala, sulphurascens, superciliaris, frontalis and coraya. As will be seen above, these are all nomina nuda, save coraya , the others being described in the 1823 Catalogue. If it be concluded that Sphenura is recognisable as from this list, its type must be coraya and the name Dasyornis must be used for the Australian brachyptera. It may be noted that Lesson in his Complement de Buffon used Dasyornis and restricted Sphenura to 8. tibicen, noting “ En creant son genre, y a en- tasse un grand nombre d’oiseaux disparates,” and in 1823 Lichtenstein himself noted of coraya “ Obs. Species ambigua inter Sphenuras et Trog- lodytas.” Key to the Series. Larger upper-surface uniform D. brachypterus. Smaller upper-surface with glossy grey tips to the feathers D. longirostris. 150 SPHENURA L ON GIRO S TRI S. (WESTERN BRISTLE -BIRD). SPHENURA. BRACHYPTERA. (ERIE TLE- BIRD ), MACCOYORNIS BROAD BENTI. (RUFOUS -BPUS TEE -BIRD). H Gronvold . del WitherLy & C° Order PASSERIFORMES. Family SY IV 1 1 D,E. No. 565. DASYORNIS BRACHYPTERUS. BRISTLE BIRD. (Plate 466, middle figure.)* T Urdus BRACHYPTERUS Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. xliii. (after May 30th), 1801 : New South Wales, based on Watling drawing No. 154. T urdus brachypterus Latham, Index Ornith. Suppl., p. xliii., 1801. Shortwinged Thr(ush) Latham, Gen. Synops. Suppl. n., p. 187, 1801. Sphenura brachyptera Lichtenstein, Verz. Doubl. Zool. Mus. Berol., p. 40, 1823 ; Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., Yol. I., p. 342, 1865 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. I., p. 184, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. VII., p. 104, 1883 ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 23, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Yol. I., p. 218, 1901 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 244, 1904 ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 79, 1908 ; Ross, Emu, Yol. XI, p. 119, 1911 (Vic.) ; Mathews, Nov. Zool, Vol. VIII, p. 363, 1912 ; Campbell, Emu, Vol. XIII, p. 69, pi. m, f. 6 (egg), 1913 ; Mathews, List Birds Austr, p. 230, 1913 ; S. A. White, Emu, Vol. XIV, p. 142, 1915 (Vic.) ; Le Souef and Macpherson, Emu, Vol. XX, p. 88, 1920, (N.S.W.). lllalurus pectoralis Stephens, in Shaw’s Gen. Zool, Vol. XIII, pt. ii, p. 224, Feb. 18th, 1826 : new name for T. brachypterus Latham. Dasyornis australis Vigors and Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV, p. 232, Feb. 17th, 1827 : New South Wales; Gould, Birds Austr, pt. v. (Vol. Ill, pi. 32), Dec. 1st, 1841. \\ Sphenura brachyptera brachyptera Mathews, Austral Av. Rec, Vol. Ill, pt. 3, p. 61, April 7th, 1916. Sphenura brachyptera victoriae Mathews, ib. : Victoria (Gippsland). Distribution. New South WTales (Coastal from Richmond River to near Victoria), Victoria (Goulburn River and Gippsland). Adult male. General colour of the upper-surface rust-brown, including the head, back, wings, and tail, inclining to rufous-brown on the outer aspect of the wings ; sides of face similar to the crown but paler ; a slightly indicated pale superciliary streak ; rictal bristles sparsely developed ; the feathers at the base of the forehead stiffened and bristly ; chin, greyish-white with hair-like tips to the feathers ; throat also greyish-white ; sides of neck, and sides of breast greyish bronze-brown ; middle of breast and middle of abdomen greyish-white with blackish bases to the feathers ; * This Plate is lettered Sphenura brachyptera. 151 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. lower flanks and under tail-coverts rust-brown like the under wing-coverts ; under- surface of flight-quills hair-brown, tinged with rufous on the margins ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface. Total length 220 mm. ; culmen 12, wing 75, tail 95, tarsus 28. Figured. Collected in New South Wales. Adult female. Similar to the adult male. Immature. Very similar to the adult. Nest. “ Domed-shaped structure, rather rounded, with hole on the side, very loosely constructed, composed of dry bark, leaves and grasses, of decayed vegetation, and placed near the ground in a thick mass of grass, ferns or low bush, usually near a creek. The nest is a very frail structure, and will scarcely stand removal. It is usually warmly lined. Dimensions, about 6 inches across by 4| to 5|- inches in height.” (H. L. White.) Eggs. “ Clutch two. Dull white or whitish-brown, minutely but distinctly flecked and dotted with slaty-brown, wood-brown and purplish-brown ; the markings becoming larger and darker on the thicker end, where, intermingling with underlying spots of slaty-grey, they sometimes form a zone 26 mm. by 19.” (North.) Breeding-season. September to December. When Latham described this species, he added : “ Inhabits New South Wales, and is chiefly seen on the ground, or at most, taking very short flights, being unable to accomplish long ones, from the shortness of the wings.” Two species later he acknowledged : “ For the description of several of the above, I am indebted to my friend Mr. Lambert,” and upon reference to the “ Watling ” drawings we find a note : “ This is a ground bird with very small wings and very short flight.” Vigors and Horsfield, when they examined a specimen of the bird itself, did not recognise it from Latham’s description, so proposed a new genus and species for it, giving as notes : “ This bird Mr. Caley procured in a scrubby place on the north side of Parramatta. He was able to ascertain nothing of its habits. He calls it in his notes 4 Bristle Bird .’ ” Gould’s notes read : “ This bird inhabits reed-beds and thickets, particularly such as are overgrown with creepers and rank vegetation ; I believe it to be found throughout New South Wales in all places suitable to its habits, although, from the recluse nature of its disposition, it is a species familiar to few, even of those who have been long resident in the colony. Its powers of flight are very limited, but it threads the thickets and runs over the ground with the greatest facility. It resembles the true Maluri in carrying the tail erect, and in many other of its actions. My own im- pression is, that it is a stationary species, since its powers of flight are inadequate to enable it to pass over much extent of country, and the thick bushes near the coast afford it ample shelter in winter. The food consists of insects of various orders.” 152 BRISTLE BIRD. At Mallacoota, Victoria, S. A. White recorded : “ Rare, frequenting the low, stunted tea- tree growing on marshy country near the coast.” Le Souef and Macpherson have very recently written regarding the Birds of Sydney : “It is very pleasing to find that in the grounds of the Coast Hospital there are also some Bristle Birds ( Sphenura brachyptera). They five in a tangled mass of scrub and rank vegetation growing along a small creek, and over some swampy land. The male bird has been observed by Mr. Harry Burrell. If one enters his domain he will rise to the top of the bushes for a moment to view the intruder, and drop to cover again ; the female is apparently not to be seen.” This bird seems very little known, as there are no notes concerning it, although the Victorian Maccoyornis is now well established. Campbell records eggs taken by Jackson in the Clarence River district, and includes South Queensland in its range, but I have never seen birds from so far north. I recently distinguished the Victorian bird on account of its darker coloration, and were series collected from the Clarence River thev would KJ probably show a very distinct form. At present, there are two forms : Sphenura brachyptera brachyptera (Latham). New South Wales (Sydney District). and Sphenura brachyptera victorice Mathews. Victoria. As shown above the genus name Sphenura must be rejected; and the names become : Dasyornis brachypterus brachypterus (Latham) and Dasyornis brachypterus victories (Mathews). VOL. x. 153 Order PASSERIFORMES t| Family SYLVIIDIE. No. 566. DASYORNIS LONGIROSTRIS. LONG-BILLED BRISTLE BIRD. (Plate 466, top figure.)* Dasyornis LONGIROSTRIS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p. 170, July 1841 : “ Swan River, West Australia,” Dasyornis longirostris Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1840, p. 170, 1841 ; id., Birds Austr., pt. v. (Vol. III., pi. 33), Dec. 1st, 1841. Sphenura longirostris Gray, Gen. Birds, Vol. I., p. 167, 1848 ; Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 343, 1865 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 185, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. VII., p. 105, 1883 ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 23, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Yol. T., p. 219, 1901 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 245, 1904 ; Mathews, Hand! Birds Austral., p. 79, 1908 ; id., Nov. Zool., Yol. XVIII., p. 364, 1912; Witmer Stone, Austral. Av. Rec., Vol. I., p. 166, 1913; Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 230, 1913 ; S. A. White, Emu, Vol. XX., p. 127, 1921. Sphenura hrachyptera longirostris Carter, Ibis, 1921, p. 63. Distribution. South-west Australia. Extreme corner from Kang George’s Sound to Swan River. Adult. Crown of head bronze-brown with glossy grey tips to the feathers, becoming darker and inclining to black on the mantle and sides of neck ; lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts dark chestnut-brown ; tail similar but paler ; outer aspect of wing also chestnut-brown ; inner webs of flight-quills dark brown ; rictal bristles black, numerous and directed laterally ; sides of face similar to the top of the head but paler and having whitish shafts to the feathers ; eye-ring greyish-white ; chin and throat greyish-white ; breast grey tinged with bronze ; middle of abdomen greyish- white ; sides of body, thighs, under tail-coverts, and under wing-coverts bronze- brown, somewhat darker on the lower flanks ; under-surface of flight-quills dark brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface, with pale shafts to the feathers. Total length 170 mm. ; culmen 12, wing 65, tail 77, tarsus 24. Figured. Collected at King George’s Sound in Western Australia on the 17th of August, 1883, and is Sphenura longirostris ma&tersi. (Top fig. ) The sexes are alike. Nest. “ Oval with side entrance, composed entirely of dried, hollow grass stalks with a small portion of grass of a finer description placed inside at the bottom of the nest. 6 inches in length by 5 wide and four high.” (North.) * This Plate is lettered Sphenura longirostris. 154 LONG-BILLED BRISTLE BIRD. Eggs. “ Clutch two. Dull white, minutely freckled and spotted with wood-brown and purplish-brown, especially at the larger end where a zone is formed. 23 mm. by 18. (West Australia.)” (ib.) Breeding-season. October to January. Another of many discoveries, made on Gould’s account, by the fine ornithologist Gilbert, as recorded by Gould : “ The present species assimi- lates very closely in the character and colouring of its plumage to its eastern analogue, the Sphenura brachyptera ; but differs from that bird in being of a smaller size and in having a longer bill. It is a native of Western Australia, and is very generally distributed over the colony of Swan River, where it inhabits reed-beds and long grasses, and is occasionally seen in scrubby places.” “ It is so remarkably shy,” says Gilbert, “ that it is extremely difficult to get even a glimpse of it ; it appeared to feed on the ground, where its actions are extremely quick, running over the surface with its tail erect. The only chance of procuring specimens is when it ascends to a small branch on the top of a scrub to sing. Its notes are loud, clear and extremely varied. It flies very low ; in fact, the bird scarcely ever rises more than a few yards above the scrub or long grass it inhabits ; it is consequently very rarely seen on a tree. Its food consists of seeds and insects.” Mr. Tom Carter has recently written : “No signs of Long-billed Bristle Birds were seen or heard in any of the coastal scrubs that were visited in the south-west area, although I spent several days at the place where the last known birds were seen some years ago ; but the localities where these birds may still be living extend along such a great stretch of the coast, and are so densely clothed in scrub, that it is very easy to miss seeing such a very shy and seclusive species.” , Captain S. A. White has recorded : The writer made a determined effort to locate this bird, but, other than noting a call which he feels sure was that of this bird, and the tracks on the sand in the low scrub south of Cape Naturaliste (the tracks were identical with those made by the South Australian form), nothing more was recorded ; but there is little doubt the bird is still there.” I cannot trace any recent record, but Masters apparently found it, and its nest and eggs, at King George’s Sound, and Witmer Stone has recorded that the specimens (supposedly typical) in the Museum at Philadelphia are labelled “ King George’s Sound,” and hence this was given as the type locality in my 1913 “ List.” At present I see no reason for differing from the original statement that it came from the Swan River District. 155 THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. The bird figured and described can be called Sphenura longirosiris mastersi subsp. nov. As noted previously, the genus name Sphenura must be rejected; the names to be used will be Dasyornis longirosiris longirosiris Gould. and Dasyornis longirosiris mastersi Mathews. 156 Genus— M ACCO YORNIS. Maccoyornis Mathews, Austral Ay. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 5, p. 113, Dec. 24th, 1912. Type (by original designation) ... ... ... ... Sphenura broadbenti McCoy. I wrote: “Differs from >S 'phenura in its more powerful bill and stronger feet and legs, and in the longer wing and tail.” This is a peculiar evolution, as it is a large form of Dasyornoid relation, intervening between the two known species from East and West Australia, while it has a representative in Western Australia living, as far as we know, alongside a true Dasyornis. It is unfortunate that a long enough series of all these species cannot be secured to decide their relationships exactly, as at the present time we cannot dogmatise with any certainty, and it is probable that the Western Maccoyornis may be specifically distinct. \\ 157 Order PASSERIFORMES. Family SYLVIIDM. No. 567. MACCOYORNIS BROADBENTI. RUFOUS BRISTLE BIRD. (Plate 466, bottom figure.) Sphenura broadbenti McCoy, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. III., Vol. XIX., p. 185, March 1st, 1867 : near Belfast, in scrubs 24 miles from Portland Bay, Victoria. Sphenura broadbenti McCoy, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. III., Vol. XIX., p. 185, 1867 ; Gould, Birds Austr., Suppl., pi. 25, pt. iv., Dec. 1st, 1867 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 185, 1878 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. VII., p. 106, 1883 ; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 23, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 219, 1901 ; Hill, Emu, Vol. II., p. 163, 1903 (Vic.) ; Belcher, ib., Vol. III., p. 61, 1903 (Vic.) ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. I., p. 246, 1904; Campbell, Emu, Vol. VI., p. 134, 1907 (Vic.) ; id., ib., p. 137 (S.A.) ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 80, 1908 ; Campbell, Emu, Vol. VIII., p. 101, 1908 (Vic.) ; Ross, ib., Vol. XI., p. 119, pi. x., 1911 (Vic.) ; Hall, Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasm., 1911, p. 33, pi. 4 (pterylography) ; S. A. White, Emu, Vol. XII., p. 184, 1913 (S.A.) ; Campbell, ib., Vol. XIII., p. 69, pi. xin., fig. 5 (egg), 1913; Purnell, ib., Vol. XV., pp. 38-43, pi. iv., 1915 (Vic.). Sphenura litoralis Milligan, Emu, Vol. I., pt. 2, p. 69, January 1st, 1902 : Ellensbrook, South-west Australia ; Carter, ib., Vol. III., p. 39, 1903 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., 2nd ed., p. Ill, 1906 ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 80, 1908 ; Orton, Emu, Vol. XVIII., p. 103, 1918 ; Ashby, ib., Vol. XX., p. 123, 1921. Sphenura broadbenti broadbenti Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 364, 1912. Sphenura broadbenti litoralis Mathews, ib. Sphenura broadbenti whitei Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 3, p. 79, June 28th, 1912 : Coorong, South Australia ; S. A. White, Emu, Vol. XII., p. 184, 1913. Maccoyornis broadbenti broadbenti Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 230, 1913 ; Belcher, Birds Geelong, p. 290, 1914 ; Purnell, Emu, Vol. XIX., p. 236, 1920. Maccoyornis broadbenti whitei Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 231, 1913. Maccoyornis broadbenti litoralis Mathews, ib. ; Morgan, South Austr. Orn., Vol. IV., p. 17, 1919 (S.A.). Distribution. Victoria, South Australia, and South-west Australia. Adult male. Crown of head and nape, chestnut with dark narrow edges to the feathers, which imparts a scaled appearance ; sides of crown and ear-coverts similar but uniform ; hind-neck, upper-back and scapulars, greyish bronze-brown like the 158 RUFOUS BRISTLE BIRD. upper wing-coverts ; flight-quills, lower back, upper tail-coverts and tail rufous- brown ; inner webs of flight-quills dark brown somewhat paler on the margins ; lores, fore-part of eye-ring and moustachial streak greyish- white, the feathers in front of the eye and base of forehead stiffened and bristly ; rictal bristles sparsely developed ; chin greyish-white with black hair-like tips to the feathers ; throat, fore-neck, and upper-breast greyish-white with dark centres to the feathers, which gives a scalloped appearance ; middle of lower-breast and abdomen uniform greyish- white ; sides of body bronze-brown ; thighs and under tail-coverts rust-brown like the axiflaries and under wing-coverts ; under-surface of flight-quills hair- brown with a rufous tinge on the margins ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper- surface. Eyes brown, feet and bill dark brown. Total length 270 mm. ; culmen 19, wing 94, tail 122, tarsus 37. Figured. Collected at Lome, Victoria, on the 28th October, 1909. (bottom figure.) Adult female. Similar to the adult male. Immature. Resemble the adult in general appearance. Nest. Oval shaped, with side entrance. Composed of rootlets, dried grass, etc., loosely put together and lined with finer rootlets. 7 inches deep by 4 inches wide. Eggs. “ Clutch two, and vary considerably in size, shape, and general disposition of the markings. A typical pair are long ovals, ground colour of a dirty or dull pinkish- white, well marked all over, closely set together, with specks and spots of umber, rusty-brown, and purplish-grey, becoming more confluent at the larger end, where a cap or zone is (often) formed. In some specimens lilac and pale slaty markings are very numerous. Surface of shell smooth and rather glossy. 27 mm. by 22.” (H. L. White.) Breeding-season. September to December. Although Mr. Kendall Broadbent collected this fine distinct species in December, 1858, it was not described until nine years after-wards, when Professor McCoy, the director of the National Museum, Melbourne, who was then taking a little interest in birds, recognised it as a distinct form and named it after the collector. Campbell has recorded one of the earliest field notes, which is worth re- quoting, as it is by H. E. Hill, an ornithologist who was unfortunately cut off before the promise of his early observations were fulfilled. “ When we first reached the St. George Valley (near Lome) where we fixed our camp, we noticed the great number of ‘ cartwheel ’ (the notes are described as resembling the noise produced by the grating of a cartwheel on an ungreased axle) birds that were calling on all sides. The whole time we were out they seemed very plentiful, and whereas on previous trips we had never been able to even get a sight of the bird, on this trip we not only saw a number, but were fortunate enough to secure two — a male and a female — both in fine condi- tion. It turns out to be the Rufous Bristle Bird ( Sphenurci broadbenti McCoy). We found afterwards that fires had been through a great many of the gullies about the ranges during the previous twelve months, and that the undergrowth had been in many cases completely destroyed, so that the 159 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. great abundance of the birds may have been only apparent, the birds really having been driven nearer the coast by the destruction of their usual haunts.” Hill himself a little latter, recorded : “ Very common throughout the Otways, but more so at some times than others. Very shy, and not often seen, though its peculiar and distinctive note is continually in evidence. I never but once saw one on the wing, when it flew across a little gully with a heavy, lumbering flight. Very active on the ground.” Belcher published an account in the Geelong Naturalist for March, 1906, and in his Birds of Geelong in 1914, as follows : “So far as Victoria is concerned, the Rufous Bristle Bird is confined to the western side of Port Phillip Bay, and in that respect is one instance of many which prove the Bay to be a real and definite natural boundary, the effects of which is to enable us to study the effects of isolation in several species. “ The Bristle Bird’s present eastern limit is a patch of scrub about two miles south-west of Torquay. “ Hear the eastern extremity of its range it hardly leaves the sea coast. It lives almost entirely on the ground, over which it runs with great swift- ness, its tail raised above the horizontal and slightly outspread. It is one of the hardest birds to get a sight of. The call consists of three or four pairs of notes, uttered with a rising inflection and in quick succession and concluding with a note which suggests the ‘ crack ’ of the Coachwhip Bird ; double, however, where the Coachwhip’s is single, the second part not being accented. Immediately, the bird is answered by its mate, who utters what sounds like an echo of the last three notes of the first bird. There is also a single note, less frequently heard. Bristle Birds call all through the months from October to March inclusive. In the breeding season the series of notes is produced about every five minutes.” A. G. Campbell has recorded observations from which I quote : “In parts matted with sword-grass, they were more often heard than seen, but in one or two more open places the birds, especially when nesting, could be attracted about one’s feet by making a squeaking noise. One pair which had a large young one running about them were quite pugnacious. The male, with spread wings and tail, approached to within three feet. The food in the stomach of one bird examined, consisted of about three parts of comminuted brown chafer beetles and one part cranberry fruits. A bird was noticed out on the beach sand in search of these beetles which were very plentiful, but the cranberry bushes were only found in the higher land to the rear. The birds also eat earth grubs, for which they search after the manner of Geocichla , running along a few feet and then standing quite still, moving on again in a few seconds or digging out an insect with a probe or 160 RUFOUS BRISTLE BIRD. two of the bill. The birds rarely fly, but sometimes mount on to a pro- minent stick or bush to whistle. In the mornings it was noticed they were always very late with their song. Singing Honey-Eaters ( Ptilotis sonora ) were very plentiful, and welcomed the daybreak in all directions with their delightful notes, but they were an hour ahead of the Bristle Birds. ... A remarkable circumstance about the eggs is that one is as a rule infertile. This is probably accounted for by the great size of the egg in comparison to the bird, with the deficiency of some important element of food. No less than five old nests contained addled eggs, and two others contained a broken shell. ... As far as we could judge, the female alone builds the nest and sits upon the eggs, while the male brings her food and also helps to feed the young. The call of the male bird is loud and penetrating, and is always answered by the mate, wherever she may be. . . . The notes of the Bristle Bird have a great likeness to those of the Pilot Bird in being loud and melodious — the call song is almost identical in the two birds, except that one is in a sharper key.” Then Ross furnished a fairly complete account and I note the following additional information : “I saw a bird erect the feathers on its head like a crest. From the fact that I have found what appeared to be the nests for several seasons of the same pair of birds, within a few yards of each other, I conclude that a pair of birds will for years be faithful to a very limited area. . . . Another comparison made by Mr. Belcher was between the Bristle Bird and the Pilot Bird (Pycnoptilus floccosus ), and this, I think, was most apt. Seen at a little distance, the species are much alike in plumage ; both frequent dense scrubs, are nearly always on the ground, over which, when disturbed, they move at a very rapid rate, taking advantage of every bit of cover ; and some of the call notes are very similar. . . . Another habit I observed with one pair of Bristle Birds, when I was near a chick, was the frequent spreading of the tail in a manner similar to that adopted by a male Pigeon when courting his mate. . . . The call I most frequently heard consisted of about nine notes, the first six being those which resemble the squeak of the cart wheel, although, in justice to the birds, I must say that I do not like the simile. The odd numbers are all in one tone, and the even numbers all in another, slightly deeper, the three last being most musical, rich in tone, of greater volume than the earlier notes, and blending together so as to sound almost like one rolling sound. When one goes near the nest or a young bird, the parents will sometimes put in an appearance, and then they utter an alarm call, consisting of one note only. It is so keen and sharp and vicious, that I cannot describe it, unless I say that it seems to cut or stab.” Purnell has given a similar account, with a photo of the bird at the nest, and adds : “ I am of opinion that the Bristle Bird uses its nest for two seasons VOL. x. 161 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. in succession, for I have found, on pulling a nest to pieces, an egg, generally- addled, among the dry lining of the nest.” Captain S. A. White has written me : “ I have taken this bird in South Australia as far west as Robe ; it may extend to Kingston, but believe this would be the limit of this form. It is exceedingly plentiful in the sand dunes along the coast line and its peculiar sharp call is to be heard all over the place amongst the sword-grass on a bright day. They are great ventrilo- quists and can throwr their voice quite a distance. Dr. Morgan had quite a difficulty in procuring specimens when visiting Robe in October, 1918. I procured mine by sitting motionless in a thicket and imitating the bird’s call ; they would come running along the ground, pause for a moment, hop on to a low twig or bough, raise the head and tail and pour forth a clear sweet note, the mandibles often wide apart, when the tongue and yellow lining to the mouth can be plainly seen. At the slightest sound of alarm, down goes the tail and they run with such rapidity and so close to the ground, that they are lost to sight in a moment. They are late breeders and do not nest very often till late in December ; the nest is a large structure of bent and twisted blades of the sword-grass neatly lined with fine grasses. Their food consists mostly of insects, but they also take a good many very small berries and seeds. M. b. ivhitei. The range of this subspecies commences west of Kingston and follows the sand dunes of Younghusband Peninsula (bounded upon one side by the open ocean and on the other by the Coorong) to the Murray Mouth. It keeps to the peninsula and I have never seen it east of the Coorong. These birds are fairly numerous amongst the sandhills, but shy and difficult to procure.” Morgan has written : “ These birds are very common in the sandhill country from Glenelg River to Kingston. The bird on the Coorong collected by Capt. White is much lighter in colour, and has rightly been described as a new subspecies. Although the birds are so common they are very rarely seen. My wife and I have stood still in the scrub and had birds calling all around us, sometimes within a few feet, and yet not been able to get a sight of them. As for collecting specimens, we tried every day for a week at Beachport without securing a single bird or even a shot at one.” When Milligan described his new species he stated : “ The new bird closely resembles Sphenura hroadbenti, and at first sight I thought that it was that form, or a western variety of it, but after examination of a skin of the eastern form, I felt that I need not have the slightest hesitation in separating it from that species. The chief differences between the species are that the new one is much smaller than Sphenura hroadbenti , and that in the former the rufous or chestnut head is brighter, and the under-surfaces 162 RUFOUS BRISTLE BIRD. lighter than in the latter, and that the yellow gape and triangular loral spot present in Sphenura broadbenti is absent in the latter. The bird has two distinct calls — alarm notes and song notes. The former it utters when closely pursued and pressed, and resembles the words 4 pink, pink, pink.’ The latter is a series of clear, liquid, thrush-like notes. The bird was most difficult to flush or even see, and it was only in the afternoon of the second day’s pursuit that I obtained a momentary glimpse of it as it rushed across a kwagga (species of Wallaby) track in the scrub, with tail elevated. My next sight of it was on the fourth day of pursuit. . . . Its motion on this occasion (perhaps due to its being severely pressed) was distinctly different from that observed on the former. Appearing, as it did, running at top speed across one of those beautifully rounded sandhills (which abound on the coasts), with its tail depressed below the plane of the body, and its dwarf, rounded wings used as an aid to its running, its toes just touching the ground, and its neck stretched to the utmost, the bird reminded me very much of the action of the Lyre Bird in similar circumstances. The food of the bird, as revealed by dissection, consisted wholly of land snails — those marine-like looking forms which are found in abundance on the coastal limestone hills, apparently lifeless in hot weather, but full of vitality after a shower of rain. One snail, with the shell perfect, wras found in the stomach. The bird was an adult female, but there was nothing to indicate that in- cubation was near (it was procured on 12th October).” Mr. Tom Carter has written me : “ The Lesser Rufous Bristle Bird appears to be confined to certain parts of the extreme south-west coast, very local in its distribution and by no means common in areas where it does occur. Like other species of similar habits, it is probably rapidly diminishing in numbers, from the ravages of domesticated cats in a wild state, increased settlement and stocking of country (mostly by cattle ),A and the concomitant evil of bush fires, made to reduce the scrub and produce more grass and feed generally. The only locality where this species came under my notice was near Cape Mentelle. The birds were exceedingly wary and seclusive, and although their rather pleasant song was frequently heard, a bird was only sighted on two occasions, after many days spent wholly on trying to secure a specimen. The coastal scrub was so dense and stiff, and mostly growing at an acute angle from the prevailing strong winds off the ocean, that in many places it was impossible to force a way through it, although very frequently it was possible to walk on the top of it, but the latter was no help in either seeing or obtaining a bird. The better way was to crawl in, underneath the scrub, near where a bird was heard, and wait patiently in the hope of one coming near. On one occasion, while doing this, one of 163 THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. them hopped through the branches of the scrub within four feet of my face. As my only weapon was a 16° gun, a shot from it would, of course, have only resulted in ‘ wasting 5 a bird— a thing to be deplored by all naturalists. On another occasion, when returning homewards after a blank day, and, I must admit, carrying my gun unready, one of these birds suddenly ran at immense speed across an open piece of bare drift sand, and disappeared in some scrub. A snap shot was without effect. A careful measurement of the footprints found them to be from seventeen to eighteen inches apart. Many times I sat for hours, constantly hearing a bird’s song within a few yards of me, in different directions, but although it was doubtless watching me, I could not get a glimpse of it. The song may be described as a rather 6 rollicking ’ one, but short, somewhat like that of the Reed Warbler and quickly repeated. The words ‘ stitch-stitch-a-way ’ (last syllable in a lower note), may perhaps faintly represent it.” Milligan described as a new species a bird from South-west Australia, calling it Sphenura litoralis, and stating it was like S. broadhenti but was much smaller, with a brighter rufous or chestnut head, and that the yellow gape and triangular loral spot of S. broadhenti was absent. I considered these differences of subspecific value only and allowed in my “ Reference List ” in 1912 : Sphenura broadhenti broadhenti McCoy. Victoria, South Australia. and Sphenura broadhenti litoralis Milligan. South-west Australia. Later Captain White sent me specimens from the Coorong, South Australia, which I named Sphenura broadhenti whitei. “ Differs from S. b. broadhenti in being distinctly lighter above and below,” and this form is easily recognisable. Therefore in my 1913 “ List ” I had Maccoyornis broadhenti broadhenti (McCoy). Victoria. Maccoyornis broadhenti ivhitei (Mathews). South Australia. Maccoyornis broadhenti litoralis (Milligan). South-west Australia. Captain S. A. White has, however, pointed out that M. b. whitei is restricted to the Coorong district, and that M. b. broadhenti also occurs in the south-eastern portion of South Australia. With this correction the above arrangement stands, but I had better note that the South-west Australian form later may be allowed full specific rank as Milligan gave it. 164 Genus — DIAPHORILL AS. Diapiiorillas Oberholser, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1899, p. 212, June 2nd. Type (by original designation) Malurus textilis Quoy & Gaimard = Dumont. Amytis Lesson, Traite d’Ornith., livr. 6e, p. 453 (about March 1), 1831. Type (by subsequent designation). Gray, 1841, p. 27 Not— Amytis Savigny, Hist. Egypte, Vol. I., pt. 3, p. 46, 1822 M. textilis. Amytornis Stejneger, Stand. Nat. Hist., Vol. IV., p. 499, after July, 1885 Sharpe, Handl. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 246, 1903. Type (by subsequent designation). Mathews List Birds Austr., p. 231, 1913 Mytisa Mathews, Austral. Av. Rec., Vol. I., pt. 8, p. 196. March 20th, 1913. Type (by original designation) Nomen nudum. Id. textilis Quoy & Gaimard. Diapiiorillas Mathews. striatus howei \\ Small birds with short stout bills, short rounded wings, long wedge tail of ten feathers and stout legs and feet. The bill is a little more than half the length of the head, stout; culmen arched, tip little decurved, laterally compressed, nasal groove short, the nostrils linear, but rather diagonal and operculum projecting ; frontal feathers en- croaching on nasal groove as far as, but not obscuring, the nostrils ; rictal bristles strong and prominent, but no nasal bristles; lower mandible fairly stout, interramal space short and sparsely feathered. The wing is rounded, the first primary about half the length of the third, the second intermediate, but only about equal to the tenth and secondaries, the third to eighth being subequal and longest. 165 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Itie tail is very long and wedge-shaped, composed of ten broad, but a little pointed, feathers. The legs are stout, the tarsus with six scutes anteriorly, bilaminate poster! oily, the inner toe shorter than the outer, both with claws subequal with middle-toe alone, hind-claw long and curved, hind-toe and claw about equal to middle-toe and claw. The genus name Amytis was invalid, as before Lesson selected it Savigny had made use of it. This was long known, but it was not until 1899 that Oberholser proposed as substitute Diaphorillas. In 1903 Sharpe rejected Diaphorillas for Amytornis , which was claimed to have been proposed for Amytis years before by Stejneger. There is no doubt that Stejneger introduced the name, but he gave no indication of its use as the extract quoted will show : “ Amytornis textilis, with two allied species, also from Australia, belong here, wren-like birds of brown plumage, with curious whitish longitudinal streaks.” This is certainly not determinable with accuracy from this quotation, as a Wren has a short tail, while these birds have long tails. Consequently I use the correct name Diaphorillas. The confusion in Gould’s mind is apparent through his statement that the figure given by Lesson in his Atlas to his Traite was clearly taken from a specimen of Gould s striatus. As Gould’s striatus was unknown to Lesson and the only specimen at that time known was the unique textilis, it is obvious that Lesson’s figure could only have been from that source. It may be a poor attempt, but nevertheless it is only .textilis and not striatus as Gould suggested. When I prepared my “ Reference List ” I was lumping genera and therefore classed all the Grass-Wrens in the genus Diaphorillas, but the differences seen in the species were so striking that I wrote : “Note. — From the point of view of the genus splitter this is a heterogeneous genus. The two species, D. woodwardi (Hartert) and D. housei (Milligan) are altogether apart from the preceding species which agree with the type of the genus, D. textilis (Q. & G.), while D. goyderi (Gould) is also easily separable. Most authors will certainty wish to separate these last three species from the typical forms of the genus ; for their use I provide the genera Magnamytis nov. with type A. woodwardi Hartert, and Eyramytis nov. with type A. goyderi (Gould). These are certainly more worthy of generic recognition than the majority of the lately introduced genera.” I later adopted the genus -splitting method as being productive of better results and this instance absolutely confirms it. In a genus-lumping scheme no care at all is necessary to place a bird, only the most casual glance is needed, and the why and the wherefore is absolutely neglected. Thus anyone can tell a Grass-Wren because of the streaked appearance and no more consideration 166 DIAPHORILLAS . is necessary. If the Grass- Wrens are split into two or three genera, careful examination of each species and almost every specimen is imperative to determine their exact position. When such is undertaken it may later become useful to re-unite some that have been split, but still, good has been done by the facts elicited. I later separated under the generic name Mytisa the “ striata ” group noting “ Differs from Diaphorillas in having a larger and more slender bill.” This may read as slender grounds, but as a matter of fact it is very probably of great phylogenetic significance, and as the definite facts are not at present determinable I am here not using Mytisa generically, but will point out the extraordinary facts I have found through my genus-splitting methods and later anticipate the recognition of my group. In the last twenty years, in connection with Palaearctic forms, through the fallacy of genus lumping, we have not had any observations of any importance whatever with regard to the phylogeny of bird forms. I have indicated many important items throughout this work through genus splitting and vdiile these have been more or less ignored by genus lumpers, I am intensely gratified to find my observations amply confirmed by quite independant osteological studies. Therefore I remark with confidence that two divergent series of Grass-Wrens are represented by Diaphorillas and Mytisa, the latter developing into the magnificent Magnamytis, while the former has provided the bizarre Eyramytis. The most extraordinary feature of these groups is the persistence of a minor colour feature, which would be quite overlooked as of any significance by a genus lumper, the coloration of the bill. In Diaphorillas this is horn, while in the Mytisa series it is blackish, and in the former the bill becomes deeper without much lengthening, while in the latter it becomes longer with little increase in depth. The Diaphorillas group has a pale tendency, while the Mytisa series tends to black, the wonderful Magnamytis housei Milligan being wholly black, while Eyramytis goyderi Gould has mostly a white under-surface. The extraordinary confusion of species in this group makes a collation of synonymic references difficult, so that many of the descriptions are doubtful and cannot be rectified without absolute examination of all the specimens recorded. As this is at present impossible, I am leaving many of the quotations under the name used by the authority, but will here give an account of the vicissitudes of the species as succinctly as possible with the hope that some Australian ornithologist will take up this group and study it thoroughly for some time. F. E. Howe has shown how this might be done in connection with Acanthiza and Climacteris, and when more knowledge is applied to better material, still more valuable results will be obtained. From examination 167 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. of skins from many localities it appears that this group shows more variation than almost any other in Australia and moreover probably many species will be separated. The present lack is material, but the numbers examined show the great distinction between the species and the well marked colour variation of the subspecies ; but as a whole all the smaller species show a general resemblance and to the superficial student show great similarity. The first species was described from West Australia. When in Australia, Gould got two distinct species in East Australia, and recognising one as the Western Australian bird described the other as a new species. Later he received -a Western Australian bird, and forgetting that was from the first named locality, described it as new, still referring to the East Australian bird by the West Australian name. As if this confusion was not sufficient, Milligan refound the West Australian bird after fifty years and comparing it with Gould’s poor description renamed it as new. Before we get more confused we had better tabulate the position thus : Amytis textilis Dumont, West Australia, equals Amytis gigantura Milligan, West Australia, equals Amytis macrourus Gould, West Australia. Amytis textilis Gould, East Australia, is not A. textilis Dumont, but my Diaphorillas inexpectatus . Amytis striatus Gould, East Australia, is a very distinct species. Then Keartland, having collected specimens in Central and West Australia, observed there was some confusion of species, in that two distinct species had been collected by him in Central Australia. He impressed North, who had the working up of the Central Australian birds, so that North, ignoring striatus, which is always recognisable as distinct, named one form from Central Australia as a new species Amytis modesta and allowed the other to be A. textilis— my D. purnelli. This did not obviate all the confusion, as Keartland, probably thinking of the Central Australian birds as “ textilis ,” allowed Milligan’s gigantura to be distinct. Later, reconsidering the matter with his own collecting in West Australia in view, he repudiated Milligan’s species. As a matter of fact both views were correct, as the Central Australian birds are different from the West Australian ones. However, nearly some thirty years before North published his modesta, Gould had described a very extraordinary bird from Lake Eyre as A. goyderi. This has never been refound, though the type locality has been searched, but owing to the extreme localisation of this species it may yet turn up. Then Carter got a new form from South-west Australia, and this he described as A. varia. It was of the textilis group, and he separated it from Milligan’s A. gigantura, but was afterwards induced to withdraw his species 168 DLVPHORILLAS. as being Gould’s missing A. macrourus. About this time I began to receive specimens, and these showed matters more complicated than at first appeared, so I will again tabulate the items as at that time on record : Amytis textilis Dumont, being used for East Australian bird ex Gould. Amytis gigantura Milligan, regarded as distinct, from Mid-west Australia. Amytis macrourus Gould, in use for the South-west Australian bird, named by Carter, A. varia. Amytis striatus Gould, both East and West Australia. Amytis goyderi Gould, unrecognised since description, types in British Museum. Amytis modesta North, distinct Central Australian bird. I described in 1910-11 three forms of the striatus series which fortunately have given little trouble so we can pass over those here. In my “Reference List ” in 1912 I arranged the forms of the textilis group as just given, but including modestus as a form and adding two more, thus : Shark’s Bay, West Australia. Mid Australia. S.E. of S.W. Australia. South-west Australia. Central Australia. New South Wales. New South Wales. Victoria, South Australia. Mid-west Australia. North Westralia. Diaphorillas textilis textilis Dumont. Diaphorillas textilis giganturus Milligan. Diaphorillas textilis morgani Mathews. Diaphorillas textilis macrourus Gould = varia Carter. Diaphorillas textilis modestus North. Diaphorillas textilis inexpectatus Mathews. I also allowed my own forms of striatus thus Diaphorillas striatus striatus Gould. Diaphorillas striatus howei Mathews. Diaphorillas striatus oweni Mathews. Diaphorillas striatus whitei Mathews, and as a distinct species Diaphorillas goyderi Gould. Soon after this Mellor described as a new species Amytornis merrotsyi from Lake Torrens, and Campbell and Kershaw added Amytornis rufa from the Interior of Northern Territory. In my 1913 “ List ” I reduced the former to subspecific rank under textilis and the latter to subspecific rank under striatus , but otherwise made no change. Captain White’s explorations, however, brought to light three more forms and rather upset the values I had given some of the above. I described the bird North had determined as textilis from Central Australia as D. t. purnelli, another form which Ashby and Captain White at first thought was the long lost A. goyderi as D. textilis indulkanna also from Central Australia, and a different one from the Gawler Ranges as D. textilis myall. South Australia. VOL. X. 169 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Carter then explored Dirk Hartog Island and rediscovered the true D. textilis of Dumont on Peron Peninsula, and I named the Dirk Hartog form D. textilis carteri. Campbell recently pointed out that two series of birds were included in the striatus series and that Mellor’s merrotsyi was nearer these and was not a form of textilis as I had given it. I also recorded that D. purnelli should be elevated to the rank of a distinct species. At the present time the status of the species and subspecies is as follows : Diaphorillas textilis textilis Dumont. Peron Peninsula, West Australia. Diaphorillas textilis carteri Mathews. Dirk Hartog Island, West Australia. Diaphorillas textilis macrourus Gould Mid-west Australia. =giganturus Milligan = megalura Sharpe. Diaphorillas textilis varia Carter. South-west Australia. Diaphorillas textilis morgani Mathews. South-east of South-west Australia. Diaphorillas inexpectatus inexpectatus New South Wales. Mathews. Diaphorillas inexpectatus myall Mathews. Gawler Ranges, South Australia. Diaphorillas modestus modestus North. Meerenie Bluff, Central Aus- tralia. Diaphorillas modestus indulkanna Mathews. Indulkanna, Central Aus- tralia. Diaphorillas modestus obscurior Mathews. Broken Hill, New South Wales. Diaphorillas purnelli Mathews. Diaphorillas striatus striatus Gould. Diaphorillas striatus howei Mathews. Diaphorillas merrotsyi Mellor. Diaphorillas whitei whitei Mathews. Diaphorillas whitei oweni Mathews. MacDonnell Range, Central Australia. New South Wales. Victoria. Interior of South Australia. Mid-west Australia. Lower Mid-west Australia. 170 DIAPHORILLAS. Diaphorillas whitei rufus Campbell and Interior of Northern Terri- Kershaw tory. Eyramytis goyderi Gould. Lake Eyre District. There are three other species of Grass-Wrens, Magnamytis woodwardi Hartert, M. dorotheae Mathews and M. housed Milligan, which do not cause any trouble. Key to the Species. Feathers striated above and below Rump red D. purnelli Rump brown Tail large (wide) D. textilis Tail short (narrow) Bill thickish, back lighter D. modestus Bill thinish, back darker D. inexpectatus Feathers striated above only Black moustachel stripe Upper-surface reddish D. whitei Upper-surface brownish D. striata No black moustachel stripe D. merrotsyi 171 Order PASSERIFORMES . No. 568. Family SYLVIID/F. DIAPHORILLAS TEXTILIS. GRASS-WREN. (Plates 467 & 468, bottom figures.) Maluku'S textilis Dumont, Diet. Sci. Nat. (Levrault), Vol. XXX., p. 117, May 29th, 1824 : based on Quoy and Gaimard, pi. 23, f.2 : Shark’s Bay, West Australia=Peron Peninsula. M alums textilis Dumont, Diet. Sci. Nat. (Levrault), Vol. XXX., p. 117, May 29th, 1824: Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. de rUranie and Physicienne, Zool., p. 107, pi. 23, f. 2, Sept. 18th, 1824 : Shark’s Bay, West Australia. Amytis textilis Lesson, Traite d’Orn., p. 454, 1831 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. It., p. 184, 1878; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. VII., p. 107, 1883; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 23, 1899 ; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 221, 1901 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat., No. 1, Vol. I., p. 248, 1904. Amytis macrourus Gould, Birds Austr., pt. xxvi. (Vol. 3, pi. 30), March 1st, 1847 : Interior of W.A.=Wongan Hills ; id, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), p. 2, 1847, March 29th; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 338, 1865 ; Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 184, 1878; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. VII., p. 108, 1883; Ramsay, Tab. List Austr. Birds, p. 8, 1888 ; Hall, Key Birds Austr., p. 23, 1899; Campbell, Nests and Eggs Austr. Birds, Vol. I., p. 223, 1901 ; Gibson, Emu, Vol. IX., p. 73, 1909 ; Carter, ib., p. 163, 1910 ; North, Viet. Naturalist, Vol. XXVI., p. 158, 1910 ; id., Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat. No. 1, Vol. IV., pt. 5, p. 425, 1914. Diaphorillas textilis Oberholser, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., 1899, p. 212. Amytis gigantura Milligan, Victorian Naturalist, Vol. XVIII., p. 28, June 6th, 1901 : Mount Magnet, West Australia ; Carter, Emu, Vol. VIII., p. 104, 1908 ; Crossman, ib., Vol. IX., p. 88, 1909. Amytis megalura Sharpe, Zool. Rec. (1901), Aves, p. 68. 1902 : emendation of Milligan’s name only. Amytornis textilis Sharpe, Ilandl. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 246, 1903; Mathews, Hand! Birds Austral., p. 80, 1908; Campbell, Emu, Vol. XVIII., p. 262, 1919; H. L. White, ib., Vol. XX., p. 190, pi. xx., 1921. Amytis varia Carter, Victorian Naturalist, Vol. XXV., p. 86, Sept. 10th, 1908 : Broome Hill, South-west Australia ; id.. Emu, Vol. VIII., p. 104, 1908. 172 DIAPHORILLAS TEXTILIS. < GRABS WREN). s GRASS-WREN. Amytornis macrurus Sharpe, Handl. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., p. 246, 1903 ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 80, 1908. Amytornis megalurus Sharpe, ib. ; Mathews, Handl. Birds Austral., p. 80, 1908. Amytornis varia North, Viet. Nat., Vol. XXVI., p. 158, 1910. Amytornis gigantura Jackson, Erau, Vol. IX., p. 136, 1910 ; Whitlock, ib., p. 202, pi. xx., 1910 ; Gibson, ib., Vol. X., p. 71, 1910 ; Whitlock, id., ib. ; Gibson, ib., p. 341, 1911. Diaphorillas texiilis textilis Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 364, 1912 ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 231, 1913 ; Carter, Ibis, 1917, p. 605. Diaphorillas textilis giganturus Mathews, Nov. Zook, Vol. XVIII., p. 364, 1912 ; id.. List Birds Austr., p. 231, 1913. Diaphorillas textilis morgani Mathews, Nov. Zook, Vol. XVIII., p. 364, Jan. 31st, 1912 : Cardinia, South-east Coast of West Australia ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 231, 1913. Diaphorillas textilis macrourus Mathews, Nov. Zook, Vol. XVIII., p. 365, 1912; id., List Birds Austr., p. 231, 1913. Diaphorillas textilis carteri Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. III., pt. 5, p. 87, pi. 3, July 21st, 1917 : Dirk Hartog Island, West Australia ; Carter, Ibis, 1917, p. 599. Amytornis textilis carteri Whitlock, Emu, Vol. XX., p. 183, 1921. Distribution. Western Australia (Mid- and South-West). Adult male. Crown of head, nape, mantle and back, blackish-brown with white shaft- streaks and smoke-brown margins to the feathers ; lesser upper wing-coverts like the back but inclining to rufous ; median and greater upper wing-coverts, bastard- wing, primary-coverts and flight-quills blackish-brown with pale margins and whitish shafts ; rump, and upper tail-coverts rust-brown with whitish shafts to the feathers ; tail-feathers dark brown with pale margins and dark obsolete cross- bars ; sides of face, chin, and throat similar to the top of the head but much paler ; breast and sides of body pale rust-brown with whitish shaft-lines which become almost obsolete on the lower flanks, thighs, and under tail-coverts ; middle of abdomen buff y- white with blackish bases to the feathers ; axillaries, under wing- coverts, and inner margins of quills below, cinnamon, remainder of quills below blackish-brown with whitish shafts ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface but paler and having white shafts to the feathers. Bill bluish horn, mouth yellow, eyes light hazel, feet purplish-brown. Total length 192 mm. ; culrnen 13; wing 68; tail 93 ; tarsus 25. Figured. Collected on Dirk Hartog Island, West Australia, on May 18th, 1916, and is the type of Diaphorillas textilis carteri. (Plate 467, top figure.) Adult female. Differs from the male in having a reddish patch on the sides of the body. General colour of the upper-surface rust-brown, somewhat darker on the head, with white shaft-lines to the feathers on the head, back, and upper wing-coverts ; greater upper wing-coverts blackish-brown with pale margins ; rump and upper tail-coverts similar to the back ; tail-feathers dark brown with pale edges and dark obsolete cross-bars on some of the feathers ; sides of the face and throat similar to the crown of the head, but paler ; sides of the body bright chestnut ; lower flanks and thighs dusky-brown ; abdomen dark isabelline ; under wing-coverts and inner margins of quills below cinnamon ; remainder of quill lining dark brown with white shafts to the feathers ; lower aspect of tail blackish, the feathers narrowly edged with buff. Eyes dull yellow, feet and legs bluish-purple, bill blue horn, mouth and tongue yellow. Total length 173 mm. ; culrnen 10, wing 69, tail 86, tarsus 28. Figured. Collected on Dirk Hartog Island, West Australia, on the 29th of October, 1916. (Plate 467, bottom figure.) 173 THE BIRDS OP AUSTRALIA. Adult female. General colour of the upper-surface smoke-brown with white shaft-lines to the feathers on the head, upper-back, scapulars, upper wing-coverts and upper tail-coverts ; somewhat darker on the head and hind-neck ; inner webs of flight- quills dark brown with buff margins ; tail-feathers similar with dark obsolete cross-bars ; sides of face and sides of neck like the crown of the head ; rictal bristles well developed and directed laterally ; throat, breast, and sides of breast similarly marked to that of the upper-surface but much paler, becoming darker and uniform in colour on the abdomen, lower flanks, thighs, and under tail-coverts ; axillaries, under wing-coverts, and inner margins of quills below cinnamon-buff, remainder of quill-lining hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail hair-brown with pale shafts and pale margins to the feathers, some of the feathers are slightly tinged with rufous. Eyes red-hazel, feet and tarsus purplish-flesh, soles yellowish, bill dark horn. Total length 200 mm. ; culmen 11, wing 75, tail 105, tarsus 28. Figured. Collected near Broome Bill, South-west Australia, on the 21st of June, 1908, and is the type of Amytis varia Carter. (Plate 467, middle figure.) Adult male. General colour of the upper-surface rust-brown, with white shaft-lines to the feathers, darker on the fore-part of the head and paler on the lower back, rump, and wings, where the white shaft-lines are almost absent ; marginal lesser upper wing-coverts tinged with rufous ; inner-webs of flight-quills blackish-brown with more rufous at the base ; tail also blackish-brown with fulvous margins to the feathers ; the feathers on the sides of the face rust-brown with white shaft-streaks, and blackish bases to the feathers ; rictal bristles black with white bases ; lores cinnamon-rufous at the base ; chin, and upper throat grey with white centres to the feathers becoming pale ferrugineous on the fore-neck and breast, where the feathers are lined with white ; abdomen, sides of body, thighs, and under tail- coverts similar but rather darker and the white streaks almost absent ; axillaries, under wing-coverts and inner margins of flight-quills below pale rufous, remainder of quill-lining dark brown ; lower aspect of tail paler than its upper-surface and the shafts of the feathers whitish. Upper mandible and tip of lower brown, base of lower whitish-grey. Eyes brown, feet and legs brown, Total length 190 mm. ; culmen 12, wing 68, tail 89, tarsus 27. Figured. Collected at Yalgoo, West Australia, on the 13th of January, 1908. (Plate 468, lower left hand figure.) Adult female. General colour of the upper-surface dark ochreous-brown with white shaft- lines to the feathers, which are bordered with black on the top of the head, hind- neck and mantle ; lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts more uniform and the white shaft-lines less conspicuous ; lesser upper wing-coverts inclining to pale rufous with pale shaft-lines to the feathers, remainder of wing similar to the back but the shaft-lines less conspicuous, inner webs of flight-quills dark brown margined with pale rufous ; tail dark brown with slightly paler edges to the feathers and wavy obsolete cross-bars ; sides of face streaked with white and smoke-brown and blackish bases to the feathers ; rictal bristles black with white bases ; lores cinnamon at the base ; chin also cinnamon with black hair-like tip to the feathers ; throat, fore- neck and upper breast ferrugineous-brown with white shaft-lines, like the sides of the neck ; middle of lower breast and middle of abdomen pale buff, with dark bases to the feathers ; sides of body bright chestnut ; lower flanks uniform rust- brown like the thighs and under tail-coverts ; axillaries, under wing-coverts, and inner margins of flight-quills below cinnamon-rufous ; remainder of quill-lining pale hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface. Bill dark horn, eyes dark brown, feet and legs black. Total length 190 mm. ; culmen 10, wing 67, tail 96, tarsus 26. Figured. Collected at Bay Bawn, West Australia, on the 18th of April, 1903. (Plate 468, lower right hand figure.) Immature. Resemble the adults in general. 174 GRASS-WREN. Nest. “ Usually placed in the centre of a low, thick bush and varies from one foot to two feet and a hah from the ground. Bulky in structure, with little roof. Composed of grass, with entrance near the top, the eggs being visible from outside. No lining beyond fine grass. The lower part is strongly made, but the upper part is very loosely put together.” (Gibson.) Eggs. “ Clutch two to three. White, or reddish- white, over which are sprinkled dots and small, irregular shaped spots and a few blotches of rich red or pinkish-red and having similar, but fewer, underlying markings of lilac-grey, all of them being more thickly disposed towards the larger end, where they are confluent and assume the form of an irregular zone. 19-20 mm. by 16.” (North.) Breeding-season. August to October. ( ib .) Nest. “ An open cup-shaped structure, constructed of strips of bark and long portions of a soft, white flowering plant. Lined with short, soft pieces of flat grass and plant stems, also a quantity of soft, white vegetable matter. Width over all 4| inches ; egg cavity 21 wide by 1| deep. Placed in a dense salt bush about 20 inches from the ground.” (White.) Eggs. “ Clutch three, warm white or dull pink, beautifully marked all over with spots and blotches of very rich reddish-brown, which become confluent at the larger end, where they form an irregular zone or cap. 22-23 mm. by 17.” (ib.) Breeding-season. August (Lake Way). When tbe early explorers visited Australia, they of course used sailing vessels and sought sheltered harbours for rest after their long voyages without much consideration as to eventual settlement. Later expeditions with the latter object in view did not pay much attention to the early points, but searched for suitable situations combining all facilities for continued habitation. Conse- quently some of the places called at by the earliest travellers have scarcely ever since been visited. Further, when ornithology was in course of development, little attention was paid to exact geographical details save by those who had themselves collected the specimens and then only in an erratic manner. Thus Gould having visited Australia, and noted the divers manners of country, had little hesitation in naming slight distinctions in bird life as long as the specimens came from different localities, but in the present case he erred strangely in overlooking the facts of geography. He found a Grass-Wren living on the plains bordering the Lower Namoi in New South Wales, and, comparing it with the figure in the Voyage de l’Uranie, recognised it as identical and used the name Amytis textilis given to that figure. Later he described a new species from Western Australia, naming it Amytis macrourus , and observing “ Is evidently the representative of A. textilis of the eastern coast,” whereas A. textilis had been described from Western Australia. It is a quaint commentary on the practice of the succeeding line of British ornithologists that they should have neglected the correction of such an obvious error. In the authoritative Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum the names were 175 THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. used as given by Gould, apparently because the author was too busy to investi- gate the matter himself, and the easiest way was acceptance. Then Milligan got a Grass-Wren from Day Dawn and differentiated it from macrourus from Gould’s description alone, and without considering the confusion, nor carefully attending to the poor description Gould had given. Then Carter, securing a Grass-Wren at Broome Hill, described it as new, comparing it with Milligan’s gigantura, but later he withdrew' his species, considering that it was the long lost Gouldian macrourus and this has been accepted. Here again there appears to be a doubt, as Gould’s macrourus was “ shot in the interior by Gilbert ” and we know that Gilbert’s “ interior of West Australia ” w'as inland in the York clistricb to the Wongan Hills. These were apparently closely allied to Gould’s textilis, as Heartland main- tained that Milligan’s species was the same as he had called textilis from East as well as West Australia. However, the true textilis had never been collected until Mr. Tom Carter, at my request, undertook the exploration of Dirk Hartog Island and the Peron Peninsula. He there found Grass -Wrens comparatively plentiful, but very difficult to secure ; but as no one had apparently collected on the island since Quoy and Gaimard one hundred years previously, he w'as enabled to make close observations, which I published in the Austral Avian Record , Vol. III., 1917, pp. 79 et seq., wherein I also gave the technical history of the species which will follow' here. Carter wrote : “ Jan. 2, 1917. On several occasions previous to this date I had seen a single, and once a pair of birds, in low scrub near Denham on Peron Peninsula, that I felt sure were Diaphorillas. One day I had a shot at one with Ho. 10 shot, but although the bird seemed to be hit, I lost it in scrub. For eight consecutive days I wras hunting round the vicinity, when I saw a bird moving in the bottom of the scrub. I chirped with my lips, and at once it emerged from below the bush, and ran away from me, with icings drooping and feathers puffed out , to underneath a dense ‘ needle ’ bush, under whose shelter it paused. I had not a very clear view of it, but shot and killed it, a male Diaphorillas textilis with testes enlarged. In measurement it is much the same as Dirk Hartog birds, but the plumage is darker, brighter, and with bolder markings than any from Dirk Hartog Island. The Peron bird is much more wary then the others.” This note refers absolutely to the typical textilis collected by Quoy and Gaimard. Mr. Tom Carter has given a full account of the finding of this bird on Dirk Hartog in the Ibis, 1917, pp. 599-605, from which I extract the following notes : “ These Grass- Wrens appear to be very silent birds, and the three peculiar movements that I have attempted to describe do not appear to have been recorded for any others of the genus, viz. : — 176 GRASS- WREN. “1. Displaying tliemselves with outspread wings and tail. It appeared to result from curiosity and anger combined. “2. Climbing up the branches of bushes. As this action was performed in the midst (not outside) of densely foliaged bushes, it was impossible to be certain whether the beak was used as well as the feet, but it seemed as if it was, the action being the same as when Parrots climb. “3. Jumping to the ground from bushes, apparently without spreading the wings, which most birds use in such cases. “The gizzards of almost all the Grass-Wrens examined were found to contain a few very hard yellow objects that looked like seeds from some bush or plant. . . . I failed to collect any seeds resembling them. They appeared to be too hard to be eggs of any description, as it was very difficult to cut one with a pocket-knife. “No breeding notes were made, and no immature birds were obtained. This species was very partial to the dark shade and shelter afforded by the large clumps of spreading wattles that seemed to be of a variety peculiar to Dirk Hartog Island. The striped mantles of this Grass-Wrenare eminently protective when the birds are in the dark shade of the lower branches of the wattles, as the white stripes blend with the whitish dead twigs, which are always very numerous in the lower part of the bushes. “This species is at times very tame, or perhaps inquisitive would be a better word, but, as a rule, the birds are of the most agile and elusive habits, as may be inferred from the above notes. They are undoubtedly very local in distribu- tion on the island, but being so chary of leaving the shelter and security of the thick scrub, they are probably more numerous than is apparent. It is to be feared that domestic cats in a wild state, which are now becoming numerous on the island (as well as everywhere else in Western Australia), will be a great menace to this and other scrub-hunting birds. At my suggestion, Dirk Hartog Island has been recently proclaimed a reserve for Native Game by the Colonial Secretary of Western Australia. The female birds only have the chestnut flank marks.” Whitlock then was sent by H. L. White to find the nest and eggs of these birds, and he wrote : “I regret that owing to the ravages of cats on Dirk Hartog I did not see a single example during a persistent search of three months’ duration. I had my experiences with the interior form at Lake Austin and Lake Way to guide me, so I do not think I was personally at fault. . . . On crossing over to Peron Peninsula ... I was successful ... I sat down under a bush . . . my attention was arrested by the sound of three peculiar high-pitched notes uttered in a descending scale very difficult to express on paper. I 4 chirped ’ in reply, when out hopped a fine male Grass- Wren at a distance of 10 yards. . . . VOL. X. 177 THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. In a large valley nearer the township of Denham I found a family of Grass- Wrens. ... I found the Grass-Wrens on Per on just as wary and difficult to observe as those at Lake Austin and Lake Way. The reason they are still present on Peron appears to be the abundance of rabbits on which the bush cats prey in preference to birds.” If Whitlocks’ experience is confirmed, and the Dirk Hartog birds have been exterminated by cats in these few years, the bird wall prove almost as as interesting as Dieffenbach’s Rail. This Rail lived at the Chatham Islands, off New Zealand, in considerable numbers, and a specimen was procured by Dr. Dieffenbach about 1840, which is now in the British Museum. Before another ornithologist visited the Islands the species had become extinct and the British Museum specimen is unique. If Carter had not visited the island when he did the same story might have been exactly written. Gould described Amytis macrourus and wrote : “ The present is the only species of the genus that has been discovered in Western Australia ; two examples were shot in the interior by Gilbert, who states that ‘ it inhabits the thickets, and is almost always on the ground, moving about in families of from four to seven in number ; it carries its tail more erect than any other bird I have seen, and certainly no bird runs or rather hops over the surface of the ground with greater rapidity.’ It is evidently the representative of the Amytis textilis of the eastern coast, to which it is very nearly allied, but from which, as well as from the A. striatus, it may at once be distinguished by its more robust form, and by the much greater length and size of its tail.” His description reads : “ All the upper-surface brown, each feather with a narrow stripe of white down the centre ; under-surface the same, but much paler ; under-surface of the shoulder pale rusty-red ; tail brown, margined with pale brown ; irides hazel ; base of the lower mandible horn-colour, remainder of the bill black ; feet flesh-brown. Total length 5| inches, bill J, wing 2 1, tail 2-|, tarsi f-.” Some of the measurements are wrong, a not uncommon failing in connection with Gould’s work. Thus the tail of macrourus is of “ much greater length and size ” than that of striatus , which Gould gives as 3|, and the total length is obviously wrong. Milligan’s gigantura approximates much more closely to Gould’s macrourus in detail as follows : — macrourus T.l. 5J, error, say 7f in. gigantura 7 ‘25 inches bill \ inch *5 inch wing 2f- inches 2-75 inches tail 2|, error, or 3f4- 3*75 inches tarsi | inch •95 inch 178 GRASS-WREN. I measured a series sent me from the Perth Museum from Yalgoo and Day Dawn, and mine agree with Milligan’s as -wing 2*50-2-70 inches ; bill *5 inch, tail 3*45-3*90 and tarsus *8-*9 inches. Under the name Amytis textilis Gould, Mr. G. A. Keartland wrote : “I first saw these birds in June, 1894, at Idracowra [D. purnelli], in Central Australia. They were running about singly with tail erect, amongst the triodia tussocks, feeding on spiders and other insects. Whenever two birds came in contact they fought or chased each other. I shot three, all of which proved to be males. Probably their mates were busy with their eggs. These were the only specimens of the species I secured whilst with the Horn Scientific Exploring Expedition. Messrs. North and Zietz agreed in the identification. [Three female birds which I shot at Stokes’ Pass and which at first I thought belonged to this species were, on closer inspection and in view of their different habits and markings, separated by North as a new species ( modesta ) ]. Mr. C. E. Cowle afterwards shot several at their nests and forwarded the skins with their eggs. In 1898, I accompanied the Calvert Exploring Expedition through the Great Desert of West Australia. We started from Geraldton eastward, passing Cue and turned north near Lake Augusta. Throughout the journey we heard a noise coming from the triodia tussocks which sounded more like the note of an insect than that of a bird, but when the tussock was kicked and the bird dislodged, it fluttered or ran to the next hiding place. I shot fifteen of all ages and sexes and secured a pair of young ones well feathered but unable to fly. They were all alike in colour and markings, irrespective of age or sex. They are very active birds with fleshy, muscular thighs. At Brookman Creek I shot two perched on twigs about a foot high ; these were the only ones I ever saw perched. They have a low plaintive song which they only utter when at rest. I afterwards found the same birds near the Margaret River and secured a clutch of heavily incubated eggs. The nest was covered, but with such a l^rge side opening as to make it difficult whether it should not be described as an open structure. The eggs, two in number, were swollen oval, short and so heavily marked with deep red spots as to obscure the white ground. These birds appear to be identical with the Amytis gigantura of Milligan.” Whitlock recorded from the East Murchison : “ The Large-tailed Grass- Wren was another Lake Austin friend I hoped to meet with at Lake Way. I was not disappointed. It is a most difficult bird to find, especially if the weather be windy or wet and cold. As at Lake Austin, it was strictly confined to the salt-bush near the lake. This family of birds is said to favour rocky or stony places. It may be true of other members, but I never saw the present species in any such country. Though there were outcrops of rocks near two of its haunts at Lake Austin, and again a huge outcropping quartz reef at Lake 179 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Way, I never saw an individual amongst the debris surrounding these forma- tions. The species of salt-bush it prefers grows to a height of about 3 feet. I can give no hints as to how to find this bird. One may pay visit after visit and spend hours in its haunts without seeing more than its tracks. Another day one may walk right up to the bush it is skulking under, but it does not follow that the Amytornis will break cover. If it has a song it seldom utters it. The call note is faint and very high-pitched, but both at Lake Austin and Lake Way I heard individuals utter a sound precisely like the mew of a cat. The female is much more wary than the male, and one seldom gets more than a glimpse of her as she bounds from bush to bush. On a single occasion, the weather being calm and genial, I had the exceptional opportunity of seeing three of these Grass- Wrens at the same moment. I knew a party was about, and at the expenditure of some patience and artifice I enticed them around me. One hopped to the top of a salt-bush, another came out in the open and even began pecking about, whilst a third took a series of peeps at me from behind another bush. From the large size of their tails I judged all these to be males. The male, too, shows no rufous patches at the side of the breast.” Whitlock then described the finding of the nest, which was open, and made some comments on the confusion between textilis, gigantura and macrourus, acknowledging that the two latter might prove to be the same, but “the Western birds, should not, with our present knowledge, be referred to the smaller and less robust A. textilis (of the East !).” Mr. Tom Carter’s notes read : “ On June 6th, 1908, two Large-tailed Grass-Wrens were seen by me in one of my paddocks near Broome Hill, and also on two or three subsequent dates they were seen near the same place, on a small rounded stony hill, having a patch of 4 marlock ’ scrub on one side of it. On June 21st, I succeeded in shooting one of these birds and being misled by the description of Gould’s A. macrourus in Gould’s Handbook, Vol. I., p. 338, where the total length is stated to be 5J inches, while my bird measured 7J inches, I described my specimen as A. varia. Mr. A. J. North afterwards pointed out to me that Gould’s measurement was an error, so I withdrew my name in favour of Gould’s. “ Oct. 19, 1908. One of these birds was shot out of a party of six in marlock scrub about thirty miles east of Broome Hill (probably a family of adult birds and fledged young of the year). On Sept. 1, 1910, another specimen was obtained near the same locality by chasing it until it ran into a small hole under a tree stump, whence it was captured alive. These birds run with extra- ordinary speed and tails erect in the bottom of the scrub, in small parties of four or six. One of the above specimens was eight inches in length. Most 180 GRASS-WREN. probably the two stray birds seen in my paddock at the small isolated patch of ‘marlock’ had been driven down from their usual haunts further east by extensive bush fires that had been raging there. Broome Hill aboriginal name ‘ Tcher-ree.’ ” When Carter described his A. varia, he compared it with Milligan’s gigantura , noting his species was larger, had no chestnut patches on body or shoulders [the sign of the female], the upper-surface in three distinct shades, the dark head and neck being very pronounced, while Milligan’s was a “uniform dull brown,” and Carter’s measurements read “ Total length 7*50, wing 3*0, tail 4*20, tarsus P20 and culmen *4 inch.” There can be little hesitation in reinstating Carter’s form as validly distinct from Gould’s macrourus, which is probably the same bird as Milligan named gigantura , the differences being indefinable at present. In the Austral. Avian Record, Vol. III., pt. 4, p. 79, et seq., 1917, I have given completely the early technical complication with regard to the authority for Malurus textilis which I showed, though commonly accredited to Quoy and Gaimard, was first described by Dumont. In the preceding pages, I have outlined the confusion Gould perpetuated through using the name given to a West Australian bird for a bird he found in New South Wales, and then describing the West Australian bird as a new species. Since that date many species have been referred to by this earliest name given to a Grass-Wren and it has been difficult to disentangle the records. I am now inclined to think that at present more than one species is here included under textilis. The true textilis forms are Diaphorillas textilis textilis (Dumont). Per on Peninsula, West Australia. Diaphorillas textilis carteri Mathews. \ Dirk Hartog Island. This island form is paler, duller, with less bold markings than the former. Whitlock suggests these are identical without seeing any specimens, which is not wise in this genus. Diaphorillas textilis macrourus (Gould). Wongan Hills, Mid- west Australia. Of this, at present, Amytis gigantura Milligan can only be regarded as synonymous, the type locality of that form being Mount Magnet in the same kind of district, and Milligan’s specimens agree very closely with Gould’s plate, which Carter’s, the next subspecies, do not. Sharpe altered Milligan’s gigantura to meg alum because he thought the former was not good Greek, which it is. 181 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Diaphorillas textilis varius (Carter). Broome Hill, South-west Australia. Noticeably darker than the former, and easily recognised by most workers. Diaphorillas textilis morgani Mathews. Cardinia, South-east Coast of West Australia. I described this : “ Differs from D. t. gigantura in being much darker below, more like macrourus , but having the tail more as in gigantura. The white shaft-streaks on the head are not so distinct as in the above two birds.” In this description gigantura — macrourus above and macrourus— varius above. TN ■fci if] bj M a; H X w h i *0 IQ % ib m < C) j j v— i 0 X 5 3 I 0- * < m x ^ Q ^ Order PASSERIFORMES. No. 569. Family SYLVIIDAE . DIAPHORILLAS MODESTUS, THICK-BILLED GRASS- WHEN. (Plate 468, top figures.) Amytis modesta North, Victorian Naturafist, Vol. XIX., p. 103, Nov. 6th, 1902 : Meerenie Bluff, MacDonnell Ranges, Central Austraha. Amytis modesta North, Viet. Nat., Vol. XIX., p. 103, 1902 ; Keartland, lb., Vol. XX., p. 137, 1904 ; North, Austr. Mus. Spec. Cat., No. 1, Vol. 1, p. 249, 1904. Diaphorillas textilis modestus Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 365, 1922 ; id., List Birds Austr., p. 232, 1913 ; id., Austral Av. Rec., Vol. II., p. 136, 1915. Eyramytis goyderi (not of Gould) S. A. White, Trans. Roy. Soc. South Austr., Vol. XXXVIII., p. 432, 1914; id., ib., Vol. XXXIX., p. 754, 1915; Ashby, South Austr. Ornith., Vol. II., p. 10, 1915. Dia'phorillas textilis indullcanna Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXXVI., p. 90, July 7th, 1916 : Indulkanna, Everard Ranges, Central Austraha. Distribution. Central Austraha, MacDonnell, Musgrave and Everard Ranges. Adult male. Pore part of head dark brown with white shaft-hnes to the feathers, becoming ochreous-brown on the nape, hind-neck, sides of face, sides of neck, and upper-back ; lower back, rump, upper tail-coverts, and wings pale ochreous-brown, the white shaft-hnes almost entirely absent ; the lesser marginal upper wing-coverts tinged with fawn-colour ; flight-quills hair-brown with more or less buff on the basal portion ; tail pale brown with whitish margins to some of the feathers ; rictal bristles black with white bases ; lores tinged with cinnamon ; throat, breast, and abdomen buffy-white, some of the feathers on the chin black and have hair-like tips ; darker and inclining to fawn-colour on the lower flanks, thighs, vent, and under tail-coverts ; axillaries, under wing-coverts, and inner margins of quills below cinnamon-buff, remainder hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface but paler. BiU darkish horn, feet blackish-brown. Total length 150 mm. ; culmen 10, wing 63, tail 78, tarsus 25. Figured. Collected at Wyuna, Broken Hill, New South Wales, on the 1st of October, 1912, and is the type of Diaphorillas modestus obscurior. Adult female. Differs from the adult male in having a reddish patch on the sides of the body. Fore part of head blackish with white shaft-streaks to the feathers, becoming paler on the nape, sides of face, sides of neck, and upper back ; lower back, rump, upper tail-coverts and wings rust-brown and the shaft-hnes much less conspicuous ; flight-quills hair-brown on the inner webs with buff margins ; tail dark brown with fulvous margins to the feathers ; rictal bristles black ; lores and upper eyelid cimiamon ; chin buffy-white, some of the feathers have black hair-like tips, with dark bases to the feathers ; breast and abdomen pale fawn-colour becoming darker on the vent, lower flanks, thighs, and under tail-coverts ; a patch of chestnut on the sides of the body ; axillaries and under wing-coverts cinnamon-rufous ; under- 183 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. surface of flight-quills hair-brown with cinnamon-buff margins ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface but rather paler. Bill black with base of lower ashy-grey, feet black, eyes brown. Total length 145 mm. ; culmen 8, wing 59, tail 73, tarsus 23. Figured. Collected at Indulkanna Springs, Central Australia, on the 11th of July, 1914, and is the type of Diaphorillas textilis indulkanna. (Top right hand figure.) Immature. Are very similar to the adult. Nest. “ Similar to that of D. textilis. ” (North.) Eggs. C£ Clutch two, swollen ovals in shape, ground-colour of a dirty and pale creamy- white, well marked all over, more particularly at the larger end, with spots and blotches of brown, and of dull to rich reddish and rusty-brown. Surface of shell fine and smooth and rather glossy. The clutch measures 22 mm. by 15.” (H. L. White.) Breeding season. After rain early in the year. Mr. Gr. A. Heartland, who discovered Amytis modesta North, has written me : “At Stokes’s Pass, MacDonnell Ranges, Central Australia, these birds were found in companies of six or eight at a time. Instead of hiding in the triodia they kept dodging about the rocky walls of the Pass and when dis- turbed either ran into the crevices of the rocks or hid amongst the smaller stones. I shot three, all of which proved to be females. Their bills were not quite as strong as those of A. textilis , their backs a little lighter in colour and their breasts even cinnamon-brown, lacking the stripes of that species. I saw them again in a rocky gorge in West Australia where they were in small companies and appeared to be very sociable. Several clutches of their eggs forwarded to me by Mr. C. E. Cowle from the place where I obtained my first specimens, were mottled red and white. They are longer than those of A. textilis North distinguished this species at Heartland’s suggestion, observing : “ Like textilis, but paler above with the throat whitish and the bill deeper and not so pointed.” Under name Eyramytis goyderi Capt. S. A. White observed : “ We saw these birds on three or four occasions, always in the dry, sandy watercourses, but they always escaped into large masses of debris which were piled up against the trees by the flood waters. Notwithstanding that these heaps of rubbish were surrounded by our boys and set fire to, they escaped. It was not until we were halfway between Hermannsburg and Alice Springs that a specimen was secured.” Later he added : “ Eyramytis sp. A bird of this genus was met with near Indulkanna Springs, which was taken at the time for E. goyderi, but since then, Gould’s plate of the latter bird having been examined, it is easily seen that the skins in the Adelaide Museum labelled E. goyderi are not that bird, but agree fairly well with this doubtful species.” Apparently the birds referred to in the Adelaide Museum include the one collected by Love and recorded by Ashby under the name E. goyderi, when 184 THICK-BILLED GRASS-WREN. the eggs were described. Ashby wrote : “ The nest, containing two eggs, with the parent birds was obtained at Douglas Creek, near William Creek, Central Australia, in January, 1913, by my friend, Mr. J. R. B. Love. Mr. Love was able to secure the parent birds. One is in my collection, and the other in the Adelaide Museum. . . Mr. Love informs me that the parent bird crouched in the blue-bush, allowing him to approach and almost close the hand over it, when it flitted to the next bush. This species was seen at intervals from Douglas Creek to Barrow Creek.” When I received Captain S. A. White’s specimen from Indulkanna I named it Diaphorillas textilis indulkanna. “ Differs from D. t. modesta (North) in being darker above with a shorter tail and bill.” I now separate modestus as a distinct species. Upon my return from Australia I published the following note : “ Diaphorillas textilis modestus (North) was compared by North with a bird from Petermann Creek, which he considered the true 4 textilis ’ of Quoy et Gainiard. This bird I have since named D. i. purnelli ; it differs from West Australia birds from Day Dawn and Yalgoo in having a shorter tail, and the throat and under -surface much more suffused with reddish.” 44 1 have birds from near Broken Hill, New South Wales, which agree with ‘ modestus ,’ which latter type I have examined. I have also examined the co-type of ‘ modestus ’ from Mossgiel District. The range, therefore, will be Central Australia and New South Wales (from Broken Hill to Mossgiel District).” Re-examining the birds from Broken Hill I find that they differ from typical modestus from the MacDonnell Ranges in being duller above, not so rufous on the rump, the throat whiter and the flanks browner. I name this \ \ Diaphorillas modestus obscurior subsp. nov. Type from Wyurra, Broken Hill, New South Wales, October 1st, 1912, and is figured and described. This makes at present three recognisable subspecies Diaphorillas modestus modestus (North). MacDonnell Ranges, Central Australia. Diaphorillas modestus indulkanna Mathews. Musgrave and Everard Ranges. Diaphorillas modestus obscurior Mathews. Interior of South-western New South Wales. VOL. x. 185 Order PASSERIFORMES. No. 570. Family SYLVIIDAE. DIAPHORILLAS INEXPECTATUS. EASTERN GRASS-WREN. (Plate 469, two top figures.) Diaphorillas textilis INEXPECTATUS Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 365, Jan. 31st, 1912 : New South Wales.* Amytis textilis (not of Dumont 1824) Gould, Birds Austr., pt. m. (Vol. III. pi. 28) June 1st, 1841 ; id., Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 335, 1865. Diaphorillas textilis inexpectatus Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 365, 1912 • id List Birds Austr., p. 232, 1913. Amytornis modestus (not of North) S. A. White, Emu, Vol. XIII., p. 28, 1913 (S.A.). Diaphorillas textilis myall Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. XXXVI., p. 90, July 7th, 1916 : Myall Creek, Cariewerels, Gawler Ranges, South Australia. Distribution. New South Wales and South Australia. Adult male. General colour of the upper-surface dark smoke-brown with white narrow shaft-lines to the feathers on the top of the head, sides of face, sides of neck, hind- neck, back, scapulars, upper tail-coverts and upper wing-coverts ; fore-part of head rather darker than the back, the white shaft-streaks only slightly shown on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; flight -quills hair-brown margined with cinnamon- rufous on the basal portion of the inner-webs ; tail-feathers dark hair-brown with pale edges and obsolete cross-bars ; rictal bristles black and directed laterally ; the feathers in front of the eye and behind the nostrils fulvous at the base with black hair-like tips to the feathers like the chin ; throat, fore-neck, and breast fulvous with white elongated centres to the feathers, becoming more uniform on the sides of the body, thighs, abdomen and under tail-coverts ; axillaries, under wing- coverts and inner margins of flight-quills below bright cinnamon, remainder of quill-lining hair-brown ; lower aspect of tail similar to its upper-surface, but rather paler. Eyes brown, feet brownish-black, bill slaty-black. Total length 167 mm. ; culmen 10, wing 64, tail 87, tarsus 25. Figured. Collected at Myall Creek, Carie- werels Station, Gawler Ranges, on the 16th of September, 1912, and is the type of Diaphorillas myall. Adult female. Differs in having a reddish patch on the sides of the body. Adult male. General colour of the upper-surface pale smoke-brown with somewhat broad white shaft-lines to the feathers on the top of the head, sides of face, sides of neck, hind-neck, back, scapulars, and upper wing-coverts j fore part of head darker and inclining to blackish-brown like the cheeks ; rump and upper tail-coverts * As this is a skin from an old collection it may be from the Lower Namoi River. But this of course is only surmise. ’ ' 186 o • CJ CD r/) D H ^ U W K P< TO g^ x % in < fci g Eh 0 X b b> ■s b g is I ’0) h b b R b w 8 m o X £ w a