26 THE SA ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951 ------._----- NOTES ON THE OF SOUTH .: OCCURRENCE, DiSTRIBUTION AND

By H. ':P. CONDON

In the S.A. Ornithologist, volume 19, 1950, seas, but the final pronouncement still pp. 53-100, Terrill and Rix compiled and demands reference to the museum cabinet. edited a useful digest of published notes and Mathews at times worked on very imperfect records of the occurrence and .distribution of material, and unfortunately the Australian South Australian birds. museum worker is forced to do the same. They also incorporated a number of "sub­ However, the realisation that any popu­ specific names" in their review, but for what lation may be shown by careful study and purpose is not clear. Indeed, it would analysis to differ in. some way from others have been better if the names had been of the same species should temper our omitted altogether. By their own admis­ enthusiasm for an unlimited number of sion (loc. cit., p. 5!1.) these names are mean­ geographical races. ingless; properly recognised they would have Many hundreds of skins have been simplified the list, and provided a clearer examined in the collection of the South picture of relationships. Without going into Australian Museum, as well as some in the this question at length, it may be remarked. Museums in Melbourne and Sydney. Pre­ that early workers such as Gould and North viously proved synonyms are marked thus i', often described birds as species which con­ further names to be regarded as synonyms :j:, stitute obvious geographical races about while accepted species and subspecies are whose status to-day there is no argument. indicated by '\ and forms of which I am In other words, the characters for subspecies un certain ("?). are exactly the same as those for species. To save space, detailed references to the Mathews' subspecies are often in a dif­ original descriptions are omitted, but can ferent category. In a number of instances be found (under the numbers given) in it has been impossible to decide what was the 1926 R.A.O.U. Checklist. I have indi­ intended by his introductions, his diagnoses cated a number of racial names which may being vague, either brief or ambagious, and be applied to certain species which occur even misleading. Terrill and Rix, in arhi­ but in which the type localities are not trary fashion, have "accepted" some of these South Australian. and "rejected" others, thereby adding to the Also included in my remarks are some confusion. It is proposed, therefore, to miscellaneous notes on distribution and list and comment upon the specific and sub­ .occurrence, supplementary to that of Terrill specific names which have been applied by and Rix, and details of the introduced Mathews and others to birds taken within birds which are now well-established and the political boundaries of . must be regarded as part of our avifauna. Some of these refer to well-established. forms EMU or species, but many others (mostly the Dromaius dietnenianus (Jellllings) "primary and secondary subspecies" of Mathews (1) ) await confirmation. This bird was exterminated, probably by I have deviated in a number of instances bushfires, between the years 1803 and 1836. from the nomenclature .of the R.A.O.D. Mr. A. G. Edquist has informed me that Checklist, in order to indicate the necessity 'the late Mr. Alfred Turner reported seeinsr a for further minor revisions of that work. single bird at Grange's Lagoon in the y~ar Some of these have no doubt already been 1380. felt desirable by the field worker, and others NIr. H. NI. Cooper, of the Museum staff, have been suggested by our friends over. has drawn my attention to the following ex­ tract from Commander Nicolas Baudin's un­ (1) Meaningless terms at one time used by published Journal, dated January 31, 1803. Mathews.-H.T.C. At that time the vessel Ceographe was an- August, 1951 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST' 27 chored off Kangaroo Head (Cape Delambre B8011, B223·34, are referable to the race of the French). The water referred to by mosleyi, in which there is a relatively-large Baudin was obtained from a trickle or black patch on the underside of the flipper seepage near Frenchman's Rock in Hog Bay in the adult (vide Falla, R. A. Emu, 37, 1938, (Anse des Sources). Baudin wrote: "The p. 198, fig. 1 (A». This form breeds on boat sent to bring the complement of our Amsterdam, St. Paul and Tristan d'Acunha water brought us on its return two fine living Islands. emues which they had taken with the help THICK-BILLED (VICTORIA) PENGUIN of the dogs. In spite of all our attempts . Eudyptes pachyrhynchus Gray . we had not been' able so far to succeed in One record: Cape Banks (January, 1914,). getting near them, although the spots they frequented were known to us." (A. W. ROYAL PENGUIN Jose, Roy. Austr. Hist. Soc., 20,1934, p. 393.) Eudyptes schlegeli Finsch Emus were also recorded by Flinders One record: a bird taken at Encounter (1802) at Kangaroo Head. Capt. George Su­ Bay (February 22, 1933) and now in the therland, commander of the brig Governor S.A. Museum (No. Bl6739). Terrill and MacQuarrie, of Sydney, 1819, reported "Emus Rix list this in error under Thick-billed very numerous" at the western end of Kan­ Penguin, following Sutton, S.A. Orn., 12, garoo Island, also in the vicinity of what 1933, p. 40 (but vide Condon, Emu, 50, is now Hawk's Nest. ("Outline of the Plan 1950, pp. 59.61). This species is not of a; Proposed Colony to be founded on the listed in the current R.A.O.U. Checklist South Coast of Australia, etc.," 1834.) Three' (1926 edition). birds were taken back to Europe by the LITTLE PENGUIN French, and there is a mounted skin and Eudyptula minor nouae-hollandiae , a skeleton in the Paris Museum and an in­ (Stephens) complete skeleton in the Florence Museum. The type of the nominate race was taken T. Iredale has referred to an alleged speci­ in New Zealand, and Australian birds .are men in Bullock's Museum (England) in separable by their white rectrices under 1819 (vide Austr. Zool., 11, 1948, p. 235). Stephens' name for a bird from Port Jack­ Numerous skeletal remains have been found son, New South Wales. There seem to near Cape du Couedic, Kelly's Hill, the be no important differences in birds from all Brecknalls, and Eleanor River (see Morgan parts of the Australian range (e.g, see and Sutton, Emu, 28, 1928, pp. 1-19). A Nicholls, Emu, 17, 1918, p. 118, etc.; Alexan­ full-sized model now on exhibition in the der and Nicholls, Emu, 18, 1918, pp. 50­ S.A. Museum was based on the only avail­ 57): The name undina has been shown to able complete skeleton (N.D. B6814) in apply to freshly moulted birds, not "juvenile which the tarso-metatarsus presented a con­ specimens," as stated by Terrill and Rix. dition, probably pathological, verisimilar to Just before the moult the birds are very large that referred to as "boomerang leg" in and fat, and the feathers are worn and dull­ humans. This can be seen in the model, colored. Mathews, when describing.E. minor the manikin or "body" of which was covered woodwardi from "West Australia," said it with portions of the skin of a mainland differed in that the flipper was "grey and hird. not blue," but according to Hartert (Nov. It is possible that the Kangaroo Island Zool., 35, 1929, p. 43) this was "due to the Emu was only a diminutive insular race of flippers being covered with dirt"!! the mainland bird," No remains of a dwarf In South Australia Penguins breed on Emu have ever been found on the mainland. the Althorpes, Gambier, and Sir Joseph CRESTED PENGUIN Banks Groups, St. Francis Island, Baudin Eudyptes crestatus mosleyi Rocks, Granite' Island and other lesser is­ Mathews & Iredale lands; also at the Spit (Kingscote) and Antechamber Bay, Kangaroo Island. Two records: St. Francis Island, via Murat Bay (April 10, 1913); near Millicent FOWL . (December 31, 1940). Specimens housed Leipoa ocellata Gould in the South Australian Museum, Nos. Mathews maintained that South Australian 28 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951 birds are larger and lighter in coloration is transverse and not longitudinal as jn the than birds from , but the Stubble Quail. evidence is inconclusive. Hartert (loc. cit., p. 44), when commenting on the type of LITTLE (BUTTON) QUAIL rosinae, said "South Australia, Dec., 1875, Turnix velox (Gould) no exact locality." This bird was common on the Adelaide :/: Leipoa ocellata rosinae Mathews: South Plains at one time. Australia. [7a] :/: Turnix leucogaster North: Davenport Creek, Central Australia (equals South Aus­ SWAMP (BROWN) QUAIL tralia.-H.T.C.). ElSa] Coturnix ypsilophorus australis When describing leucogaster North said: (Latham) (2) "allied to T. velox and to T. pyrrhothorax, Satisfactory reports of the occurrence of but the almost uniform white under-surface this bird in South Australia are rare, but will serve to distinguish it from either, and recently Mr. R. W. McKechnie observed a from every member of the genus yet dis­ single individual at Murray Bridge and later covered in Australia." The amount of white collected a live bird near Adelaide. There on the lower surface in this species is sub­ is a set of eggs taken by the late Malcolm ject to much individual variation. Murray at Magill in the year 1872 in the ZEBRA (PEACEFUL) DOVE S.A. Museum. Geopelia striata tranquilla Gould (3) 'f Synoicus sordidus Gould: South Aus­ Two Australian races of this widespread tralia. [lOa] species occur, one in the tropical north Gould's original remarks under the above (placida) and a southern form (tranquilla}; name are: "Differs from its congeners in northern birds are distinctly smaller and the absence of any variety in the markings darker above and below. of its , in lieu of which the feathers of the upper surface have a broad bluish­ BRUSH BRONZEWING grey stripe down the middle. Two speci­ Phaps elegans (Temminck) mens are all that have come under my Peters (Bds. wu.. 3, p. U8) separated notice; both of which were received from Tasmanian birds, and Mathews' name South Australia." neglecta, as given by Terrill and Rh, was Mathews (Birds of Australia, 1, pp. 68-9) used to distinguish mainland birds, which stated that he had examined one hundred are supposed to be "slightly larger" and and fifty-two skins from all parts of Aus­ "paler," but the distinction is doubtful. tralia, but none resembled "the bird figured :/: Phaps elegans a/finis Mathews: Emu in Gould's folio work, Vol. V, pl. 91, which Well, Yorke Peninsula, S.A. [35b] he calls S. sordidus," He also asserted that Said to differ from P. e. neglecta "in its all the birds examined by himself from South much paler coloration above and below, Australia were "typical examples of S. aus­ especially on the mantle." tralis." Gould's specimens may 'have been young birds or males, which are duller than PLUMED PIGEON females. Lophophaps plumifera (Gould) Northern examples of the Brown Quail t Lophophaps leucogaster Gould: Machri­ hanish Station, S.A. [42a] are uniformly small, while the Tasmanian bird, the Swamp Quail of the R.A.O.D. Young birds of this species are generally Checklist, is distinguishable by its much duller and with little or no white on the larger size. abdomen, as stated by 'North (Nests and Coturnix ypsilophorus australis inhabits Eggs, etc., 4, p. 140) when he pointed out the southern portion of the Australian main­ that Gould's type of plumifera was based on land. It is about the same size as the an immature specimen, while leucogaster, Stubble Quail but lacks the coarse white described at a later date, was referable to streaks on the back, while the ventral pattern a freshly-moulted adult. Examination of a large series from various parts of the interior (2) Synoicus australis of the R.A.O.U. (3) Geopelia placida of the R.A.O.D. Checklist. Checklist, August, 1951 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 29 of Australia has shown that there are no large number of islands in the Pacific, and important differences in size or coloration birds from there are distinguished from those throughout the range. from New Zealand, Chatham Island, Aus­ tralia and by their smaller size. ROCK DOVE According to Mathews, the type locality of Columba livia Gmelin plumbea was New Zealand, so this name Introduced into South Australia, where it must be applied to Australian birds also. occurs in Adelaide and the rural districts in large numbers as a semi-domesticated asso­ DUSKY MOORHEN ciate of Man. In South Australia all the Gallinula tenebrosa tenebrosa Gould more hardy domestic varieties may be dis­ Other geographical races of this bird occur tinguished. in New Guinea and adj acent islands. * Gallinuia tenebrosa (Gould): South BURMESE SPOTTED DOVE Australia. [56]. Streptopelia chinensis tigrina (Temminck) SWAMP HEN (BALD COOT) Introduced into South Australia (a few in Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus the Adelaide Botanic Gardens in the year Temminck 1881, and later accidental liberations). The Mayr (Am. Mus. Novit., 1007, 1938, pp. common "Dove" about Adelaide, which has 11-13,; 1417, 1949, p. 22) has suggested increased greatly in numbers during the last that the Eastern Swamp Hen is a form of twenty years and is spreading rapidly to the widespread Purple Gallinule of Southern the north and south, from Clare to Victor Europe, Asia, etc. Peters (Bds. WId., 2, Harbour. Examination of specimens has p. 209) included it in Porphyrio poliocepha­ shown that the birds are of the Burmese Ius, the Purple Coot of Southern Asia and race {tigrina] . elsewhere, which Mayr also regards as con­ specific with P. porphyrio. BANDED LAND RAIL Rallus philippensis australis (Pelzeln) WHITE-FACED STORM·PETREL This bird has been recorded in nearly Pelagodroma marina (Latham) every month of the year in this State. With The name dulciae, quoted by Terrill and the present trend for larger genera, the name Rix, is a synonym of marina. Hypotaenidea may be dropped. KERGUELEN PETREL MARSH CRAKE Pterodroma lugens (Kuhl) Porzana pusilla palustris Gould For occurrence in South Australia, see S.A. This species occurs throughout the eastern Om., 20, p. "10. hemisphere, and Australian birds are smaller WillTE-BREASTED CORMORANT and paler than related forms. Plialacrocora» fuscescens Vieillot SPOTTED CRAKE t Carbo lvypoleucos Brandt: South Aus­ Porzana fluminea Gould tralia. :j: Porzana fluminea whitei Mathews: , S.A. [49b] PIED CORMORANT The alleged characteristic of this proposed Phalacrocorax uarius (Gmelin) race was "much lighter grey on the under Although some authors, including Peters surface," and was apparently based on an (Bds. WId., 1, p. 90), regard Australian aberrant individual. birds as distinct from New Zealand ones, the differences are not altogether clear. SPOTLESS CRAKE Mathews, in Birds of Australia, 4, p. 186, Porzana tabuensis plumbea (J. E. Gray) suggested that the Neozelanic P. uarius had Terrill and Rix quote Porzana plumbea the feathers of the head, neck, and back immaculata, which was shown by Amadon with an "oily dark green" sheen, while Aus­ in 1942 (Am. Mus. Nooit., 1175, p. 10) tralian birds had a "steel-blue sheen." Peters to be unrecognisable. A similar opinion used Mathews' name perthi (loc. Perth, W.A.) was expressed by Hartert in 1930 (Nooit, for Australian birds, and Terrill and Rix Zool., 36, p. 122). This Crake occurs in a have followed. Mathews stated perthi '''dif- 30 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951

fers from C. v. hypoleucos in its smaller KENTISH PLOVER wing and stronger bill." It seems most (RED-CAPPED DOTIEREL) likely. that none of the proposed Australian Charadrius alexandrinus ruficapillus races are valid. Temminck :j: H. v. whitei (Mathews}: Lake Albert, . Although Terrill and Rix frequently fol­ S.A. [99b] lowed Peters (Bds. Wld., vols.Ld.), they Plate 222 in volume 4 of Mathews' Birds failed to do so in this case. The suggestion of Australia forms the basis for this name, that the Red-capped Dotterel of Australia is which was later suppressed by its author. only a form of a world-wide species, the Kentish Plover, was first put forward by LITILE PIED CORMORANT Oscar Neumann (Nov. Zool., 35, 1929, p. Phalacrocorax melanoleucos melanoleucos 215). (Vieillot) Amadon (Am. Mus. Nooit., 1175, pp. 1-2) AUSTRALIAN DOTIEREL has reviewed the races of this species and Peltohyas australis australis (Gould) shown that Australian birds are separable, Whittell and Serventy (Syst. List Bds. other races being found in Rennel Island and Western Austr., 1948, p. 25) recognise the New Zealand region. There seem to be Mathews' name whitlocki for the Western no good reasons for the retention of the Australian bird, which was stated by the generic name Microcarbo, under which this author to be "much darker in coloration, bird is often quoted.' both above and below"; it is also said to be larger. SILVER GULL * Peltohyas australis (Gould): near Ade­ Larus novae-hollandiae nouae-hollandiae laide, S.A. [145] Stephens Mathews separated South Australian birds WHITE-HEADED STILT on an alleged greater length of wing, but all Himantopus himantopus seebohmi birds from southern Australia can be united . Hartert under the one name to include gunni In a brief review of certain members of Mathews (Tasmania) and longirostris Mas­ this world-wide species Mayr concluded that ters (King George's Sound, W.A.). Another there was only one Australian race. (Am. race occurs in northern Australia. Mus. Nouit., 1007, 1949, pp. 14-15.) :j: L. n, ethelae Mathews: Kangaroo Is­ WHIMBREL land, S.A. [125g] Numenius phaeopus (L.) PACIFIC GULL There is a record by the writer from Larus .pacificus Latham (4) Middl~ Beach, S.A., on October 9, 1946. (S.A. Nat., Jan., 1947, p. 6.) Jonathan Dwight, M.D., in the "Gulls of the World" (Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., 52, WHITE IBIS 1925, p. 134), used Gabianus and said: "A Threskiornis aethiopica strictipennis purely Australian species with a massive (Gould) bill that marks it in any plumage. It is as This is the Australian form of the Sacred if the angle had been stretched downwards Ibis of Egypt. The species occurs in the by compressing the bill, 'but the rounded Malaysian region and New Guinea. The nostril is even ,more characteristic, so that Australian race is the largest of the eastern there is good reason for placing the species forms. (Cf. Mayr, Am. Mus. Novit, No. in a monotypic genus." Ideas have changed 486.) It is given in the R.A.O.U. Checklist since that was written, for apart from bill as Threskiornis molucca. form there is nothing to separate the Pacific Gull from other members of the genus Larus, ROYAL SPOONBILL and ornithologists will no doubt agree that Platalea leu.corodia regia Gould Gabianus should be dropped. The suggestion that the Royal Spoonbill was a form of the Spoonbill of Europe (4) This bird is generally known as North Africa, Asia, etc., was first put forward Gabianus pacificus.-H.T.C. by Stresemann (Nov. Zool., 1912, p. 264). August, 1951 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 31

. GREY HERON BROWN HAWK Ardea cinerea Linn Falco berigora centralia (Mathews) It is suggested that this bird should be All South Australian birds are referable removed from the South Australian List, as to this form, which. was named from a bird there have been no definite records since collected on the , N.T. Very Gould's. dark birds are usually immature or sub­ GREY (WHITE) GOSHAWK adult, in which stages they may be found Accipiter nouae-hollandiae (GmeIin) breeding. The Brown Hawk is rare in There is an early record of this bird on southern coastal districts, and although it Kangaroo Island by Baudin's Expedition has been reported on a number of occasions (1802·3)-"l'Autour blanc de la Nouvelle­ from Kangaroo Island I have never seen a Hollande" (Peron, Voy. de Decouvertes au» specimen from that place. For further Terres Australes, historique: tome second. remarks, see Condon, Emu, 50, 1951, pp. Paris, 1816, page 78). 167·9, etc. The tendency by overseas workers GOSHAWK to use the name Ieracidea seems to be en­ Accipiter [asciatus [asciatus tirely unwarranted. Vigors and Horsfield Northern Australian birds, as suggested BOOBOOK OWL by Mathews, are separable on. account of Ninos nouae-seelandiae (Gmelin) their smaller size under the name didimue, It is now generally believed that there is the type locality being Melville Island. (cf., only one species of Boobook Owl in Aus­ Hartert, Nov. Zool., 35, 1931, p. 42.) tralia with an unknown number of geographi­ BLACK (FORK.TAILED) KITE cal races. (cf. Emu, 50, 1950, p. 134.) As Milvus migrans affinis Gould remarked by Mayr in his survey of the Australian birds are smaller and more northern Australian populations (Emu, 43, rufous· than those from Europe, Africa, and 1943, pp. 12·17), the classification of this southern Asia. species is most difficult, and the relation­ ships of the various southern forms have LEITER·WINGED KITE never been worked out. Little is known of Elanus scriptus Gould sexual differences and differences due to age * Elanus scriptus Gould: Cooper's Creek, and season, but undoubtedly individual varia­ S.A. [233] tion is marked. Birds in fresh plumage are BLACK FALCON more rufous, while those in worn plumage Falco subniger Gray are greyish. All these factors are important Notojalco subniger minnie Mathews: "Min­ when attempting to "sort out" the many nie Downs, N.E.S.A." [238a] names used by Mathews. As observed by The R.A.O.U. Checklist reference given Mayr, variation may be correlated with rain­ above refers to a locality of the fall rather than with geographical districts, same name; it is south of Blackall. although I have examined an exceptionally GREY FALCON dark bird from Tennant Creek, N.T., which Falco hypoleucus Gould is in a dry region, and birds from adj acent :j: Falco luypoleucus ashbyi Mathews: S.A. parts are pale. The above name is listed by Terrill and According to Peters (Bds. Wld., 4, pp. Rix, Hartert (Nov. Zool., 37, 1931, p. 44) 138.9), the following forms are represented stated that the type was an adult "dirty in South Australia: N. n, ocellata (northern) specimen with almost entirely bare crown," and N. n, marmorata (southern). when commenting on Mathews' contention Terrill and Rix give the names "euerardi" that it differed "in being darker above and and "marmorata," but do- not mention two light blue-grey on the imder-surface-e-not other races proposed.for South Australia. white." This differs from Peters' treatment, and as There are two skins (mounted) in the S.A. they assert that they have been unable "to Museum, which were taken at Yunta, S.A., check the validity" of these names, their in June, 1908. This species is normally selection must be in the nature of an un­ very pale grey beneath. supported guess. 32 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951

There are forty-five skins of Nino» novae­ sula, far-western New South Wales and also seelandiae in the South Australian Museum probably western Victoria. Most of the from various localities in S.A., N.T., W.A., skins examined were from the vicinity of Victoria and Queensland, and these form' Adelaide, together with others from near the basis of the following remarks. Eudunda and the southern Flinders Ranges. Females generally seem to be more spotted Although Whittell and Serventy (Syst. List on the back than males, and are slightly Bds., W.A., 1948, p. 45) use the name mar­ larger; birds in which the white spotting morata, it may he eventually proved that (barring) above is heavy are probably fully south-western birds are separable under the adult or aged. Wear on the feathers of the name parocellata, which was put forward by back also exposes a greater area of white Mathews in 1946 (Working List, p. 55). barring on the feathers beneath. The ab­ ( ?) Nino» novae-seelandiae eoerardi (Ma­ sence or feebleness of barring on the two thews): Everard Ras., S.A. [242d] central tail feathers, spots instead of stripes When introducing this name Mathews said on the breast, and darker plumage may be that birds from Central Australia differed juvenal characters. A narrow whitish tip from typical specimens "in being paler and to the tail is a feature of South Australian in having the throat and face white to a mainland birds, while fairly strong tail bar­ larger extent." I have not seen any skins rings are characteristic of all South Aus­ from northern South Australia, but there tralian birds. All the foregoing applies to are four skins from the lower Northern Ter­ South Australian material examined. Three ritory, and all are decidedly more rufous skins from New South Wales are darker on and lighter in color, approaching Mayr's the back than the majority of the South arida in this respect; they are probably re­ Australian examples, but one from Clare and ferable to everardi. The central rectrices another from Broken Hill, both places being are barred and tipped with white. in .drier regio.ns in New South Wales, agree ( ?) Nino» novae-seeiandiae ooldeaensis quite well WIth local specimens and have Cayley: 407 miles East-West Line, S.A. [245 the tails tipped wliite. A small Victorian -Supp!. No.6] example appears to be immature and has Cayley's description and figure (Emu, 28, the two central rectrices unbarred and no 192?, pp. 163.4, plate 28) of an extremely white tip to tail. ., pallid Boobook suggests that it may repre­ ( ?) Ninox nouae-seelatuliae halmaturina sent a distinct geographical race, although Mathews: Kangaroo Island. [242b] the natural tendency would be to unite it ~it? The.two Kanga~oo !sland skins agree quite everardi, However, at present its status well WIth Mathews original description (Nov. IS Just as problematical as that of any of Zool., 18, 1912, p. 254) and figure (Bds. the other forms described from this State. Austr., 5, plate 261), being darker than any MASKED OWL mainland specimens and also rather smaller. Tyto novoe-hollondiae (Stephens) There is no whitish tip to the tail which is barred. The skins may not be f~lly adult (?) Tyto novae-hollandiae whitei Ma­ however. ' thews: Adelaide, S.A. [250f] There are no specimens from South Aus­ * Nino» novae-seelandiae marmorate tralia in the S.A. Museum. (Gould): S.A. [242a] . Accord~ng to Gould this form is similar .COCONUT LORY In coloration to Tasmanian birds (dark) h t (RAINBOW LORIKEET) Trichoglossus haematodus moluccanus larger, while the under-surface show's ua "mar. hIe d" eff ect Instead . of stripes. Skins (Gme1in) [254] ex~mmed suggest South Australian birds are This is an Australian form of a wide­ alhed to ~hose f:om New South Wales, hut spr~ad tropical species which ranges from a .sh~de hghter m coloration and with the Bah to New Caledonia. tall tipped white. :/: Trichoglossus novae-hollandiae eyret T~e Mathew~: ~yre Pen., S.A. [254g] . range of marmorata includes the drier Examlllat~on interior of South Australia and Eyre Penin- of a large series from south­ ern Australia has shown considerable indi- August, 1951 : THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 33 vidual variation but .no constant differences in. the Tenimber Islands. The type of ashb'j"i between birds from South Australia, Vic­ is believed to have come from Yanco Sta­ toria, and NeW' South Wales. tion, interior of Queensland.

GLOSSY BLACK COCKATOO LONG·BILLED CORELLA Calyptorhynchus lathami (Temminck) Kakatoe tenuirostris tenuirostris (Gould) :l: Calyptorhynchus viridus halmaturinus The western form of this bird (pastinator) Mathews: Kangaroo Island. [265g] was once regarded as a separate species. The alleged difference (from birds from eastern Australia) was "much more yellow GALAH on the head." Kakatoe roseicapilla hotoei (Mathews) YELLOW·TAILED BLACK COCKATOO Examination of a good series of skins from Calyptorhynchus funereus xanthanotus South Australia, and the (Gould) [267a] interior of Victoria and New South Wales shows that they may be distinguished (by C. f. funereus from New South Wales is the almost pure white upper tail coverts and a large form, quite distinct in this respect pale pink crown) under this name, originally from populations from other parts of the applied to a specimen from Ruby Gap, Mac­ range. The name xanthanotus was based on Donnell Ranges, N.T. [273e] Birds from a Tasmanian specimen. other parts of south-eastern Australia and :j: Calyptorhynchus funereus whiteae Ma- also those from Western Australia (includ­ thews: Kangaroo Island. [267b] . ing the interior) have deep pink heads and Mathews found Kangaroo Island birds the rump is grey. were smaller than those from eastern Aus­ tralia. REGENT·PARROT Polytelis anthopeplus ' anthopeplus (Lear) WHITE COCKATOO Kakatoe galerita rosinae (Mathews) (5) The above name applies to birds from eastern Australia. The western form of this From a limited series of South Australian species (westralis Mathews) is readily dis­ skins it is apparent that Mathews' assertion tinguishable, being generally duller in colo­ that birds from this region are smaller than ration with less yellow. those from other parts of Australia is cor­ rect; they can be separated on size of bill CRIMSON ROSELLA alone. Platycercus elegans (Cmelin) * Kakatoe galerita rosinae Mathews: Kan­ garoo Island. [269d] Several geographical races of this species have been described from South Australia, PINK COCKATOO and at present' some are listed in the Kakatoe leadbeateri (Vigors) R.A.O.U. Checklist as full species. (See Con­ (?) Kakatoe leadbeateri superflua Ma­ don, Rec. S. Austr. Mus., 7, 1941, pp. 135·7.) thews: Gawler Ranges, S.A. [270d] * Platycercus elegans melanoptera North: Said to be smaller than birds from other Kangaroo Island. [282e] parts of Australia. * P. e. fleurieuensis Ashby: Fleurieu Pen­ insula, S.A. [283b] (type in S.A. Museum, LITTLE CORELLA No. B2323) Kakatoe sanguinea ashbyi (Mathews) * P. e. adelaidae Gould: Adelaide, S.A. Birds from the tropical north of Austra­ [283] (the so-called Adelaide Rosella) lia (K. s. sanguinea) are larger than those t P. adelaidensis Gould: South Australia. from other parts, and there is another race' [283a] . * P. e. subadelaidae Mathews: Port Au­ (5) Mayr (Am. Mus. Nooit., 947, 1937, gusta, S.A. [284a] P: 6, thinks Kakatoe of Cuvier is * P. e. flaveolus Gould. [284] (the so-. a nomen nudum and prefers Cacao called Yellow Rosella) tua Brisson. See also Mathews, :j: P. f .. innominatus Mathews: Mannum, Bds. Austr., 6, pp. 163·4. S.A. [284b] 34 THE S.A. QRNITH,OLOGIST August, 1951

* P. e. uictoriae Mathews. [282£] MULGA PARROT Terrill and Rix (loc. cit., p. 77) have Psephotus varius (Clark) adhered to an old misconception regarding * Psephotus varius varius Clark: Spencer the relationships between the Crimson, Ade- \ Gulf, S.A. [296] . laide and Yellow Hosellas. The only differ­ t Psittacus multicolor Kuhl: Spencer ences between these birds are minor ones of Gulf, S.A. [296a] color. t Psephotus dulciei Mathews: Spencer Gulf, S.A. [296b] EASTERN ROSELLA t P. v. rosinae Mathews: Yorke Pen., Platycercus eximius eximius (Shaw) S.A. [296c] South Australian birds are indistinguish­ * P. v. orientalis Mathews. able from birds from southern New South BLUE BONNET Wales and Victoria. Northiella haematogaster (Gould) :j: Platycercus erythropeplus Salvadori: * Notthiella haeniatogaster haematogaster South Australia (a hybrid between this Gould: [297] species and P. elegans). * N. h. pallescens Salvadori: Cooper's Creek, S.A. [297c] The Eastern Rosella occurs further south­ wards than indicated by Terrill and Rix SCARLET-CHESTED PARROT being commonly seen about :Victor Harbou; Neophema splendida (Gould) and. near Cape Jervis. :j: N~ s. halli Mathews: S.A. [303a] The characters (color of head and extent MALLEE PARROT of red on breast) used to separate this form Barnardius barnardi (Vigors & Horsfield) are unreliable. * B. barnardi uihitei (Mathews): Flinders BOURKE PARROT Ras., S.A. [2911J Neophema bourkii (Gould) t B. b. lindoi White: Flinders Ras. S.A. :j: Neopsephotus bourkii pallidus Mathews: [291d] , "Central Australia" (?:::: Musgrave Ras., * B. b. augustus (Mathews): Port Augusta, S.A.) [304a] It is unlikely that this is a S.A. [291c] valid distinction, the only alleged character * B. b. barnardi (Vigors & Horsfield) being "paler." There is a bird in the Museum [291]· . . taken at Henbury, N.T., which appears to be a pale-colored. mutant, such as occasion­ PARROT ally occurs both in the wild and captivity Barnardius zonarius (Shaw) and it is probable that Mathews had on; * B. zonarius zonarius Shaw: Port Lin­ of these. Three skins of wild bir~ taken coln, S.A. [294] to the north and west of are t Psittacus cyanomelas Kuhl: Memory dark (normal) examples. Most of the skins Cove, near Cape Catastrophe, S.A. [294a] in the S.A. Museum are aviary-bred and t Ps. baueri Temminck: Memory Cove show that in captivity this species tends to S.A. [294b] , become brighter on the under·surface with * B. z. myrtae White: F'III kelver, R' C" A the pink coloration extending further up to­ (equals S.A.-H.T.C.) [294£] wards the throat.

RED·BACKED PARROT ELEGANT PARROT Psephotus haematonotus (Gould) .. Neophema. elegans (Gould) . OngIlla~y described as having been taken * P. haematonotus haematonotus (Gould)' [295] . III Tasmania, this was later corrected to read South Australia. ! P. h. virescens Mathews: S.A. [295a] P. h. caeruleus Condon: Innamincka ORANGE-BREASTED PARROT Station, S.A. (Type in S.A. Museum, No. Neophema chrysogaster (Latham) B2237.) For reviews of this and the follow­ :j: Psephotus chrysogaster mab Mathews: near Port Adelaide, S.A. [305b] ing)tW'o species see Condon (loc. cit., p. 140, etc. . Alleged characters were "band on the fore. head wider and more pronounced."

------~----~-~~~--~~-- 35 August, 1951 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST

ROCK PARROT There is no denying that the birds from Neophema petrophiia (Gould) the mallee areas are noticeably smaller than those from areas of higher rainfall. Fur­ :j: 'Psephotus p. zietzi Mathews: Sir Jos. thermore, the birds from N.S:W. and Vic­ Banks Islands, Spencer Gulf, S.A. [308a] toria and Tasmania are all darker, with a Alleged characters were "blue frontal band darker, generally less brilliant coloration, tawny wash above and below, and are, of paler blue and browner primaries." course, much larger than any others. Vic­ torian and N.S.W. birds I would be inclined GROUND PARROT to unite under P. s, strigoides. Pezoporus wallicus (Kerr) Birds from the wetter parts of South * P. ur, wallicus (Kerr) Australia fall into two groups. . Two adult :j: P. terrestris dombraini Mathews: Glen­ males from Rendelsham, S.E. of S.A., are gelly River (sic), S.E. of S.A. (equals Glenelg very large, but lack entirely the tawny colora­ River). [311e] tion of birds from the eastern States, 'and may Alleged characters were "green of back eventually be proved to represent a distinct and breast much lighter, and the middle race. of the abdomen yellow, more as in P. t. Birds from the Mt. Lofty Ranges are flaviventris North." smaller, approaching the mallee birds in Birds from Tasmania and Western Aus­ this respect, and although it is possible tralia are readily separable. (vide Condon, "dark-headedness" may be normally a S.A. Orn., 16, p. 4.) juvenile character, this feature appears in adult birds to become progressively lighter NIGHT PARROT as one goes north in South· Australia, until Geopsittacus occidentalis Gould the interior form, named centralia by Ma­ (?) G. o. whiteae Mathews: near Lake thews, is met with. Birds from the Mt, Gairdiner (sic), S.A. [312a] Lofty Ranges and vicinity, however, are Alleged characters were "darker green obviously allied to the mallee bird, and for above" and "abdomen not so yellow." the time being it is safer to unite all these In addition to a skin (No. B8118) there under the name brachypterus Gould (based is now a mounted specimen in the S.A. on a bird from Swan River, W.A.). Interior Museum, collected by F. W. Andrews in birds are undoubtedly paler, with the black the Gawler Ras., S.A. (about 1880), and streaks of the body feathers narrower and kindly presented by the Trustees of the Aus­ the head light-colored and narrowly streaked tralian Museum, Sydney (No. 01151). with black. Also a rufous tinge is entirely absent, and Mathews' name centralia is ap­ TAWNY FROGMOUTH plicable. A number of specimens of this Podargus strigoides (Latham) race have been examined from Innamincka, This is a difficult species taxonomically, S.A., Broken Hill, N.S.W., and Yanco, S.W. as the long list of synonyms and alleged geo­ Queensland. Specimens from Alice Springs, graphical races in the R.A.O.U. Checklist N.T., are closest to these but are darker with will show. The most recent arrangement is a more tawny aspect. that of G. Mack, in Peters (Bds. WId., 4, * Podargus strigoides brachypterus Gould. 1940, pp. 175·6). Mathews described two :j: P. s. rossi Mathews: South Australia. forms from South Australia, but Terrill and [3130] Rix have selected only one of these. Ac­ * .P. s. centralia Mathews: Apperinna cording to Peters, the South Australian Bore, C.A. [313s] (equals S.A. This place forms should be: . is east of the Stevenson Creek and north (a) Podargus strigoides brachypterus of Mt, Alexander.-H.T.C.) Gould: Mallee areas of southern Aus­ P. strigoides ? subsp, innom.: South-east tralia (syn. "? P. s. centralia Mathews, of South Australia-large pale-grey birds. and P. s. rossi Math.") OWLET NIGHTJAR (b) P. s, uictoriae Mathews: From south Aegotheles cristatus (Shaw) of Sydney, N.S.W., south and west . Twenty-four skins have been examined in to the vicinity of Adelaide, S.A. the Museum collection from most parts of 36 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951

Australia except the east coast, and a per­ fact that the R.A.O.D. Checklist also gives centage, w.hile not so labelled, are obviously E. mystacalis. immature. Birds from South Australia may The so-called White-throated Nightjar is be divided into two groups. Interior birds a larger and darker bird than the Spotted, (? centralia Mathews) are more distinctly with small white spots only on the inner and barred on the tail than ones from the south, outer webs of primaries 2-4, when viewed and this feature is probably more reliable from above; in the last-named the corres­ than Mathews' assertion that interior birds ponding markings are in the form of a large are more rufous, although such is a fact white wing bar. The amount of white on on the average. Southern birds are also the throat is approximately the same in generally darker, especially on the head, and both species; sometimes it is slightly more in adults in good plumage there is a distinct extensive in the Spotted Nightjar. rufous collar which does not show in young birds. The tail in these birds is also strongly There are fourteen specimens of E. gutta­ barred, but there is not the contrast of light tus in the South Australian Museum, of and dark as seen in inland specimens, and which four are juveniles, the two younger the general effect is "dusky." specimens being cinnamon-colored. Seven * Aegotheles cristatus cristatus (Shaw). birds from the vicinity of the southern cen­ ( ?) A. c. centralia Mathews: Stevenson tral S.A. highlands are a shade darker River, S.A. [317k] This may be the same beneath than a single bird from the Victorian as A. c. rufus Hall (cf. Whittell and Serventy, mallee, and two birds from near the Fitzroy List Birds of W.A., 1948, p. 53.) River and Well 36, Canning Stock Route, W.A. A specimen has 'been received from LAUGHING KOOKABURRA Mr. A. F. C. Lashmar, of Kangaroo Island; Dacelo gigas Boddaert this is an extension of the known range in It is surprising how little is known of South Australia. the plumage differences due to age, season, This is another species about which and sex in this bird. Also, unless this is a much more has to be learned regarding very variable species, it is probable that plumage differences due to age, season, and many more geographical races exist than sex. Material in Australian museums is are given by Mathews and Peters.. Although limited. the extent of the dark mark on the head is variable (Mathews said that Victorian FAN-TAILED CUCKOO birds were lighter'in this respect when Cacomantis pyrrhophanus prionurus naming tregellasi) , I am not certain this is (Lichtenstein) (6) geographical, and the amount of blue on :t: Cacomantis rubricatus eyrei Mathews: the rump, at one time thought to be an age Eyre Peninsula, S.A. [338g] or sexual character, requires further study. However, with the very limited material at Mathews' statement, "South Australian present at my disposal, it seems impracticable birds are darker in coloration than the typi­ to go beyond the arrangement furnished by cal series, though of the same size," cer­ Peters (Eds. Wld., 5, 1945, pp. 189-190), tainly does not apply. He suppressed the but I disagree with him on the use of the name "eyrei" in his 1931 List. There do name nouae-guineae. When Terrill and Rix not appear to be any constant differences adopted the name tregellasi they could have in birds from S.W.A., S.A., Victoria, N.S.W., had no idea of the difficulties involved in Qld., and Tasmania. The Australian race is the confirmation of this name. The only characterised by the much paler under-surface record of this bird on Kangaroo Island is (reddish in birds from New Caledonia, where by A. F. C. Lashmar; two pairs were in­ the type of pyrrhophanus was obtained) and troduced to the Island in January, 1926. (6) Cacomantis flabelliformis, of the SPOTTED NIGHTJAR R.A.O.D. Checklist. See Amadon, Eurostopodus guttatus' (Vigors & Horsfield) Am. Mus. Novit., 1176, p. 15, for rea­ This is the only species which is known' sons for rejection of this name, and to occur in South Australia, despite. the .Hartert, Novit, Zool., 32, p. 174. August, 1951 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 37

by the fact that the amount of white barring RUFOUS FANTAIL on the tail is the same in juveniles and Rhipidura ruftfrons 'ruftfrons (Latham) adults. The specimen (B 17110) in ,the S.A. HORSFIELD BRONZE CUCKOO Museum taken at Coombe on December 10, Chalcites basalis (Horsfield) 1933, belongs to the eastern Australian race in which the basal half of the tail is rufous­ :j: Chrysococcyx basalis mellori Mathews: colored. There is also a skin (B176) re­ Eyre Pen., S.A. [342bJ ceived from Edwin Ashby, which was taken The type of basalis came from Java, and at Anson Bay, N.T., in 1911. This place Mathews asserted that "eastern Australian" was the type locality of his "mayi," a syno­ birds were "darker" on the "upper-colora­ nym of dryas Gould. As a large part of tion" and "larger" than birds from that Ashby's collection was destroyed by fire, in­ area, and introduced the name "mellori" cluding probably the type of mayi, this speci­ men could be designated the neotype. How­ GOLDEN BRONZE CUCKOO ever, I believe some of Ashby's skins are Chalcites lucidus plagosus in the American Museum of Natural History, This species was reviewed by Mayr in including at least one type. 1932, who showed that plagosus was its [:j: R. r, inexpectata Mathews: Dande­ southern Australian representative. (See nong Ras., Vic.] Am. Mus. Nouit., 520, p. 6.) RESTLESS FLYCATCHER PACIFIC (WELCOME) SWALLOW Seisura inquieta inquieta (Latham) Hirundo tahitica neoxena Gould This bird belongs to the Myiagra group of Many workers consider that the Welcome Flycatchers; in fact, it is hard to under­ Swallow of Australia is merely a race of stand how it can be separated generically a widespread species which occurs from India from them. The coastal Northern Territory to Polynesia. bird (nana) is small and readily separable. GREY FANTAIL Rhipidura fuliginosa preissi Cabanis BROWN FLYCATCHER Microeca leucophoea (Latham) (7) Examination of thirty-three specimens from every State of the Australian mainland * Microeca leucophoea assimilis Gould. has shown that there is appreciable indivi­ The type of. this race came from Western dual variation, but that the majority of. the Australia and birds from Eyre Peninsula are various "races" listed by Mathews are prob­ referable to it. Apart from the slightly ably non-existent. The amount of white darker coloration of the back and upper tail, on the tail is variable, also the extent of the distinguishing feature is that the two the black band on the chest and the intensity outer shafts of the tail are not pure white; of the buff coloration of the under-surface. the outermost rectrix is white on the outer Two specimens from North Queensland agree vane' while the basal half of the inner vane quite well with birds from Victoria; and . is very dark grey; the second rectrix is there seem to be no differences between birds . dark grey except for a white tip. . from S.W.A., S.A., Vic., and N.S.W. Tas­ * Microeca leucophoea barcoo S. A. White: manian birds have a tendency to be notice­ Cooper's Creek, S.A. [377i] Birds from ably darker above and below, with less white the lower N.T. and the far north of S.A. on the tail, and constitute the subspecies (roughly between latitudes 20 and 30 deg.) albiscapa Gould. have the two outer tail feathers white, but Birds from the interior of the continent "are all much paler grey, especially on the are a trifle paler"" on the average, but this back. The third rectrix also has a wider hardly warrants recognition. white tip than birds from south-western :j: Rhipidura flabellifera whitei Mathews: Grange, South Australia. [361j] Charac­ (7) Microeca fascinans auctt. not Loxia teristics given: Differs from N.S.W. bird "in fascinans Latham. There are thirty­ . its larger bill and slightly darker upper colo­ six specimens in the S.A. Museum ration." from various parts of Australia. 38 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951

Australia. This would seem to discount the the two. In most measurements, however, suggestion of Terrill and Rix that this bird it is smallest." occurs in the interior "in favorable seasons t P. m, samueli Mathews: Kangaroo Is­ only." land. [380h] * Microeca leucophoea leucophoea (La. When applying this name Mathews over­ tham). Birds from the wetter parts of looked Campbell's remarks quoted above. South Australia, Victoria and New South He stated, "Differs from P. m, leggii in Wales appear to be indistinguishable from having the breast a much deeper scarlet and one another. The two outer rectrices are the head and back darker." As mentioned white, as in the interior race. In some in­ above, the intensity of the red coloration dividuals there is a slight amount of dark is variable; the specimen examined is nearly grey on the second rectrix, but more ~sually as big as the Tasmanian bird, and has the this is white. Two birds from Mildura, breast a deep scarlet, while the white cap which should belong to Mathews' "Mallee is large. form," which he named howei, do not show .the characters alleged by Mathews. It is * Petroica multicolor boodang (Lesson) . considered that all birds from the south­ [380b] eastern corner of Australia, including the It would appear that all south-eastern main­ mallee areas, can be grouped together. land birds may be united under this name [ :j: u. f. victoriae Mathews: Parwan, S. (cf. also Ashby, in Mathews' Birds of Aus­ Vic.] tralia, vol. 8, pp. 86-7). According to Ma­ thews, Muscicapa rhodogastra Lath. came from Norfolk Island-not New South Wales, SCARLET ROBIN as shown in the Checklist. Petroica multicolor (Gmelin) There are about sixty skins of this species in the S.A. Museum, with males and females RED·CAPPED ROBIN in approximately equal numbers. Three Petroica goodenovii (Vigors & Horsfield) males from Tasmania are large and separ­ A specimen of this bird was collected on able at a glance; they belong to the race Greenly Island, S.A., on December 8, 1947. leggii Sharpe, which is confined to that From material examined from all parts of island. The remainder of the series show the range it would appear that there are much individual variation, especially with no subspecies of this bird. There is some regard to the size of the white "cap," amount individual variation in the intensity of the of white on the outer tail feathers, and colors, and the amount of white on the intensity of scarlet on the breast. In Western outer tail feathers. Australian birds the extent of the coloration Petroica goodenovii (Vigors & Hors- of the breast seems slightly greater, but * field):' South Australia. [381] apart from this it is not possible to separate the five skins examined (except by refer­ ence to the labels). from other males from FLAME ROBIN various parts of the southern mainland. The Petroica phoenicea Gould single Kangaroo Island specimen, while dis. tinct from adjacent mainland material, does Fleming, Trans. Proc. Roy. Soc., N.Z., 'i8, not conform exactly to the diagnoses of .either p. 24, shows this species as occurring on Campbell or Mathews. . Eyre Peninsula and north of Port Augusta, but on what authority is not stated. (?) Petroica multicolor halrnaturina Camp. bell: Kangaroo Island. [380f] Actually the northernmost record is an observation made near Quorn by Rev. When describing this bird the author said: P. Darke in July, 1941. The shade of red ". . . Kangaroo Island supplies a link on the breast varies in different individuals, between . . . species from south-eastern and and it seems unlikely that the Tasmanian Western Australia." "The Island bird has population (of which I have seen' anum. the breast color of the eastern with the ber of skins) could be separated sub. small cap of the western, thus combining specifically. 35 August, 1951 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGISt'

PINK ROBIN in the S.A. Museum which was collected at Petroica rodinogaster (Drapiea) Wood's Point, near Murray Bridge, S.A. This skin (No. B 7936) is recorded as having There are no races of this Robin; Terrill been taken on April 4, 1902, by the late J. and Rix quote Mathews' name inexpectata, Rau, former Taxidermist at the S.A. Museum; which he proposed for Victorian birds. it conforms to the characters for chrysorrhoa Fleming, loco cit., p. 24, in a map. sho\~ing given above. In other words, the chief the distribution of the genus Petroica, gIves feature which makes it "chrysorrhoa" is the a wrong impression of the occurrence of this bright yellow rump, although the back is species in South Australia, where his boun­ just a shade paler than in australis and simi­ daries include the south-eastern mallee; the lar in this respect to other specimens of the species has never been recorded from these first-named which are in the Collection. parts. While it is preferred that the label at­ tached to this specimen was accidentally . HOODED ROBIN transposed from another, there is always Petroica cucullata cucullata (Latham) the possibility that the skin is simply that There are probably a number of Australian of an exceptionally yellow individual of races of the Hooded Robin, but in some australis. instances other characters than those em­ The "Southern" Yellow Robin has never ployed by Mathews will h.ave ~o ~e !ound. been known to occur anywhere in the vicinity The type of Zietz's meloillensis IS III the of the River Murray in South Australia, al­ S.A. Museum (No. B 1285). It is a rather though there are three skins in the collec­ poor specimen (male) in worn plumage. tion from near Mildura, Vic. These are There seems to be no good reasons for the all very dull on the breast and abdomen retention of the generic name Melanodryas. but the rump is brighter than birds from YELLOW ROBIN the wetter parts of eastern Victoria. Eopsaltria australis (Shaw) * Eopsaltria australis uiridior (Mathews). [392e] In the R.A.O.U. Checklist are listed three This bird occurs in the South-East of South species of yellow-breasted Robins, the ver­ Australia and the wetter parts of southern nacular names being Southern, Northern and Victoria. The type was taken at Selby, Western Yellow Robins. The differences Victoria, and the characters are "Differs from between these are slight, as the distinguish­ P. a. australis in its greener coloration; ,­ ing characters listed below will show. South­ especially on the rump and under-surface." ern Yellow Robin (E. australis): chin whit­ ish; entire under-surface bright greenish­ * E. a. rosinae (Mathews): Eyre Pen., yellow; rump greenish-yellow. Northern S.A. [394c] Yellow Robin (E. chrysorrhoa): chin whit­ A well-marked subspecies which extends ish; entire under-surface bright greenish­ from Eyre Peninsula westwards at least as yellow; rump bright greenish-yellow. West· far as Lake Dundas, W.A. (from which ern Yellow Robin (E. griseogularis} : chin, place there are specimens in the Collection). throat and fore-neck whitish; breast grey; The diagnostic feature is the olive-green remainder of under-surface bright greenish­ rump. yellow; rump bright greenish.yellow (in birds E. a. chrysorrhoa Gould. [393] from the wetter coastal parts of Western I think this bird should be removed from Australia) or olive-green (in birds from the the South Australian List. interior of Western Australia and Eyre Peninsula, S.A.). GOLDEN WHISTLER All these obviously belong to the one Pachycephala pectoralis (Latham) species, viz. australis; the differences between ( ?) Pachycephala p. occidentalis Ramsay: the, two geographical forms of the "Western Albany, S.W.A. Robin" are as great as those between the Doubtfully distinct from the following "species" of the Checklist. form. Terrill and Rix (lac. cit., p. 83) mention * Pachycephala pectoralis fuliginosa Vi· a specimen of the Northern Yellow Robin gors & Horsfield: Port Lincoln, S.A. [398f] 40 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951

The following I would regard as synonyms skins from the vicinity of the Gawler Ranges of this:- differ not at all from a single specimen from t P. meridionalis North: Adelaide, S.A. Port Lincoln. [398j] :\: L. r, waddelli Mathews: Warunda Creek, :\: P. halmaturina A. G. Campbell: Kan­ Eyre Pen., S.A. [401n] garoo Island. [398 1] Alleged to differ from the above "in being :\: P. p. myponga Mathews: Fleurieu Pen., very dark below, with the grey sides most S.A. [398p] noticeable, and in having a broad black A large series of South Australian speci­ breast band, running through the eyes to mens has shown that together with Western the lores." Australian birds they differ from mainland There is much individual variation in the birds from eastern Australia in having the Rufous Whistler; the relative width of the base of the tail grey, instead of greenish, black breast band and the depth of color of in the male. Western Victorian birds also the breast as well as the amount of black on fall into this group. No other constant dif­ the rectrices are capricious features through. ferences were detected; eastern birds are out the range, and it is unlikely that there often more greenish (rather than grey) on are any southern races other than the nomi­ the edges of the secondaries. Tasmanian nate form. birds (glaucura Gould) are readily separ­ RED-LORED WHISTLER able, being larger, with a wholly grey tail, Pachycephala rufogularis Gould and the female is pale (whitish) below. The species has been recorded from ­ This bird was named from a specimen son Island and the Sir Joseph Banks Group, stated to have been taken at Adelaide, South S.A. Australia. [402] RUFOUS WHISTLER GILBERT WHISTLER Pachycephala rufiventris (Latham) Pachycephala inornata Gould There are thirty-five skins of males in Named from a specimen from South Aus- the S.A. Museum, including fourteen from tralia. It has not been recorded from South Australia. Among these also are Kangaroo Island. [403] the holotype and two syntypes of Zietz's GREY SHRIKE-THRUSH minor from Melville Island, N.T. (Nos. Colluricincla harmonica (Latham)· B 1001, B 1002-3). Thirteen skins from To be included in this species are No. 409 Northern Australia (Fortescue R., W.A., C. brunnea and No. 410 C. rufiventris of the Derby, W.A., Melville Is. and Groote Eye­ R.A.O.U. Checklist. It is rather surprising landt, N.T., and Cape York, Q.) do not to find that Mathews, in his 1931 List and have the cheeks black as in birds from elsewhere, dissociates this genus entirely other parts; they probably represent falcata from Pachycephala, to which it is obviously Gould, of which minor Zietz and colletti Ma­ allied. thews are synonyms (but cf. Ashby, S.A. * C. h. rufiventris Gould. . Orn.; 1, part 4, p. 27). However, in southern Either this, the "Western Shrike-Thrush" birds the absence of black cheeks is a j uve­ of the Checklist, or the following occurs on nile character. Eyre Peninsula. (?) Leuiinornis rufiventris maudeae S. A. ( ?) C. h. iohitei Mathews: Eyre Pen., White: Everard Has., S.A. [401j] S.A. [410b] This was described as a pale interior form Three skins of males from Eyre Peninsula with the ear coverts and lores grey instead seem to confirm Mathews' name being of black as in southern birds, and is prob­ slightly darker on the breast and more rufous ably a synonym of pallida Ramsay. on the abdomen. He said whitei differed :\: Letoinornis rufiventris gaiolerensis Ma­ from C. r, rufiventris in "its brown colora­ thews: Gawler Ras., S.A. [401m] tion above and below." Skins of three females show no great differences from a number "Differs from L. r, rufiventris in being of birds from south-western Australia. paler altogether and in having a smaller bill. :\: C. h. halmaturina A. G. Campbell: Kan­ Type from Wataker, Gawler Ranges." Two garoo Island. [408hl 41 August, 1951 THE S.A. ORNlTHOLOGIST

The author stated "One specimen obtained Queensland, but Mathews in his. 19.31 List proves to have a much ~arker under sur~ace includes them. The Tasmanian bud IS large­ than the mainland speClm~ns, and n~ light billed and distinguished under the name throat or eyebrows. The light color IS con­ strigata Swainson, which applies also to King fined to a loral spot only." Three skins Island birds. examined from the Island are slightly darker beneath but the presence or absence of a SHRIKE-TIT white throat is not a reliable character. Falcunculus frontatus (Latham) t C, h. zamba Mathews: Kangaroo Is­ (?) Falcunculus frontatus lumholtzi Ma­ land. [4081] thews: Minnie Downs, Qld, [416e] Mathews overlooked Campbell's sugges­ tion quoted above when he introduc~d t~is Original description: "Differs from F. f. frontatus in having a much shorter crest, name statinz0 "Differs from C. h. oictonae in havinz a darker rump and head, and it more white in front of and below the eye, is also d~rk below." While these characters and a much paler colored tail with larger will apply to the Kangaroo Island birds white tips." The colored figure given by examined, the distinction is hardly sub­ Mathews, Birds of Australia, II, plate 491, specific. does not show any of these differences. Colluricincla harmonica anda suhsp, nov. The R.A.O.U. Checklist gives the locality There is a single specimen' in the collec­ "Minnie Downs, N.KS.A.," but Mathews in tion which is so distinct that I feel com­ his original description quoted "Queensland," pelled to describe it as representative of a where there is also a place of that name. new form. The general color is pale grey * Falcunculus frontatus frontatus (La­ above with a pale olive tinge on the mantle tham). only and the lower breast and abdomen are nearly white; the lores and under tail-coverts Fourteen skins only of males examined. are white. It differs at a glance by its Two birds from southern Queensland cannot general "pale" appearance from tYI?ical with certainty be distinguished from several harmonica where the mantle and proximal from South Australia; the relative bright­ secondaries are olive brown, the head dark ness of the yellow underparts is an unreliable grey, ~ the breast and r?-mp grey, and the feature. It is probable that all south-eastern abdomen and under tall-coverts pale grey. Australian birds belong to the one form. Other details of the specimen are "bill and inside mouth: black; legs and feet dark grey; CRESTED BELLBIRD iris bright brown. Male, breeding." Col­ Oreoica gutturalis (Vigors & Horsfield) lected at Clifton Hills, near the Queensland :j: Oreoica cristata clelandi Mathews: Coon­ border, S.A., by Dr. A. M Morgan, July alpyn, S.A. [419b] 31, 1930. (Reg. No. B 12897.) Range: Described as differing from the N.S.W. unknown. The plumage is not worn and in bird "in having the abdomen snow-white." its general uniformity of coloration on the This was almost certainly based on a freshly back it recalls brunnea of Northern Aus­ moulted individual, as a whitish abdomen tralia. The name anda is an aboriginal word is not" connected with sex, locality, or age. for the Grey Shrike-Thrush. Birds in worn plumage are slightly more Birds from the Flinders Ranges and rufous, especially on the back and rump. Broken Hill, which have been compared with the type of anda, belong to the southern and WEDGEBILL eastern race. Sphenostoma cristatum Gould * Colluricincla harmonica harmonica (La­ :j: Sphenostoma cristatum pallidum Ma­ tham). thews: Leigh Creek, S.A. [420a] Under this name I would group all birds This bird was separated on account of its from the wetter parts of South Australia "paler upper-surface"; the type specimen east of Spencer 'Gulf (including Kangaroo was apparently a bird in worn or faded Island), Victoria and New South Wales. No plumage, which condition is fairly rapidly skins have been examined from southern attained in birds in the interior of Australia. 42 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951

BLACK-THROATED (MALLEE) This 'very distinct form (not mentioned WHIPBIRD by Terrill and Rix), was described by the Psophodes nigrogularis leucogaster late Dr. A. M. Morgan in the pages of this Howe & Ross Journal, vol. 8, pp. 138-9, and figured in This bird occurs in a restricted area in Emu, 26, 1926, plate I. The type, a male the eastern mallee of South Australia. Some in good plumage, is in the S.A. Museum, Reg. form of the species has also been reported No. B 7705. Campbell, in his review of the verbally from Eyre Peninsula by Mr. F. E. genus (Emu, 26, p. 32), considered that this Parsons and the late H. Collins. The nomi­ was a full species, but Hartert (Nov. Zool., nate race occurs in south-western Australia. . 37, p. 48) thought it might be the same bird as which Mathews had named GROUND CUCKOO·SHRIKE dundasi Coracina maxima maxima (Ruppell) (8) previously from Lake Dundas, S.W.A. The figure in that author's The assertion of Terrill and Rix that Birds of Australia, 9, plate 424, shows more rufous (burnt sienna) records from Buckland Park, Fulham, and on the back than the eastern mallee form Kybybolite "were probably accidental oc­ but the upper tail coverts are not rufous currences" is misleading. Little is known as in clarum, In his 1931 List, Mathews of the movements of this bird in South recognises both races. Australia and it is likely that the species visits southern districts more frequently than C. c. clarum. has been taken between the has been observed. Mann and Musgrave Ranges, near the Everard Ranges, at Ooldea, South Australia, LITTLE CUCKOO·SHRIKE and at Deering Creek at the western end of Coracina robusta (Latham) the MacDonnell Ranges, in the Northern t Grauculus mentalis Vigors & Horsfield: Territory. S.A. [427b] . Cinclosoma castanotum morgani subsp. WHITE·WINGED TRILLER nov.: 18 miles N.W. of Kimba, S.A. Lalage sueurii tricolor (Swainson) A breeding -male was collected by Dr. A. Mayr (Emu, 40, pp. 112.3) has given rea­ M. Morgan iri September, 1925, at the above­ sons for the recognition of this distinct Aus­ mentioned place. .This bird, which has the tralian race'; it is also unique in the family burnt sienna coloring of the scapulars, back, Campephagidae in that the male has an and upper tail coverts, as in clarum, resem­ eclipse plumage or double moult. bles the eastern mallee form in that the mantle CHESTNUT QUAIL·THRUSH is olive brown, but differs from dundasi, Cinclosoma castanotum Gould where the upper tail coverts are also olive brown. Details of type specimen: Reg. No. * Cinclosoma c. castanotum Gould: Belts B 5673; "iris bright reddish brown, legs of the River Murray, S.A. [437] dark grey, feet lighter, bill black, inside This is the eastern race of the Chestnut mouth black, weight 79 grammes, stomach Quail-Thrush which is confined to the Murray contents: seeds, insect remains, sand." An­ mallee and adjacent desert mallee areas to other male specimen has been collected at the north of it, and the Flinders Ranges. Polygonum Tanks, near Iron Knob. Range: It may also have occurred at one time in Apparently confined to northern Eyre Penin­ the mallee of the Adelaide Plains, as a sula, south of the Gawler Ranges. specimen was collected near Adelaide in 1864 (Austr. Mus. No. 018077). It is character­ At first sight the tendency would be ised by the color of the back and scapulars, to include this form under clarum, owing which is a dark chestnut (or "bay brown" to the similar shade of coloration of the as used by Campbell). back, but this coloring is also met with in * C. c. clarum Morgan: Wipipippee, near Western Australian birds (dundasi). The Lake Gairdner, S.A.. fact that two adult breeding birds have been collected indicates that this is a valid form, (8) This bird is generally quoted under as no specimens have been taken in the Pteropodocye Gould, but see Dela­ range of claruni given above in which the cour, Zoologica, 31, p. 2. mantle was olive brown. ORNITHOLOGIST 43 August, 1951 THE S.A. GREY·CROWNED BABBLER CINNAMON QUAIL-THRUSH Pomatostomus temporalis Cinclosoma cinnamomeum Gould (9) (Vigors & Horsfield (10) :j: Samuela c. todmordeni Mathews: Tod­ This includes No_ 444, Red-breasted morden, S.A. [439b] Babbler (P. rubeculus) of the R.A.O.U. w~s The type, a pale individual, described Checklist. and figured by Mathews in the Birde of Aus­ * P. t. tregallasi (Mathews): Frankston, tralia, 9, p. 198. Vic. :j: S. c. samueli Mathews: Gawler Has., S.A. This bird occurs in the South-East of South [439a] Australia and near the Coorong. I am Like th~ above-mentioned, this was alleged inclined to think that Mathews' type was a to be a pale form but from specimens in young bird, as the original descri~t~on wou!d the S.A. Museum i'have been unable to dis­ suggest: "Differs from P. t. triuirgatus III tinguish either of Mathews' names. Plumage its darker coloration underneath, and in hav­ differences seem to be. due to wear and age ing a shorter bill, though equally as long a only. wing measurement." The short bill and * C. c. alisteri Mathews: Nullarbor Plain, dark underparts are juvenile characters, and W.A. [440] in a series of five individuals from N~S.W. and eight from Victoria and the South-East The occurrence .of this bird in South Aus­ of S.A. I have detected no marked differ­ tralia rests on observations by H. Collins, two skins in the Australian Museum, taken ences in the bills, while the N.S.W. birds are at Ooldea, and a single addled egg taken by only a shade lighter above and below. Alto­ Mr. J. N. McGilp in 1931, 40 miles south-west gether there are 18 skins in the S.A. Museum of Cook, when a bird was also shot. Camp­ of "temporalis" of the Checklist; four are bell, loco cit., p. 35, thought it was "related from Cape York and one from Logan River, to C. castanotum, as an. off-shoot on the ter­ near Brisbane. This last-named should tiary iron-stained plains ... 'between 30 deg. belong to P. i. trioirgatus, but in fact I can­ south latitude and the head of the Great not separate it from the Cape York skins. Bight" on account of "the full black throat * P. t, rubeculus (Gould): Pt. Essington, and breast." Apparently this subspecies is N.T. . also characterised by a slightly greater ex­ Regarded as a full species in the R.A.O.U. tent of black on the cheeks than in C. c. Checklist, this has been shown by Deignan cinnamomeum, {loc. cit.) to be divisible into several distinct * C. c. cinnamomeuni Gould: (Sturt's De­ populations. .. pot, N.S.W.) [439] A feature of Pomatostomus temporalis and This form is confined to the its races is that in females and young birds Basin and the adjacent area to the west as the ridge of the culmen is light-colored in far as the Everard Ranges,' and southwards the dried skin and this often provides a to west of . valuable check on the sex given by collectors. From a representative series from Northern SOUTHERN SCRUB ROBIN Australia from all parts, except the areas Drymodes brunneopygia Gould assigned to the recently described races * D. brunneopygia Gould: Murray helts, browni and mountfordae, I have been able S.A. [441] to distinguish only the following: rubeculus :j: D. b. iniermedia Mathews: Venus Bay, (synonym bamba), nigrescens, and inter­ S.A. [441c] medius (synonym innominatus), This form, which was correctly suppressed * P. t. intermedius (Mathews): Alexan­ in his 1931 List, was stated to be "paler" dra, N.T. and "more rufous" by-its author. There are Unlike other northern races, intermedius probably no races of this bird. is not a particularly long-billed form, an~ (9) Includes Cinclosoma alisteri, castanea. (10) For recent review of this species, see thorax, marginatum. Deignan, Emu, 50, p. 17, etc. 44 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951 specimens have been examined from CIon­ not readily separable from two from Victoria, curry, Sedan (on the Cloncurry River), Qld.; five from Tasmania, and one from N.S.W. Pine Creek, Coniston, Idracowra, Hermanns­ (?) T. d. halmaturina (Campbell): Kan­ burg, Mt, Burrell, Cockatoo Creek, N T.; garoo Island, S.A. [447 f] Derby, near the junction of the Fitzroy and No specimens have been examined from Margaret Rivers, W.A. this Island. Although this bird occurs in the extreme north of the State, there are no specimens ENGLISH BLACKBIRD in the S.A. Museum. Turdus merula merula Linnaeus The first Blackbirds were brought to South WHITE-BROWED BABBLER Australia about the year 1863 ("The Adver­ Pomatostomus superciliosus tiser," July 22, 1863, page 2), and later the species was liberated by the Acclimatisation & (Vigors Horsfield) Society in 1879, 1881 and 1882, and quickly * P. s. superciliosus V. & H.: South Aus­ became established about Adelaide. tralia. [445] It has since spread to the wetter parts of This form is confined to the wetter .parts the Mt. Lofty Ranges, Victor Harbour, the of South Australia and Yorke Peninsula. The scrubs east of the Coorong, and Kangaroo head is only very slightly darker than the Island. It has also been reported from the back. Mt. Gambier district. * P. s..gilgandra (Mathews): Gilgandra, N.S.W. [445b] CRIMSON CHAT In this race the head is appreciably darker, Epthianura tricolor Gould and birds from Eyre Peninsula, Flinders * Epthianura tricolor Gould: South Aus­ Ranges and adjacent parts, and the Murray tralia. [449] . Mallee are referable to it. Skins have also ORANGE CHAT been examined from Broken Hill and Clare, Epthianura aurijrons Gould N.S.W. t Acanthiza (Geobasileus) flaviventris Birds from south-western Australia are Ashby: Lake Frome, S.A. [450a] noticeably long-billed and have been named t Geobasileus ashbyi Mathews: new ashbyi. name for above. (?!) [450d] CHESTNUT-CROWNED BABBLER GIBBER-BIRD Pomatostomus ruficeps (Hartlaub) Ashbyia louensis (Ashby) There are no races of this Babbler. Dif­ * Epthianura lovensis Ashby: Leigh Creek, ferences in plumage color are marked in S.A. [452] individuals from all parts of the range, and t A. lovei North (emendation). [452a] are usually due to wear, age, season and t A. looensis uihitei Mathews: Todmor­ sex. den, S.A. [452b] t P. r, parsonsi: Pungonda,' S.A. [446c] This last-named has since been suppressed Twenty-eight skins have been examined by its author. from all parts of the range, and Mathews' assertion that South Australian birds are (II) Oreocincla lunulata of the RA.O.U. "much paler" does not hold good any more Checklist, and "White's Thrush" of the than his statement that in the South Queens­ British Isles, where it occurs as a land birds "the chestnut on the head is much vagrant. A widely-spread species which deeper in color." extends from eastern Siberia through India and the Malay Archipelago to GOLDEN GROUND THRUSH Australia and the Solomons. The Turdus dauma (Latham) (11) number of tail-feathers varies in dif­ * Turdus d. lunulata (Latham). ferent races, being twelve in the Aus­ From a small series of sixteen skins, only tralian representative and fourteen in two Queensland specimens, which are smaller the Malayan. Delacour (Birds of and more rufous, can be segregated with cer­ Malaysia, 1947, p. 240) employs the tainty. Six South Australian specimens are name Zoothera dauma, 45 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, '1951 (?) A. p. todmordeni Mathews: Todmor­ WESTERN WARBLER den, 60 miles west of Oodnadatta, S.A. Gerygone fusca (Gould) (?) Gerygon~ fusca musgravi (Mathews): [468a] , Mu~grave This is probably a synonym of Gould 8 Ranges, C.A., equals .S.A. [463g] name. There are five skins in the S:A. Alleged to be a pale form with a slender specim~ns Museum, four being taken by S. A. WhIte, bill. There are no in the S.A. in 1914, 30·60 miles west. of Oodnadatta, Museum from South AustralIa. and a single male taken by Wood Jones at . WEEBILL Stuart's Range, south-west of Oodnadatta in Smicrornis brevirostris (Gould) 1923. All present a very uniform appear­ * S. b. brevirostris (Gould) ance. (See col. fig. in Mathews, Birds of t S. b. uiridescens Mathews: Tailem Bend, Australia, 11, plate 494.) S.A. [465b] STRIATED THORNBILL S. b. mathetosi S. A. White: Wantapella, * Acanthiza lineata Gould (12) a swamp on the , S.A. [464f] Smicrornis breuirostris flavescens (the * A. l. chandleri Mathews. Range: east­ YelloW' Weebill of the'R.A.O.U. Checklist) ern Victoria westwards to Kangaroo Island. does not occur in South Australia (vide t A. l. whitei: Kangaroo Is. [470c] Condon, S.A. Om., 18, p. 5). * A. l. clelandi Mathews: Mt. Lofty, S.A. [4.70b] WHITEFACE Range: Mount Lofty Has. and Fleurieu Aphelocephala leucopsis (Gould) Pen. This includes A. castaneiventris of the R.A.O.U. Checklist. LITTLE THORNBILL * A. l. leucopsis (Gould): Adelaide, S.A. Acanthiza nana Vigors -and Horsfield [466] * A. n; modesta De Vis. Range: In South * A. l. whitei Mathews: Macdonnell Has., Australia in the Murray Mallee and Flin­ N.T. [467a] ders Ranges. . t A. l. pallida Mathews: Leigh Creek, S.A. ( ?) Acanthiza n. mathewsi Hartert, Range: [466a] . Coastal areas of south-eastern Australia from The characters of this race are the paler Sydney to the South-East of S.A.; (?) Kan­ rufous flanks and often slightly more rufous garoo Island. This form may be synonymous rump than in castaneiventris (see Mathews, with modesta. Birds of Australia, 11, plate 493). As one proceeds northward from the wetter parts of t A. n. laetior Mayr and Serventy: Tucla, South Australia, there is a gradual increase Saddleworth, S.A. in the amount of rufous on the flanks, and The original description (loc. cit., p. 275) birds which may be referred to this race states: "Differs from A. n, mathewsi Hartert have been examined from various parts of byits brighter and more vivid 'coloration; the Eyre Peninsula (except the extreme south), back is of a clearer and deeper olive.: lacking Flinders Ranges, Oodnadatta, Musgrave the greyish hue which is characteristic for all Ranges, InduIkina Springs, Carraweena, our specimens of that race; rump, upper , McDouall Peak, Mt, Sandy, tail-coverts and edges of basal part of tail Owieandana (northern Flinders Ras.), Mann feathers brighter greenish olive; entire under Ras., S.A., and Hermannshurg, N.T. All parts more deeply colored and more washed these birds are definitely not castaneiuentris with yellow-olive. Differs from A. n. nana (some are quoted as' such by Terrill and by its paler coloration and by its much Rix), as that Western Australian form has greater extent of ochre on the throat. Plu­ the flanks much deeper ;rufous than the mage in fresh condition; wing 51 mm. tail central Australian bird. 40 mm." CHESTNUT.BREASTED WHITEFACE (12) Recent reviews of this genus are by Aphelocephala pectoralis (Gould) Mack, Mem. Nat. Mus., Melb., No. 10, * Aphelocephala pectoralis (Gould): Port 1936, pp. 86·118, and Mayr and Ser­ Augusta, S.A. venty, Emu, 38, 1938, pp. 245-292. 46 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951

Two specimens examined from the type CHESTNUT-TAILED THORNBILL locality, three from Sandy Creek (near Acanthiza uropygialisGould Gawler), and four from the Grange. I can­ * Acanthiza u, uropygialis Gould. not separate these with certainty from two :t: A. u, mellori Mathews: Murray Flats, from Goolwa, one from Meningie, and one S.A. [481b] from Tapton; they are also inseparable from Range: Mallee areas of South Australia, a bird collected at Coleraine, Victoria, and including Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas. are approached very closely by two other * Acanthiza uropygialis augusta Mathews: South Australian skins: one from Laura and Port Augusta, S.A. [481c] another from the River Murray (exact :t: Geobasileus u, erema A. G. Campbell: locality unknown). Kychering Soak, S.A.· [481h] :t: A. u. kycheringi Mathews: new name BROWN THORNBILL . for above [48li] Acanthiza pusilla (Shaw) Range in South Australia: Flinders Ranges * A. p. macularia (Quoy and Gaimard). and areas to the west and north to the border. Range: From south of Sydney, N.S.W., DARK THORNBILL through Victoria to the vicinity of Adelaide Acanthiza iredalei Mathews (coastal). [475b] :t: A. p. samueli Mathews: Myponga, S.A. * Acanthiza iredalei morgani Mathew's: [475h] Leigh Creek, S.A. [482] :t: A. p. cambrensis A. G. Campbell: Cape Range: Scattered populations in the Flin­ Jervis, S.A. [475k] ders and Gawler Ranges, the vicinity of Port * A. p. zietzi North: Kangaroo Island. Augusta and north-eastern shores of Spencer [475e] Gulf, and west of the Flinders Ranges. t A. halmaturina A. G. Campbell: Kan­ Mayr and Serventy unite this form with garoo Island. [475f] the western iredalei, but South Australian * A. p. albiventris North. Range in South specimens in good plumage may be separated Australiae in the Mallee areas adjacent to chiefly by the paler buff upper tail-coverts the River Murray, Yorke Peninsula, and and greater amount of white on the tips of southern Eyre Peninsula. [479] the outer tail feathers. :t: A. albiventris hamiltoni Mathews: Goon­ t Acanthiza tenuirostris Zietz: Leigh alpyn, S.A. [478] Creek, S.A. (name preoccupied). [482a] :t: A. p. venus Mathews: Venus Bay, S.A. The two co-types of this bird are in the [478b] S.A. Museum, Nos. B7267, B7268. They are :t: A. p. arno Mathews: Arno Bay, S.A. in good plumage. [478d] * Acanthiza iredalei rosinae Mathews: near Adelaide, S.A. [483a] *A. p, whitlocki North. Range in South Restricted to the samphire flats bordering Australia: northern Eyre Pen., north and the eastern shores of St. Vincent Gulf. west of the Flinders Ras. to the northern * A. iredalei hedleyi Mathews: Meningie, border. [477] S.A. [483] :t: A. p. consobrina Mathews: Leigh Creek, Range: From near Lake Albert eastwards S.A. [478e] to the Little Desert, Victoria. :t: A. apicalis erema A. G. Campbell: BUFF-TAILED THORNBILL Kychering Soak, near Malbooma, S.A. Acanthiza reguloides Vigors and Horsfield [478h] * Acanthiza reg,uloides australis (North): LARGE-BILLED (ROBUST) THORNBILL Woodside, S.A. [484a] Acanthiza robustirostris Milligan A dark race apparently confined to the Mt. Lofty Ranges and vicinity. This is a purely central Australian species. * Acanthiza reguloides reguloides Vigors :t: A. marianae White: Moorilyanna, Ever­ and Horsfield. ard Ras., S.A. [480a] In this form the rump is paler buff than :t: Milligania r, moorilyanna Mathews: in australis. A northern extension of the Moorilyanna, StA., [480c] range to that given by Terrill and Rix (lac, 47 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951 * Sericornis frontalis rosinae Mathews: > cit., p. 87) is established by a skin collected Mt. Lofty, S.A. [488e] in 1931 by J. N. McGilp at Bunn's Springs, :\: S. rn, gouldianus. Mathews: Mt. Com- 42 miles south of Pinnaroo and in the S.A. pass, S.A. [491k] Museum (Bl3926). Mack (loc. cit., p. 100) The main distinguishing feature which placed this specimen under australis appar­ separates these birds from longirostris is the ently on the coloration of the rump, but an fact that the blackish feathers of the bastard­ examination has shown that the upper tail wing and adjacent coverts are duller and the coverts are missing (due to the process of white tips to these feathers fewer; in other skinning, no doubt), and he was misled by words, this distinctive "wing speck" is less the deep buff color of the base of the obvious. There is also a stronger tendency rectrices. to a dark bar on the tail. A striated throat YELLOW-TAILED THORNBILL and grey head (characters given by Mathews Acanthiza chrysorrhoa (Quoy and Gaimard) when he introduced this name) are un­ * Acanthizo c. sandlandi Mathews. reliable. :\: A. c. perksi Mathews: Mt. Lofty, S.A. The name osculans Gould, which was based [486eJ on a skin from Port Adelaide, is often Range in South Australia: Southern wetter wrongly referred to birds from the Mt. Lofty coastal districts as far west as Spencer Gulf; Ranges. ' not on Kangaroo Island. Range: Mt. Lofty Ranges south to Fleurieu * Acanthiza c. addenda Mathews: Port Peninsula. Augusta. [486g] , There are forty-three skins labelled "Seri­ Occurs in the Mallee areas of Eyre Penin­ cornis maculatus" in the Museum, and I have sula and the River Murray, also north to been able to divide them into a number of the northern Flinders Ranges. populations. * Acanthiza c. ferdinandi (Mathews): =!' S. f. osculans Gould:' Port Adelaide SA Musgrave Ras., S.A. [486i] [488c] , .. Occurs in north-western South Australia: This is a well-marked race, apparently SCRUB·WREN confined to the mangrove regions of the Sericornis frontalis ~astern shores of St. Vincent Gulf, S.A. It (Vigors and Horsfield) (13) IS at once distinguished by the deep buff The elucidation of the various forms of flanks and under tail coverts, and there is !his bird.is fairly difficult, and the follow­ hardly any white on the abdomen. On the mg tentative arrangement is based on mate­ upper surface it resembles closely rosinae rial in the S.A. Museum. and longirostris, but lacks the yellowish wash * Sericornis [rontalis longirostris (Quoy on the under-surface which is present in and Gaimard): Western Port, Vic. ~hose two. The dark subterminal tail 'band :\: S. p, harterti Mathews: Cape Otway IS yveU.marked and the tail is tipped white. Vic. -' ThIS. last-named feature is indicated in one :\: S. 1. wyldei S. A. White: Cooron

longirostris, or maculatus. The differences S.W.A. S. m, warreni Mathews is a syno-' between osculans and frontalis given by nym, Ashby are unreliable. (?) Sericornis f. cotuloni Mathews: Hope. Mathews in his Working List, 194,6, p. toun, W.A. (14). 101, arrived at the conclusion (by some The type, an adult female in good plumage, mysterious process) that osculans was a full ~as c~llected b~, J. T. Tunney in July, 1906, species, with a number of races from South III dense scrub, and is in the S.A. Museum Australia, Victoria and New South Wales! (No. B9431). It is quite distinct from the * Sericornis f. ashbyi Mathews: Kangaroo s~ins discussed above, being a pale greyish Island, S.A. [491d] brown on the flanks and entirely lacking the :j: S. halmaturinus A. J. Campbell: Kan­ yellow coloration of S. f. maculatus. The garoo Island. [491e] lores are brownish, and the tail tipped white and with a dark subterminal band. The Scrub-Wrens from Kangaroo· Island are throat is also heavily streaked and the "wine best described as being like Eyre Peninsula speck" less conspicuous than in other skin;' birds (mellori) but darker, especially on The skin is otherwise close to birds from the back. . Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas (11 skins) and also Kangaroo Island birds (7 skins), except (?) S. f. rymilli White: Wedge Island, that these last-named are all darker on the S.A. [491£] back. The entire series of 18 skins men­ No specimens available from Wedge Is- . tioned above are males, and in none is the land. The author stated that birds from throat as heavily marked as in "condoni" the island differed from Eyre Peninsula birds * S. f. houtmanensis Zietz: Houtman in being "much lighter and not nearly so Abrolhos, W.A. strongly marked." Zietz's two co-types of this bird are in * Sericornis f. mellori Mathews: Eyre the S.A. Museum, Nos. B547·8. Together Peninsula. [491c] with a third skin from the same locality they present a much paler appearance Comparisons made in a series of skins above, and are whitish below, with the throat from Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas, Kan­ more faintly streaked than in any other form garoo Island, and the eastern shores of St. of frontalis. This appears to be a well­ Vincent Gulf show that Mathews' name is marked race. a good one, and his diagnosis, "differs from (?) S. f. balstoni Ogilvie-Grant: Bernier S. m; osculans in being paler above and in Island. havin~ more white on the abdomen," sepa· rates these birds exactly. Birds from Yorke Three skins from Dirk Hartog Island are Peninsula and Pt. Broughton belong to this apparently referable to this race. They are race, although Terrill and Rix show them badly prepared pale-colored skins, but not as light above or below as Zietz's specimens. as oseulans. * Sericornis f. maculatus Gould: (?) AI· REDTHROAT bany, W.A. Pyrrlwlaemus brunneus Gould These are separable at a glance by the Fourteen skins examined from South Aus­ yellowish wash on the breast and abdomen; tralia, S. Queensland (one), and Western the buff-colored flanks also have a tendency Australia (two). There is some variation to rufous, the black and white markings in in the color of the throat in males, but I the vicinity of the primary coverts are have been unable to distinguish any of strongly marked, the tail has a dark sub­ Mathews' proposed races. terminal bar and white tip, and the throat :t: P. b. centra Mathews: Musgrave Ranges, is strongly streaked with very dark brown. S.A. [497d] The black loral region, a marked feature in males, is colored pale brown in females. (14) Sericornis maculata condoni Mathews, Ten skins examined from various localities '[ourn, Roy. Soc., W.A., 27, 1942, p. between Bunbury and King George Sound, 78. -August, 1951 THE SA ORNITHOLOGIST 49

GROUND-WREN montanellus, C. campestris, and C. isabellinus Hylacola pyrrhopygia of the R.A.O.U. Checklist. (Vigors and Horsfield) (15) Examination of a good series of skins (?) lfylacola pyrrhopygia subsp. from Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia Birds from the Mt. Lofty Ranges seem and Western Australia has shown that there to be larger and paler than those from adja­ is perfect gradation in size, plumage pattern­ cent parts and the speculum is indistinct. and plumage coloration from east to west It is highly probable that this population and north to south, with intermediates be­ is an un-named one and quite distinct from tween the various forms occurring at several Victorian birds (belcheri}; no skins have places. been available for comparison from the South-East. FIELD·WREN * H. p. halmaturina Mathews: Kangaroo Calamanthus juliginosus Island. [499b] (Vigors and Horsfield) This is a very distinct race, darker and * Calamanthus j. juliginosus (Vigors and more richly-colored than any other. In ad­ Horsfield) . dition to Howe's remarks (loc. cit.}, it may Two skins from Scottsdale, Tasmania, in be stated that the che~tnut upper tail coverts the S.A. Museum belong here. This race is are very dark, and in females the buff-color also in eastern Victoria. of the under-parts is much deeper than in Characters: About the same size as albi­ the mallee bird. A single specimen from loris but readily separable from it by the Stansbury, Yorke Peninsula, I would asso­ generally darker coloration of the back, with ciate with these. the black streaks well-marked and wide as in C. j. anthoides. Lores white; crown * H. p, cauta Gould: Murray belts, S.A. darker than in albiloris, [499] . Remarks: Three skins from Bunyip, and As in the above-named, the speculum is two from Koo-wee-rup, which is about 15 distinct, and the primary coverts are blackish. . miles south-west of that place, have been Females are at once separated by the buffy examined. All present a much darker ap­ throat and upper breast, -and in juveniles this pearance in both sexes than birds from west area is decidedly rufous and the dark streaks of Melbourne. It is probable that Mathews' only faintly indicated, while the white brow figure (Birds of Australia, 9, plate.434) of is either absent or pale 'buff-colored. I have a bird from Frankston, is referable to this -been unable to separate three males from race, but the colors shown do not agree the vicinity pf Kimba, northern Eyre Penin­ exactly with my specimens of either [uligino­ sula, from five males from the Murray sus or albiloris, being generally too yellowish. mallee areas, except perhaps for a slightly Mathews stated that it depicted albiloris, wider white tip to the outer rectrices. It * Calamonthus '], anthoides (Swainson). is unlikely that Mathews' name brevicauda Birds from northern, north-western, and is a good one for birds from the Victorian the western parts of Tasmania are larger, Mallee. as pointed out by North when he suggested The genus CALAMANTHUS Gould (16) the name diemenensis, which is a synonym of the above. The' various forms which comprise this * Calamanthus f. albiloris North. genus may all be regarded as allopatric ~embers North's original type was simply labelled of one species, Calamanthus julio "Victoria," but from his remarks in the ginosus, which would include Calamanthus Special Catalogue, No.1, vol. I, p. 355, it is apparent that he intended the name for (IS) Includes Hylacola cauta and pyrrhopy. birds inhabiting the vicinity of Melbourne. gia of the R.A.O.U. Checklist. Howe, A skin in the S.A. Museum (No. B7550) Emu, 17, pp. 87-94, reviewed this from Rockbank, about 18 miles north-west genus, but his conclusions .are uncon­ of Melbourne, belongs to this race, and it is vincing. suggested that this place be made the type (16) For brief review of genus see Ashby, Locality of albiloris, The presence of a large Emu, 24, pp. 44·5. white loral patch .in males does not appear 50 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST ~ugust, 1951 to be a reliable character, as this also occurs loris. The forehead is slightly rufous (more in Tasmanian birds and other eastern forms. as in cattipestris}, but the tail is dull brown The race albiloris may be distinguished from (with blackish subterminal band and white Tasmanian birds, however, by its smaller tip). size, and the fact that it is greenish-olive Type: Male, collected 23' miles east of. on the back instead of brownish-olive as in Meningie, South Australia, on October 3, the island forms. Ventrally, males lack the 1929, by Dr. A. M. Morgan. S.A.M., No. deep buff of the Tasmanian race, and the B11850. Details from label: "Iris creamy black streaks above and below are narrower white; legs and feet dark flesh color, feet and not so strongly marked. darker; bill, maxilla dark horn, mandible This form extends through the southern light horn at base with brownish tip; portions of western Victoria into the South­ pharynx, light flesh color, palate dark flesh East of this State as far west as Robe (speci­ color. Total length 13.5 cm., wing span mens examined) and north to about Nara­ 15.7 em." coorte (specimen from Bool Lagoon). There are four specimens of the race Mathews in his Working List, 1946, p. 104, parsonsi in the S.A. Museum; three adult infers that winiam of A. G. Campbell is a males taken 17-23 miles east of Meningie synonym of albiloris, but this is obviously and a single immature male from Coombe, incorrect. further to the south-east. ( ?) Calamanthus f. hoioei Mathews: Kow This race links the eastern Field-Wrens Plains, Victoria. with the western forms, ani! as noted above I have seen no specimens from the Mallee is intermediate in many of its features be­ areas of north-western Victoria, but they are tween C. f. albiloris and C. f. campestris, apparently more rufous than southern and * C. f. campestris (Gould): Adelaide, S.A. eastern Victorian birds. Original diagnosis: [502] "Adult female.-This form seems to be inter­ This bird is characterised by the rufous mediate between C. montanellus Milligan and crown and cheeks, reddish tail (with dark C. campestris Gould. From the former it subterminal band) and much less pronounced differs in having the ear coverts and crown streaks on the head and back than in C. f. of head reddish; from the latter in having parsonsi or C. f. albiloris. The ventral dark a longer bill, the head less rufous, and a streaks are also less prominent than in that much more pronounced brown streak on bird and the abdomen more buffy, while the the feathers of the back. Total length, 4.8 hind claw is not quite as strong as in eastern inches; culmen, 0.5; wing, 2.1; tail, 2.2; birds. Specimens from Pt. Augusta, Marion tarsus, 0.8." Bay and Stansbury (the last two on Yorke ( ?) Calamanthus f. winiam A. G. Camp­ Peninsula) are referable to this race. bell. (Emu, 27, p. 80.) (?) C. f. ethelae Mathews: Eyre Penin­ This may be an intermediate form be­ sula, S.A. [502b] tween howei and albiloris, with a some­ A single specimen from Warunda, southern what restricted habitat south of that of Eyre Peninsula, is referable here. (B7549­ howei. The rufous coloration of the head, female.) In his original description Ma­ etc., shows that it cannot be associated with thews stated: "Differs from C. f. campestris albiloris, while it appears from published in .having greenish (sic) brown edges to the descriptions to be less rufous than hoioei. feathers of the back; and in having the under-surface white with dark centres to the Calamanthus f. parsonsi subsp, nov. feathers." It is probable that the word Characters: Entirely lacks the olive wash "greenish" is a lapse and should read "grey­ on the dorsal surface which is typical of ish." birds from Tasmania, Victoria, and the Mathews did not state where his type came South-East, 'and the abdomen is whitish with­ from on Eyre Peninsula, but from considera­ out any yellow tinge. The flanks are dark tion of an account by S. A. White of a trip grey instead of buffy-yellow, and the stria­ to Eyre Peninsula made by himself in tions of the head, back, throat and breast and 1911, it may be inferred that the bird was flanks are narrow and dark grey, not black, taken somewhere between Lake Greenly and as in C. f. fuliginosus, anthoides, and albi- Warunda, and this may be regarded as the 51 August, 1951 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST nis striatus (to include whitei), and Amytor­ type locality. The specimen examined is deep rufous on the head and tail. Cf. re­ nis woodwardi (to include dorotheae}, Emu, 9, p. 128, under C. marks by Hall, WESTERN GRASS-WREN montanellus. Amytomis textilis (Dumont) Calamanthus f. suttoni subsp. nov. Characters: Differs from C. c. campestris ',' Amytornis textilis myall (Mathews): in being much more rufous on. the head and Myall Creek, northern Eyre Peninsula, S.A. tail, while the back is reddish-brown instead [512d] of greyish-brown. Differs from C. f. isabel­ Original description: "Differs from D. t. linus in being generally darker rufous, but modesta (North) in having the under-surface not as intensely so as Mathews' figure of brown (not white), with- the shafts white." wayensis. (Birds of Australia, 9, plate 435.) Mathews has consistently associated this bird The ear coverts are also more richly rufous with the species from New South Wales rather than in campestris or isabellinus. ' than with the Western Australian textilis. Two adult males examined from the Gawler breedin~, Type: Male, collected at Wertigo, Ranges are similar to the western bird but south-west of Whyalla, Eyre Peninsula, S.A., noticeably smaller, slightly more rufods on on September 8, 1925, by Dr. A. M. Moraan f~o~ the upper surface and with a whitish patch and in S.A. Museum No. B5669. Details in the centre of the abdomen. The throat original label: "Iris cream; feet light brown; foreneck and upper breast are tawny, with bill, upper dark brown, lower lisht brown' Leng~h well-marked whitish stripes; the lower abdo­ inside mouth dark horn. 12 cm:, men is also tawny. Skins in the National wing span 17.25. cm.; weight 16 gms. Museum, Melbourne, from 140 miles west of Stomach contents, insect remains." Tarcoola and the Ooldea district, S.A. Range: Northern Eyre Peninsula extend­ The Western Grass-Wren has been re­ ing northwards to below the southern limits corded from Wertigo, Roopena Nonninz 4 of isabellinus. miles west of Myall Creek, Mt. I~e, the so~th­ * Calamanthus f. isabellinus North: Mis­ ern end of L.ake Gairdner, Yardea, and sionary Plain, N.T. Immarna, A bird thought to be this species This desert race is at once distinguished was seen at Mortlock, southern Eyre Penin­ by its much lighter coloration and hrizhte sula, by A. H. Mattingley "at close quarters" rufous head, cheeks and tail; the back is (Hall, Emu, 9, p. 128). sandy brown. Specimens have been examined * Amytornis textilis purnelli (Mathews): from Todmorden (near Oodnadatta) Leizh Ran~e a~d Alice Springs, N.T. . Creek, Devil's Village, Stuarts Two skins in the S.A. Museum from the' Moolawatana, S.A. Everard Ranges and one from Petermann A single specimen from Pt. Cloates ~ Cre~k, N.T. ,Skins in the H. 1. White Col­ N.W.A., is similar to these, but there is lection from the Everard Ranges. Speci­ fair amount of white at the nape; it is a mens in. the National Museum, Melbourne, topotype of Campbell's rubiginosus which are fr~m. the Macdonnell Ranges, Palm Val­ Whittell and Serventy regard as a ;ynonym ley, Missionary Plain, James Range, and the of isabellinus (List. Birds Western Austra­ Everard R~ng~s~ The Horn Expedition li~, 1948, p. 79). ~~thews, in his Working reported this bud from Lawrie Creek, Her­ LIst, 1948, treats rubiginosus as a full species! mannsburg, and Illamurta, N.T. The genus AMYTORNIS Stejneger (17) This bird is a tawny or rufous-colored race of A. textilis. ' A survey of members of. this genus sug­ gests that the number of species given in THICK-BILLED GRASS-WREN the R.A.O.U:. Checklist may be tentatively Amytornis modestus (North) reduced to SIX as -followsr Amytornis textilis .Ter~ill (to i~clude pu.rnellij, Amytornis housei, Amy­ and Rix, loco cit., p. 89, state that tornM goyden, Amytornis modestus, Amytor- this bud occurs in South Australia "from the Gawler Ranges and Whyalla north to (17) For reviews of genus see Mathews Oodnadatta an.d west to the Everard Ranges. Birds of Australia, 10, p. 165 et seq.: There are specimens in the S.A. Museum from and Campbell, Emu, 27, pp. 23-35. Todmorden, Station west of Oodnadatta, 52 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951

Oodnadatta, Gawler Ranges and Mt. Ive ..." ever, stated: "I never found the two species The only specimens in the Museum which living in the same area." (Emu, 23, P: 269.) can be assigned to this species are from Fountain Springs (due west of Lake Eyre and EYREAN GRASS-WREN near Warrina), Todmorden (on the Alberga Amytornis goyderi (Gould) River, west of Macumba Station and north­ ( ?) Anvytornis goyderi (Gould): Lake west of Oodnadatta), Oodnadatta, and Mar­ Eyre, S.A. [515] ree. It is now well-established that the Eyrean I have been unable to find any references Crass-Wren was collected at the northern end to the occurrence of modestus in the Gawler of Lake Eyre, on the (at Ranges, where Amytorn is textilis is the only Lat. 27 deg, 41 min. 23 sec.), by F. W. species known. Andrews, while a member of the Lake Eyre * Amytornis m, modestus (North): Mac­ Expedition, in December, 1874. (For fur­ donnell Ranges, N.T. ther details see Sutton, S.A. Orn., 9, pp. 116· :/: D. t. itululkanna Mathews: Indulkanna 131.) This place is about 80 miles east Ras., S.A. [512c] of Oodnadatta, and a little upstream from the This is the northern form of this species, j unction of the Macumba River with the which occurs near the northern border of , which is the northern this State. There are two sets of eggs in arm of the delta of the . the Museum from Hermannsburg and near It was recorded that six skins of this Mereenie Bluff, N.T. It has been reported Grass-Wren were brought back to Adelaide, also from Illamurta, Old Crown Station, and but for many years it was believed that only Barrow Creek, N.T. two were preserved in the British Museum * Amytornis motlestus obscurior (Ma. (ex Gould Collection). In 1945, Hindwood thews): Mt. Arrowsmith, N.W., N.S.W. reported'a third specimen in the Australian Museum, Sydney (Emu, 44, p. 321). Mathews' remarks when introducing this No specimens have been collected since the name are: "Re.examining the birds from original ones were taken by Andrews in 1874l Broken Hill I find that they differ from typi­ and the mystery of the identity of this bird cal modestus from the MacDonnell (sic) has claimed the attention of many ornitholo­ Ranges in being duller above, not so rufous gists. Some even went so far as to say on the rump, the throat whiter, and the it was a doubtful species (e.g. Keartland, flanks browner." Victorian Naturalist, 20, pp. 133·9). The Specimens of this race have been taken fact that it 'occurred in the same area as from Douglas Creek (near William Creek) modestus may suggest that Andrews' speei­ and Cowarie. All examples of modestus in mens were in some way connected with that the S.A. Museum are referable to obscuriorf species. In 1927, Edwin Ashby, thinking it might However, from the remarks of those who prove to be goyderi, forwarded a skin from have examined the skins in the British northern South Australia to the British Museum, one can only conclude that it is a Museum for comparison with the two skins very distinct bird. One observer stated: of that species preserved there. P. R. "They are 'very large birds, twice, or almost Lowe, in replying, said: "I am sorry to twice, the size of the other grass-wrens, but tell you that your Amytornis is not the the remarkable feature about them is the long lost goyderi. That I think is beyond width of their bills. These are broad and doubt. I have compared it with all the flat, more like those of the satin and leaden skins they have of the group at Tring (5, flycatchers." P. R. Lowe (in litt.) said: only) and more especially with the type of "Apart from its colors (very bright) goyderi Diaphorillas modestus obscurior, and it agrees has a bill which is very reminiscent of with that bird very closely . . . ." (Copy of Paradoxornis. That was the immediate im­ letter filed in S.A. Museum.) pression I got of the bird as a whole ..." Most accounts state that Amytorn is modes­ Paradoxornis Gould is a genus of "parrot­ tus and purnelli are found in the same locali­ bills" or Crow-Tits which is found in the ties, and allowing for misidentifications, this eastern Himalayas, Thailand, etc., in which is probably correct. F. L. Whitlock, how- the bill is stout, v-:ry deep, and wide. 53 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951 of black beneath the eye and on the ear The form of the bill of goyderi is not coverts and by its much shorter tail. The well shown in Mathews' plate (Birds of Aus­ feet and, legs are larger and stouter." tralia, 10, phite 471), but a suggestion of its Campbell (loc. cit., p. 30) th~nks m~r­ width is given in the vol. 23, plate 14. Emu, rotsyi has "all the characters of stnatus: WIt? Campbell (Emu, 23, p. 81) said: "The the difference that the black malar stripe IS Eyrean Grass-Wren was supposed, like others not so prominent, being restricted in size of its peculiar genus, to frequent th~ so:ca~le~ by the short feathers at the edges having "spinifex" or porcupine grass (Triodia trn­ tans) country of the great interior. As in white centres." the case of the Night-Parrot (Geopsittacus) Although taken so far north, it is appar­ it is difficult to conjecture the exact cause of ent that "merrotsyi" has nothing to do with the disappearance of the Grass-Wren. Pos­ modestus, as some writers have suggested. sibly the domestic cat gone wild has been * Amytornis striatus uihitei Mathews. largely responsible." This striking rufous form of striatus STRIATED GRASS-WREN ranges from far north-western South Aus- Amytornis striatus (Gould) tralia and the lower Northern Territory * Amytornis striatus houiei (Mathews). westwards to the Murchison River, W.A. Campbell (Ioc, cit., P: 30) found that RUFOUS BRISTLE-BIRD birds from the eastern mallee (Iunoei) were Dasyornis broadbenti (MoCoy) "darker" than N.S.W. birds (striatus) and had "a.pure white throat." * Ddsyomis b. broadbenti (McCoy): r have been unable to separate a single "Western Victoria." adult female from Kelly, 8 miles S. of Although Mathews has designated Port­ Kimba, Eyre Peninsula, from a fairly large land Bay as the type locality, it is not series of females from the mallee areas of certain how far this race extends westwards. eastern South. Australia and north-western A single skin (female) from Victoria. (which is about 30 miles west of Portland ( ?) Amytornis merrotsyi Mellor: Yudna­ Bay) seems to be rather more like the South mutana, S.A. [513b] (18) Australian birds, but is probably a true In his original description of this bird, intermediate between the races broadbenti Mellor (Emu, 12, p. 166) stated that it had and uihitei. The first-named is confined to been obtained by Mr. A. 1. Merrotsy "in the Victoria; several skins were examined from spinifex or porcupine-grass country to the Lorne and Anglesea. north-east of Lake Torrens." The type * Dasyornis b. tohitei (Mathews):· Coo­ locality is therefore usually quoted as "Lake r~g, South Australia. [521'b] Torrens." However, in a letter to the late Several skins examined from Robe and Mr. Zietz at this Museum in October, 1914, Lousy Jack Hill, Coorong, S.A., differ from the late Rev. J. R. B. Love stated: "I have Victorian birds in having a much brighter not seen the original Merrotsii (sic), which rufous crown and ear-coverts, and in being were obtained by Merrotsy at Yudanamu­ greyish rather than brownish ventrally, with tana in the Flinders Range." Yudnamutana the centre of the abdomen whitish. is a little to the north-west of Mt. Painter. Possibly, this race merges with broadbenti Mellor remarked (Ioc, oit.}: "From its somewhere in the vicinity of the Glenelg striped appearance, it is nearly related to River. the Striated Grass-Wren (A. striatus}, The most conspicuous character, apart· from the * Dasyomis b. litoralis '(Milligan). striation, is a light rufous or chestnut colora­ This, the remaining form of the Rufous tion of the head and mantle, The bird can Bristle-Bird, is. confined to the coastal areas be at once distinguished from the Striated between Capes Leeuwin and Naturaliste, Grass-Wren by the large amount of rusty­ S.W.A. It differs from iohitei, apart from chestnut on the head and mantle, the absence its smal~er size (including the bill) 1 by the more brighrly-colored rufous head and cheeks (18) Figured by Mathews, Birds of Aus­ and the markedly scalloped appearance of tralia, 10, plate 469. the throat and breast. 54 THE s.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951

LITTLE GRASSBIRD EMU WREN lI1egalurus gramineus (Gould) Stipiturus malachurus (Shaw) (19) (20) This species is in need of revision; I have The following geographical races are reo been unable to recognise any of the races cognisable. which have been proposed. * Stipiturus m, malachurus (Shaw). (?) Megalurus g. grtunineus (Gould). Range: Southern Queensland and New A single specimen from Launceston Tas­ South Wales (coastal). mania, is much "darker than any from the * Stipiturus m. tregellasi Mathews. Australian mainland, especially on the head, A single skin examined from Clenele and throat, and the rufous tinge generally River, south-western Victoria is mor~ is greatly reduced. . brightly rufous on the back than two skins ( ?) iVI. g. ioilsoni Mathews: Westernport, from New South Wales. Ashby rezarded Victoria. tregellasi as a valid form. "' * Stipiturus m, littleri Mathews. A single specimen from Koo-wee-rup, Vic­ A very brightly-colored rufous bird con- toria, is much paler than the Tasmanian fined to Tasmania. ' skin and South Australian specimens. * Stipiturus m, mallee Campbell. ( ?) M. g. dubius Mathews: Mannum, An inland Mallee form (rufous) of eastern S.A. [522d] South Australia and north-western Victoria. Specimens examined from Goolwa, Mt. * Stipiturus m: intermedius Ashby: Mt. Compass, Grange, and Wellington, River Compass, S.A. [526i] Murray, S.A., are much more rufous than A South Australian race, distinguished from the Launceston specimen. However, they Victorian and Tasmanian birds by the "grey agree only in part with. Mathews' original character of the neck feathers, and the less description of dubius: "Differs from M. g. rufous coloration generally." This is well­ uiilsoni in "being much. darker and more shown in a series of eleven males from Mt. streaked on the throat. Mannum, S.A." (of Compass and adj acent parts, and the grey ioilsoni Mathews said: "Differs from i1'!. g. neck is. a striking feature. Restricted to the gramineus in its paler coloration above and southern Mt, Lofty Ranges. below."). * Stipiturus m. halmaturinus 'Parsons: Kangaroo Island. [526hJ (?) M. g. halmaturinus Mathews: Kan­ The type of this subspecies is in the garoo Island. [522f] S.A. Museum (ex Parsons Collection), No. No specimens seen from Kangaroo Island. B22762; it is a male from Stokes Bay. (?) M. g. thomasi Mathews: Lake Muir, Kangaroo Island birds are distinguished S.W.A. from those of the adjacent mainland chiefly by their duller appearance, especially on the Five skins probably referable to this form dorsal surface, including the crown, which (from near Albany and Wilson Inlet, S.W.A.) is light brown. are very distinct from a number from South * Stipiturus m, ruficeps Campbell. Australia and Victoria, being more spotted on the foreneck and perhaps smaller. A small, rufous, desert form occurring in _i!ili..1 the lower N.T. (north to beyond Barrow REED·WARBLER Creek), probably also the far north-west of Acrocephalus arundinaceus australis South Australia (no records), the interior Gould of W.A. and N.W.A. (to N.W. Cape). :J: Acrocephalus australis mellori Mathews: * Stipiturus m; uiesternensis Campbell. Mannum, S.A. [524d] Coastal south Western Australia. Mayr (Emu, 47, pp. 205·210) has dealt * Stipiturus m, medius Mathews. with geographical variation in the Reed­ Inland south Western Australia (north to Warbler of Australia, which he considers the about Shark Bay) 1 same species as the Great Reed-Warbler of Europe, Asia Minor, North Africa, southern (19) Includes Stipiturus mallee, ruficeps of Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and New the R.A.O.U. Checklist. Guinea. (20) See Ashby, Emu, 19, 1920, pp. 301·3. 55 August, 1951 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST

* Stipiturus m, hartogi Carter. ( ?) Malurus m: musgravi Mathews: Mus­ Dirk Hartog Island, W.A. This and the grave Ranges, S.A. [531e] two previous races have been recognised by Reference to one skin from the Finke Whittell and Serventy (1948). River, N.T., and three from Coniston (north of Alice Springs and an extension of the SUPERB BLUE WREN range indicated by Mack) suggests that this Malurus cyaneus (Latham) (21) race is probably a good one, as asserted by * Maiurus cyaneus australis North. (22) S. A. White and Ashby in Mathews' (Birds :j: Malurus c. leggei Mathews: Port Ade­ of Australia, 10, p. 69). The birds were laide, S.A. [529h] found to be "more purple on the throat and :j: Malurus c. ashbyi Mathews: Kangaroo a deeper blue on the abdomen" than M. m: Island. [529i] callainus. Examination of a large series of speci­ BLUE-AND-WHITE WREN mens suggests that Mack was correct in sup­ Malurus leuconotus Gould pressing the two names given by Mathews to Malurus leuconotus Gould: South Aus­ South Australian specimens. * The range of australis is: "From about tralia. [535] Sydney, south and west to Eyre Peninsula, t M. cyanotus Gould. South Australia," as stated by Mack. (?) M. C. diamantina H. L:'"White: Dia· mantina R., W. Qld. BLACK-BACKED WREN At present no races of the Blue-and-White Malurus melanotus Gould (23) Wren are recognisable. Those which have bas~d * Malurus m, melanotus Gould: Murray been described have been on subtle River belts, S.A. [530] differences in shades of coloration, and a The range of this bird extends further west­ large series of skins would be necessary to wards than shown by Mack (loco cit., fig. 1), distinguish these. Birds from N.W. Aus­ being known from the mallee areas west of tralia appear to be dark, while Central Aus­ the River Murray, north of Mannum, tralian birds may be proved eventually to * Malurus m, callainus Gould: Eyre Pen­ be lighter blue than all others. insula, S.A. [531] PURPLE-BACKED WREN * Molurus m, uihitei A. J. Campbell: "In­ (VARIEGATED WREN) terior." [531a] Malurus Lamberti :j: Malurus melanotus germaini Mathews: Vigors and Horsfield (24) Port Germein, S.A. [531b] Malurus l. Lamberti Vigors and Hors­ It is believed that this race is characterised * ,field. by the blue of the head, mantle and upper, Confined to eastern N.S.W. and southern tail coverts being darker than in M. m.. cal­ Queensland (coastal districts). lainus. From specimens examined it would Malurus Lamberti assimilis North: Moss­ also appear that the abdomen is darker than * giel, N.S.W. in the nominate form. It' is confined to a Briefly this bird differs from the nominate small area on the eastern shores of Spencer race by its much darker blue head and back; Gulf, near Port Augusta, S.A. the abdomen is whitish with deep buff flanks and under tail coverts, and the wings , (21) A revision of the genus Malurus was are brown. Specimens examined from the published by G. Mack, Mem, Nat. Mus., following localities:-New South Wales: Lake Melb., No.8, 1934, pp. 100-125. Victoria; Victoria: Manya, Nhill, Panitya; (22) Mathews (Working List, 1946) and Ire­ South Australia: Renmark, Sutherlands, Por­ dale (Emu, 37, p. 98) advocate the use tee, Karoonda, Bowhill, Tailem Bend Laura of elegans Forster for this bird, but see Pt. Broughton, Yorke Peninsula, Long Plains;' Sheard, Emu, 47, pp. 154-6, who puts near Two Wells, Chance's Line. "a case" for australis North. See also From material examined it would appear Whittell and Serventy, List Birds, W.A., that this form. extends further westwards p. 84 (footnote). (23) To include Malurus callainus, Turquoise (24) Includes Malurus assimilis, elegans of Wren of the R.A.O.U. Checklist. the R.A.O.U. Checklist. 56 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951

than stated by Mack, and Terrill and Rix. Sharpe's description of the type (Cat. Birds * Malurus Lamberti mastersi Mathews: Brit. Mus., 13, p. 18) shows that melanops 'Alexandra" N.T. has the black under tail coverts "narrowly :\: M. Lamberti morgani S. A. White: Lake tipped with white," although Could in his Gairdner, S.A. [537e] Handbook, 1, p. 148, does not mention this This race is easily distinguished from the feature; indeed, he suggests on the previous foregoing by its pale brown wings and clear page that such is not the case. However, white abdomen. The head and back are of from an examination of topotypical speci- the same purplish-blue as in assimilis, and "men and several from adjacent parts, it may as in that form the color of the ear coverts be safely said that in this bird a narrow varies, being almost like the head in some white tip does occur; it appears -to be more individuals and a much lighter blue in marked in females. (27) others. Specimens which are referable to melanops It occurs in South Australia from the have been examined from the following Northern Territory border southwards to localities: St. A'Becket's Pool (28), Hawker, Eyre Peninsula, the Flinders Ranges and Kallioota, Pt. Augusta, Mt. Eba, Myall Creek, the area south of Lake Frome. Specimens Musgrave Ranges, Abminga, Mt. Gunson, have been examined from theCloncurry dis­ between Innamincka and Kanowana, Murteree trict, Mt. Leonard Station, Queensland; Station, Cooncherie, Carraweena (all South Broken Hill, N.S.W. (approaching assimilis}; Australia); Broken Hill, Lake Victoria Ernabella, , Kallioota, Wer­ (N.S.W.); Yanco Station (S.W. Queens. tigo, Lake Frome, South Australia; and from land); Upper Roper River, Brook Soak ,other places quoted by Mack. (N.T.); Canning Stock Route Wells 8, 10, 4.4 and 47, Fortescue River, Derby (West· BLUE-BREASTED WREN ern Australia). . Malurus pulcherrimus Gould (25) * Artamus cinereus hypoleucus Sharpe: f Leggeornis Lamberti eyrei Mellor : War· Darling Downs, S. Qld. unda Creek, Eyre Peninsula, S.A. [540b] At present it is believed that the Blue­ Black-faced Wood·Swallows in eastern breasted Wren is a full species, although the New South Wales and Queensland (except only character which separates it readily from the west and south-west) are characterised the "Purple-backed Wren" group is the blue­ by pure white under tail coverts. violet tinge to the throat and breast in the :\: Artainus c. normani Mathews: Norman- male. This feature, which is less obvious ton, Qld. " than one which might be reasonably de­ A single specimen from Normanton agrees manded in the separation of races in most with Mathews' original description in that instances, appears to be constant neverthe­ the outer web of the outermost rectrix is less. black almost to the tip. The vent is pure Blue-breasted Wrens also occur inland in white as in hypoleucus. Two other examples south-western Australia, but no characters are from Cape York (Pascoe and Watson Rivers) known by which they. may be separated from are probably referable to lvypoleucus, I do 'South-Australian birds. not consider that the extent of black on the outermost tail feathers is a reliable character. BLACK~F ACED WOOD-SWALLOW .Artamus cinereus Vieillot (26) * Artamus cinereus melanops Gould: St. (26) Artamus melanops of the R.A.D.U. . A'Becket's Pool, S.A. [546] Checklist. The Black-faced Wood-Swal­ :j: A. uenustus Sharpe: Victoria River, N.T. low is here treated as a .race of a Timor :\: A. florenciae Ingram: Alexandra, N.T. species, Artamus cinereus. :\: A. tregellasi Mathews: Rockingham, (27) North (Special Catalogue, No.1, vol. S,W.A. ~, p. 260) also found this to be the case. ",25) The presence ~f this species in Souts Australia has been established by (28) This may be the skin referred to by Ashby, S.A. Drti., '7, pp. 184-5. North, loco cit., p. 261. August, 1951 THE S.A. ORNITHOLO~IST 57

ORANGE-WINGED SI'ITELLA * Climacteris pieumnus orientalis Mathews: Neositta chrysoptera (Latham) (29) Gawler Ranges, S.A. [556b] . * Neosiua chrysoptera pileata (Gould). As stated by Mathews, birds from South t Sittella tenuirostrisGould, S.A. [552b] Australia are "paler both above and below" This bird has been reported from all parts than C. p. rufa of S.W.A. To this might be of the State except the far north-western and added also that the black and white markings north-eastern corners and Kangaroo Island. on the foreneck of the male are more promi­ nent in orientalis (perhaps approaching pic­ The genus CLIMACTERIS Temminck (30) umnus), This last-named feature was first Although this genus is well-represented on observed by Howe (loc. cit., P: 40). the Australian mainland, and one species is known from New Guinea, none are found WHITE-THROATED TREECREEPER in Tasmania or on Kangaroo Island. Climacteris leucophaea (Latham) Several forms on the Australian mainland * Climacteris l. grisescens Mathews: Mt. replace each other geographically, and the Lofty, S.A. [558e] nine species of..the R.A.O.U. Checklist may A large bird apparently restricted to South tentatively be reduced to four as follows: Australia and Victoria. Skins examined from Climacteris picumnus (to include TUfa, New South Wales are smaller, apparently melanota), C. erythrops (to include afJinis), approaching minor in size, but do not be­ C. leucophoea (to include minor), C. mela­ long to that form. $ra (to include uiellsi), WHITE-BROWED TREECREEPER BROWN TREECREEPER Climacteris erythrops Gould Climacteris picumnus Temminck * Climacteris e. afJinis Blyth: Interior of * Climacteris p. picumnus Temminck. N.S.W. :/: C. p. victoriae Mathews: Parwan, Vic. :/: C. superciliosa North: Ilara Creek, N.T. :/: C. p. australis Mathews: Murray Flats, This race is confined to the dry interior S.A. [555d] of S.Qld, N.S.W., S.A. and W.A. A large series of skins from south-eastern * Climacteris e. parsonsi Mellor: Pungon­ Australia has failed to show any geographical da, S.A. [561c] variation. Howe (Ioc, cit., P: 37) found this form ( ?) Climacteris picumnus waitei S. A. easily separable from the inland bird; it is White: Innamincka, S.A. [555e] confined to the Murray mallee. The most A pair of birds taken by Captain White obvious difference is the brighter ventral at Cooper Creek may be distinguished by coloration, as compared with the interior their whitish throats and less prominent bird. ventral stripes. I do not consider these to SPOTTED PARDALOTE be immature specimens as asserted by Howe Pardalotus punctatus (Shaw) [Ioc. cit.) and others; the usual sexual dif­ * Pardalotus p. punctatus (Shaw). ferences are present, the female having a This bird ranges from southern Queens­ reddish neck patch. land to South Australia; it is not found on Type in S.A. Museum, a male, No. B2303­ Kangaroo Island. "iris brown"; also a female, No. B2304-­ "iris reddish brown, bill and feet blackish STRIATED (RED-TIPPED) PARDALOTE brown." Pardalotus substriatus Mathews * Climacteris p. rufa Gould. :/: P. striatus subafJinis Mathews: Black· :/: C. rufa obscura Carter. wood, S.A. [567d] Occurs in south Western Australia south :/: Pardalotinus striatus finki Mathews: of the Mulga-Eucalypt line. Finke River, N.T. [568e] :/: Pardalotinus striatus cam.pbellii Kan­ (29) Includes pileata and other "species" of garoo Island. [568g] the R.A.O.U. Checklist. Recent reviews This bird occurs throughout the State are by McGill, Emu, 48, pp. 35-52, and including Kangaroo Island. It is also found Mayr, ibid., pp. 282-291. in-eastern Australia as far north as southern (30) For remarks on members of this genus Queensland, in the lower Northern Territory, see Howe, Emu, 21, pp. 32-41. and almost the whole of Western Australia. 58 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951

Note.-This is Pardalotus ornatus, the Hed­ Characters in fresh plumage are: Pale tipped Pardalote of the R.A.O.U. Checklist, brown mantle and back with dark brown Hindwood and Mayr, Emu, 46, pp. 49-67, shafts to feathers; rump yellowish olive; have shown that the name ornatus Temminck orange yellow marking on wing; deep yellow should be applied to a bird which is restricted patch on foreneck; sides of body pale brown­ to eastern Australia (Vic., N.S.W., and Qld. ish buff, with centre of abdomen whitish. -south-eastern coastal), and to which they The under tail 'coverts are whitish with a have applied the name "Eastern Striated yellowish wash. Specimens examined from Pardalote." They also prefer the name Yanco, S.W.Qld.; Petermann Creek, Conis­ "Striated Pardalote" for the species under ton, Cockatoo Creek, N.T. Not in South discussion (substriatus), and use the name Australia. . "Yellow-tipped Pardalote" for the Striated * Pardalotus r. leichhardti Mathews. Pardalote, Pardalotus striatus of the R.A.O.U. Checklist. In connection with this Iast­ Characters: A brighter bird than P. r, named species, the R.A.O.U. Checklist rubricatus, with the under tail coverts washed and Cayley in "What Bird is That?" show with deep yellow; deep orange yellow on it as occurring in South Australia, but this wing. It appears to be intermediate between is an error. Pardalotus striatus is found rubricatus and the following race. Speci­ only in Tasmania, some of the larger islands mens from Cloncurry, Qld. Not in South of , in Victoria, eastern N.S.W.,. Australia. and south-eastern Queensland. * Pardalotus r, yorki Mathews. The bird called "Pardalotus ortuuus" by This form is apparently confined to Cape Terrill and Rix, loco cit., p.' 92, has nothing York, N. Qld., and specimens have been to do with P. striatus, as suggested by them. examined from Jardine, Stewart and Watson (?) Pardalotus substrictus murchisoni Rivers. Characters are: Mantle greyish Mathews. brown with a dark mark in the centre of each feather which gives a scalloped effect; I have been unable to recognise this form rump and upper tail coverts bright. olive yel­ from available material. According to Hind­ low; under tail coverts bright yellow. There wood and Mayr (loco cit., p. 55), it is sup­ is a deep orange mark on the wing. posed to occur in South Australia (west of a line "drawn northwards from the head of * Pardalotus r. pallidus Campbell. Spencer Gulf") and in extra-tropical W.A., , :/: P. r, parryi Mathews. extending into the tropics in the Kimberley Characters: Rather like P. r, rubricatus but (Mungi) district. This is a very doubtful with the under-surfaces more distinctly race; skins from W.A., N.T. and S.A. have white, the flanks a brighter brownish buff, been found to be inseparable from those . and the upper and under tail coverts with from N.S.W. and Victoria. .the yellowish wash reduced. Specimens examined from: Fortescue River (5 skins), RED-BROWED PARDALOTE and near the Fitzroy River, W.A. Pardalotus rubricatus Gould The following races of this species are * Pardalotus r, musgravi Mathews: Mus­ grave Ranges, S.A. [570e] indicated by material examined .. * Pardalotus r, rubricatus Gould. Characters: Similar to P. r, rubricatus, Although it is. not known where the type from which it may be distinguished by the of Gould's rubricatus came from, the type white under tail coverts, duller yellow rump, locality is generally quoted as "Sydney, more greyish back and greyish sides to the N.S.W." Lately, Mathews (1946) has sug­ body. gested "Upper Hunter River, N.S.W.," as Specimens examined from Dulkaninna .being more correct. The species is a dry Station, Apperamanna Station, Diamantina country one, and normally occurs in far­ Gates, Clifton Hills, Cooper Creek, and west north-western New South Wales south to of Innamincka. Apparently confined to about Broken Hill, and has been observed northern South Australia from the Lake Eyre in the east near Bourke. Basin westwards to the Musgrave Ranges. August, 1951 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 59

GREY·BREASTED SILVEREYE This form occurs in eastern Australia from Zosterops lateralis (Latham) (31) southern Queensland to South Australia; ( ?) Zosterops lateralis halmaturina Camp­ other races are known from northern and bell: Kangaroo Island. [573] Western Australia. Of "adelaidensis" Ma­ Birds from South Australia seem to lack thews said: "Differs from M. l, lunatus in the .deep tawny flanks found in examples being lighter above," but this is extremely from Victoria and Tasmania, and the throat doubtful. is rarely bright yellow. There is also some variation in the under tail coverts, which BLACK-CHINNED HONEYEATER may be whitish or with a very pale yellow Melithreptus gularis (.Gould) (33) wash. The abdomen is also more greyish * Melithreptus g. gularis (Gould). than in specimens from Tasmania and Vic­ :\: M. g. loftyi Mathews: Mt. Lofty, S.A. [580a] toria. North's assertion that the presence or absence of deep buff on the flanks js sea­ Occurs in N.S.W., Vic., and S.A. sonal requires further confirmation; it is .* Melithreptus g. laetior Gould: Lake possible that there may be a slight darkening Eyre, S.A. [581] in winter months, although Mack preferred The type of laetior was originally in the to recognise two phases which he believed South Australian Museum but disappeared to occur irrespective of season. before the year 1885. At present there are Specimens were examined from various no South Australian specimens in the col. southern localities in South Australia (as far lection. This may be regarded as the northern north as Laura), including Kangaroo, Pear­ and central Australian form of gularis. son, Flinders and Reevesby Islands, but not BROWN-HEADED HONEYEATER the South-East. A specimen from Broken Melithreptus breuirostris Hill, N.S.W., is also referable -here. (Vigors and Horsfield) :\: Zosterops westernensis flindersensis Ash. Mathews has consistently advocated the use by: , S.A. [573c] of Latham's name atricapillus for this species Regarding the type of flindersensis, Ashby and has published a reproduction of one stated that it was in the S.A. Museum "dated of the Lambert drawings upon which it is 11/1/25"; this should read "6/l/24,." believed Latham based his description Other details of'this specimen -are: No. (Austral Avian Record, 3, plate 2). The B4506, collected at Flinders Island by F. figure is a poor one and could be referred Wood Jones. "Iris dark brown, feet greenish equally to Melithreptus lunatus as at one grey, bill grey with black tips." The skin time recommended by North. I prefer to referred to by Ashby as a "paratype" was regard Latham's description as indetermin- in his private collection. The type of able. . flindersensis differs not at all from typical * Melithreptus brevirostris augustus Ma­ halmaturina, and there is no marked greenish thews: Port Augusta, S.A. [583e] wash on the mantle as has been alleged; the :j: M. a. pallidiceps Mathews: Coonalpyn, throat also is not markedly yellow. By no S.A. [583f] stretch of imagination might it be regarded This form is' confined to South Australia. as intermediate between lateralis and austra­ In the R.A.O.U. Checklist M. a. minnie is lasiae. shown as from "N.E.S.A., MInnie Downs," . WffiTE-NAPED HONEYEATER but Mathews in his original description reo Melithreptus lunatus (Vieillot) (32) ferred to Queensland, where there is also a * Melithreptus l. lunatus (Vieillot) place of that name; it is not far from Tambo. :\: M. t. adelaidensis Mathews: Adelaide, (?) Melithreptu« brevirostris magnirostris S.A. [578g] North: Kangaroo Island. [583c] This race is doubtfully distinguished by (31) For reviews of the genus Zosterops its somewhat heavier bill, hut' there appear see Ashby, Emu, 25, pp. 112·119; to he no other important differences. Mack, ibid, 31, pp. 290-301; Campbell, ibid., 32, pp. 91·94. (33) Includes Melithreptus laetior, the Col­ (32) For distribution in eastern Australia, den-hacked Honeyeater, of the R.A.O.U. see Hindwood, Emu, 50, pp. 183,-8. Checklist. 60 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951

STRIPED HONEYEATER from Mildura (Victoria) and Lake Victoria Plectorhyncha lanceolata Gould and Clare (New South Wales). :j: Plectorlvyncha lanceolata neglecta Ma­ * Meliphaga virescens forresti (Ingram): thews: Adelaide, S.A. [585a] Alexandra, N.T. Original description 0'£ 'neglecta: "Differs :j: P. s, rogersi Mathews: Wyndham, from P. l. lanceolata in its larger bill, and N.W.A. in being blackish brown above." This is :j: P. s. decipiens Mathews: Mungi, N.W.A. not supported by specimens examined. :j: Dorothina v. euerardi Mathews: Everard Ranges, S.A. [608 1] BLkCK HONEYEATER A smaller bird, paler on the back and Myzomela nigra Gould under-surface; the rump is light brown. The t M. nigra ashbyi Mathews: Mt. Barker, breast is only faintly streaked, and unlike S.A. [589b] sonora the abdomen is practically unmarked No subspecies have been determined of and dirty-white in color. Specimens exam­ the' Black Honeyeater. . ined from; Kallioota, Mt, Lyndhurst, Owie­ andana, Mt. Rose, McDouall Peak, Musgrave Ranges (South Australia); Cockatoo Creek Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Latham) (N.T.); several from near Broken Hill * A. t. te'uuirostris (Latham). . (N.S.W.); three from Yanco Station and :j: A. halmaturina A. G. Campbell: Kan­ one from Cloncurry (Queensland); Canning garoo Island. [591e] Stock Route (Well Nos. 7, 11, 30, 31, 37, :j: A.. t. loftyi Mathews: Mt. Lofty, S.A. 41), Derby (Western Australia). ~91~ '. This race, which is distinguished from the FUSCOUS HONEYEATER Tasmanian bird (ilubius] by its somewhat Meliphaga fuscaGould longer bill, ranges from .south Queensland (?) Ptilotis fusca dingi Mathews: "Mur­ to South Australia. ray Flats" (equals Annadale, Blanchetown Road), South Australia. [613c] (34) TAWNY·CROWNED HONEYEATER Glicip.hila melanops (Latham) YELLOW-FACED HONEYEATER Meliphago. chrysops (Latham) * G. m: melanops (Latham) :j: Ptilotis chrysops samueli Mathews: Ade­ :j: G. m. braba Mathews: Kangaroo Island. laide, S.A. [614e] [593i] Range: South Australia. WHITE-EARED HONEYEATER . BROWN HONEYEATER Meliphaga leucotis (Latham) Cliciphila indistincta ocularis Gould :j: Ptilotis leucotis depauperate Mathews: Range: Northern and eastern Australia (in­ Coonalpyn, S.A. [617c] cluding northern South Australia); southern :j: P. l, munna Mathews: Kangaroo Island. New Guinea. [617d] :j: P. l. thomasi Mathews: new name for SINGING HONEYEATER above. [617f] vires~ens Meliphaga (Vieillot) PURPLE-GAPED HONEYEATER * MelipJ},aga vir~scens ~onora (Gould): Meliphago: cratitia (Gould) South Australia. [608a] * Meliphaga c. cratitia (Gould): Interior This is a large race, rather dark in general of South Australia. [620] coloration, with the upper surfaces dull olive­ :j: Ptilotis c. samueli Mathews: Eyre Penin­ brown; the breast is distinctly streaked with sula, S.A. [620f] brown and there is usually a yellowish wash, :j: P. c. zarda Mathews: new name for especially .on the throat and foreneck. Speci­ above. [620g] mens examined from: near Port Adelaide, Occurs in the Mallee areas of South Aus­ Sellick Beach, Cape Jervis, Hundred of tralia and north-west Victoria (including Coolinong, Salt .Creek, Robe, Glenelg River, Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas). Yorke Peninsula, near Kimba, Goffin Bay, S.A. Other specimens referable here are (34) See S.A. Om; 8, p. 5, re type specimen. August, 1951 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 6,1

* Meliphaga crautui halmaturina (Ma- * Meliphaga p. inellori (Mathews): Tern­ thews) : Kangaroo Island. [620b] . plestowe, Vic. Range: Kangaroo Island. Mathews in his 'A dark-colored bird, which occurs in south­ original diagnosis said: "Differs from P. c. ern Victoria, the South-East of S.A., and cratitia in its larger size -and generally the Mt. Lofty Ranges. brighter coloration. Kangaroo Island." While * Meliphaga p. rosinae (Mathews): Port it is doubtful if this description will hold, Augusta, S.A. [625e] . the distinguishing feature is that the fleshy P.aler still (more yellowish) than. M. p. gape is invariably yellow instead of lilac- penicillata, but not as yellow and larger than colored. . M. p. leilaualensis. Occurs in the southern Flinders Ranges and vicinity westwards. GREY-HEADED HONEYEATER * Meliphaga p. leilavalensis (North) : Meliphaga keartlandi (North) Burketown, N.Q. In a limited series from Hermannsburg, :j: Ptilotula p. centralia Mathews. N.T. (2 skins), Moorilyanna, S.A. (1), Fitz­ This is a smaller race, characterised by roy River (2) and Fortescue River (4), and its markedly yellowish .appearance, It occurs six skins taken between Well Nos. 34, and in western Queensland and western New 50, Canning Stock Route, Western Australia, South Wales south to about Broken Hill, and I have been unable to distinguish any of in northern South Australia as far south as the forms suggested by Mathews in his the Flinders Ranges and westwards to north­ various works. western Australia, where another· distinct ( ?) Sacramela keartlandi iohiteorum Ma­ yellow form, carteri, occurs. thews, Birds Austr., 11, 1924, p. 529: Mus- grave Ranges, Central Australia. ' CRESCENT HONEYEATER The reference to this name (which was Phylidonyris p. pyrrhoptera (Latham) applied to birds from a South Australian :j: Meliornis (Lichmera) australasiana hal­ locality) was omitted from the R.A.O.U. maturina A. G. Campbell: Kangaroo Island. ' Checklist (1926 edition, page 100). It [630d] . should be inserted as No. 621d. :j: Meliornis p. itulistincta Mathews: Mount Lofty, S.A. [630e] . YELLOW-PLUMED HONEYEATER From a limited series I have been unable Meliphaga ornata, (Gould) to distinguish skins from Kangaroo Island :j: Ptilotis ornata tailemi Mathews: Tailem from ones from the adjacent mainland and Bend, S.A. [622b] Victoria. Tasmanian 'birds may be recog­ nised only by the deeper yellow coloration YELLOW·FRONTED HONEYEATER of the wing, under the name inomata Gould. Meliphaga plumula (Gould) :j: Ptilotis chrysotis ethelae M'athews: Port YELLOW-WINGED H'ONEYEATER Augusta, S.A. [623b] Meliornis novae-hollandiae (Latham) t P. c. graingeri Mathews: Mt, Grainger, * Meliornis novae-hollandiae novoe-hollan- S.A. [623d] . diae (Latham). . :j: Meliornis nooae-hollandiae halmaturinus WHITE-PLUMED HONEYEATER A. G. Campbell: Kangaroo Islimd. [631e] (GREENIE) . :j: M. n, subassimilis Mathews: Mt. Lofty Meliphaga penicillata Gould (35) S.A. [631h] . z r r r r » * Meliphaga p, penicillata Gould. :j: M. n, campbelli Mathews: Kangaroo Is­ :j: Ptilotis p. whitei Mathews: Murray land. [631j] . Flats, S.A. [625d] :j: M. n, myponga Mathews: Myponga. Slightly paler than the following race S.A. (36). . (mellori), Occurs in the interior of New I have been unable to detect any differ­ South Wales, Victoria, and the eastern MaBee ences between the various populati.ons or this of South Australia. (36) Not listed in the 1926 R.A.O.U. Check. list, where It should appear as No. 6311. (35) See Ashby, Emit, 21, pp. 208·210 for The reference is: Birds of Australia 12 review. 1925, p. 16. ', 62 THE' S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951

species in. eastern Australia. Examination BRUSH (LITTLE) .WATTLEBIRD of a good series (43 skins) suggests that none Anthochaera chrysoptera (Latham) of the subspecific names which have been :l: Anellobia c. intermedia Mathews: Ade­ introduced are valid. laide, S.A. [637d] * Meliornis nouae-hollandiae longirostris :l: Anellobia C. halmaturina Mathews: Kan­ (Gould). garoo Island. [637f] :l: M. n. intermedius Mathews. Range: Southern Australia and Tasmania. This race is confined to the south-west corner of Western Australia, The relatively. Anthochaera carunculata (Shaw) long bill enables one to separate skins with Anthochaera carunculata tregellasi Ma­ ease. * thews. NOISY MINER :l: Coleia C. clelandi Mathews: Kangaroo Myzantha melanocephala (Latham) Island. [638d] * Myzantha m, melanocephala (Latham}, Range: Victoria and South Australia; Kan- garoo Island. ' :l: M. m, whitei Mathews: South Austra­ lia. [634f] SPINY·CHEEKED HONEYEATER Range: From southern Queensland to South Aeanthagenys rufogularis Gould Australia. :l: A. r. augusta Mathews: Pt. Augusta, * Myzantha m, leachi Mathews. S.A. [640h] A distinctly larger bird than the mainland There do not appear to be any races of form; no other reliable characters have been this bird, which occurs on the greater part discovered. Confined to Tasmania. of the Australian mainland, except the ex­ YELLOW-THROATED MINER treme north. Myzantha flavigula Gould (37) LITTLE FRIAR·BIRD * Myzantha f. flavigula Gould. Philemon citreogularis (Gould) Myzantha f. pallida Mathews: Tietken :l: * Philemon C. citreogularis (Gould). Creek, Musgrave Ranges, S.A. [635g] :l: Philemon orientalis didimus Mathews: All South Australian birds seem referable South Australia. [646c] to the nominate form. It is doubtful whether there are more than one race of the Little Friar-Bird in Austra­ BLACK·EARED MINER lia. Eighteen skins from New South Wales, Myzantha melanotis F. E. Wilson Victoria and South Australia have been com­ * Myzantha melanotis F. E. Wilson: N.W. pared with twenty-one from Northern Aus­ Victoria, Mallee, . tralia (N.W.A., N.T., Qld.) without discover­ :l: M. flavigula wilsoni Mathews: Turner ing any constant character by which they Well, S.A. [636c] may be separated. As remarked by North :l: M. o, perplexa Mathews: Linga, Victoria. (Special. Catalogue No.1, vol. 2, p. 175) birds from Northern Australia usually present Of "wilsoni" Mathews said: "Differs from "that washed out appearance often seen in the type of M. f. melanotis in having a longer birds frequenting very hot districts," and wing, viz., 131 mm," although skins in fresh plumage may be It would seem that this bird is quite dis­ somewhat paler brown than southern exam­ tinct from Myzantha flavigula, with which ples, the distinction is slight and unimportant. it is sometimes associated by workers. Ashby, loco cit., thought it was allied to the Western PIPIT (GROUNDLARK) Australian Dusky Miner, M. obscura of the Anthus nouae-seelandiae (Gmelin) R.A.O.U. Checklist, but it is now well estab­ * Anthus n. australis Vieillot. lished that the latter is merely a race of :l: A. australis adelaidensis Mathews: Ade­ M. flavigula. laide, S.A. [647c] There are fifty skins of the Groundlark (37) See Ashby, Emu, 21, pp. 255-6, for from all parts of Australia in the S.A. remarks on this and the following Museum, and a certain amount of variation species. has been noted. Mathews in his 1931 List August, 1951 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 63

tabulates seven races, and includes several he GOLDFINCH had previously described, as synonyms. Carduelis carduelis (Linnaeus) From the material examined, it does not seem .It is uncertain when' the first Goldfinches possible to concede more than two forms­ were introduced into South Australia, but it australis Vieillot from the greater part of is known that a number were liberated in Australia and Tasmania, and tribulationalis the year 1879. Importations of the species Mathews from the northern coastal regions were arranged much earlier than this, how­ between about Derby and Cape York. In ever, for it is recorded in the newspaper the last-named a large series would probably "Adelaide Observer" for July 26, 1862 (page show that the stripes on the breast are wider 4), that the vessel Sea Star had a number than in southern birds, but the distinction on board when it reached Port Adelaide is doubtful. from London on July 25, 1862. ENGLISH SKYLARK Large flocks of the Goldfinch are common Alauda aruensis Linnaeus about Adelaide, and the species has spread This species was first imported into South over a wide area from Clare in the north Australia about the year 1862. ("Adelaide to Victor Harbour in the south. It is also Observer," 26/7/1862.) In the year 1879, on Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. 18 birds were liberated on the Parklands and has been reported from the South-East about Adelaide and at Enfield. Twenty-two and Renmark. pairs are also recorded as having been libera­ HOUSE SPARROW ted at Dry Creek, north of Adelaide, at this Passer domesticus (Linnaeus) - time, and a further 9 pairs near Enfield. (First Annual Report of Acclimatisation This was one of the first introductions to become thoroughly established. The first Society of S.A., October 17, 1879.) birds were probably liberated. about the year Further introductions took place in 1880 1863, and five years later they were reported (147 birds), at various places about the city at Magill, near Adelaide. of Adelaide, and 36 birds were set free at In "The Register," July 21, 1865, page 2, Kapunda in the year 1881. it was stated that ... "Captain Harris ..• At the present time this bird may be seen brought a lot of English house sparroW's . . . in fair numbers on the western side of the The importance of sparrows in destroying Adelaide Plains and is also common along many of the worms and insects destructive the coastal fringe as far south as Sellick Beach F to the growing corn was the inducement and northward to about the latitude of Port which prompted the captain to purchase a Wakefield. It is also to be met with in cage of healthy birds for acclimatisation ..." the South-East in the Port MacDonnell area; In January, 1874, M. Symonds Clark "in this population has possibly been derived Mount Gambier township ... saw hundreds from Victorian liberations. of English Sparrows." They were observed HORSFIELD BUSHLARK in numbers near Pt. Lincoln by members of Mirafra javanica Horsfield" the R.A.O.U. cainpout, 1909. (?) Mirafra secunda Sharpe: South. Aus­ As in other lands where it has been ac­ tralia. [648b] climatised, however, the House Sparrow soon It is doubtful whether "secunda" can be proved itself, a pest in agricultural and upheld as a valid form. horticultural areas (see "Progress Report of Commission appointed to report on Alleged GREENFINCH Injuries by Sparrow,s," etc., S.A. Parl. Papers, Chloris chloris (Linnaeus) Nos. 123, 123A, Sept. 13, 1881). . This "bird was introduced into South Aus­ In "The Advertiser" of September 14, tralia . about 1879, or earlier, when many 1881,. the following appeared: "From the pairs were set free near Adelaide, and there report of the Sparrow Commission, it appears were subsequent liberations. .It is now a that these pests have established themselves fairly common bird in Adelaide, and occurs over a large area of the colony. They con­ in parts of the Mt. Lofty Ranges and at sume or damage not only fruits, but cereals Victor Harbour. It has also been observed and vegetables. For their extermination, at Port MacDonnell in the South-East. rewards of 6d. a dozen for sparrows' heads 64 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951 and 2/6 a hundred for sparrows' eggs are parts of the range shows that the width of recommended. The expense will be con­ the breast band is variable, and it may also siderable and it is a pity that it cannot be be emphasised or reduced during th~ pr.epar~; charged ~o the persons who introduced into tion of specimens. The name philordi the colony the omnivorous instead of the is undoubtedly superfluous. insectivorous sparrow." In the same news­ RED-BROWED FINCH paper for January 4, 1883, we read: "The Aegintha temporalis (Latham) sparrow nuisance ought to have abated some­ Aegintha t, temporalis (Latham). . what by this time. Since October, 1881, * :j: A. t. loftyi Mathews: Mount Lofty, S.A. the Government has paid for 37,875 spar­ [662d] rows' heads at sixpence a dozen, and for It would appear that all birds from eastern 260 793 sparrows' eggs at 2/6 a hundred." and southern Australia may be grouped under For, about 70 years thereh as b een " con- this name. stant warfare" by rural workers against the Aegintha t. minor Campbell. Sparrow, but it still remains as numerous * :j: A. t. macgillivrayi Mathews. as ever. It is widely distributed over much A small, -brightly-colored bird confined to of the settled areas and has spread west­ Cape York Peninsula, North Queensland. wards from Eyre Peninsula to beyond Tar­ coola and northwards at least as far as STARLING Marree. Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris Linnaeus It is not known when Starlings were first GRENADIER WEAVER introduced into South Australia, but it may (RED BISHOP BIRD) have occurred about the time when they Pyromelana orix (Linnaeus) were liberated in Victoria in the 1860's. The The first evidence that this species had Acclimatisation Society distributed some at established itself in South Australia was ob­ Black Hill and Torrens Park (both places tained in 1929, when a colony was discovered near Adelaide) in the year 1881, and also at Wood Point, near Murray Bridge. It h~s probably in later years. The -bird now also been observed at Hope Valley Heservoir congregates in vast numbers in all the settled (1932), McLaren Flat (27 miles south of parts of the State, including Eyre Peninsula Adelaide, 1933), Murray Bridge, Noarlunga, (where it was firmly established 50 years Finniss, Reedbeds (odd. breeding birds about ago), and it is believed. to have reached the year 1926, according to S. A. White), Ooldea; it is also on Kangaroo Island. Berri, and more lately at Wood Point (1947. 8), where the species is apparently well" SPOTTED BOWER-BIRD established. Chlamydera maculata (Gould) (38) * Chlamydera maculata maculata (Gould). BEAUTIFUL FlRETAIL :j: C. m: clelandi Mathews: South Austra­ Zonaeginthus bellus (Latham) lia. [680b] :j: Z. b. samueli Mathews: Kangaroo Is­ One of the characters given by Mathews land. [650b] for clelandi was the "smaller bill," but this :j: Z. b. rosinae Mathews: South Austra­ structure is subject to marked individual vari­ lia. [650e] ation. The form C. m, maculata occurs from It is unlikely that there are any races the interior of North Queensland (Cloncurry, of the Beautiful Firetail. Sedan, etc.), through the interior of New DIAMOND-FlRETAIL South Wales to north-western Victoria, and Zonaeginthus guttatus (Shaw) the vicinity of the River Murray in South Australia (as far south as Swan Reach). Terrill and Rix, loco cit., p. 97, have in­ There is also a specimen taken by W. D. Mac­ serted the name "Z. g. philordi," inferring Gillivray on the "Barcoo River" (? S.W. that it may he applied to South Australian Queensland) in August, 1928. birds. Mathews' original description said: * Chlamydera maculata guttata Gould. "Differs from Z. g. gutturalis in having a narrower black band on the throat and the (38) Includes Chlamydera guttate, the' West­ head not so light." (Type from Victoria.) ern Bower-Bird of the R.A.O.D. Check­ Reference to a series of skins from various list. August, 1951 THE' S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST. 65

t C. m, macdonaldi Mathews: Macdonnell reads as follows: "Differs from C. m, mela­ Ranges, N.T. norhamphus in having a shorter bill-36 mm." Range: Western Australia (Pilbara dis­ The type is now in the American Museum trict south to Point Cloates and the East of Natural History, and Amadon (Emu, 50, Murchison district inland to Wiluna) and pp. 126-7) has stated that it was a female, the far north-west of South Australia; also probably sub-adult-"Wing 225; tail 203,; the lower Northern Territory. One skin culmen 37. The bill . . . is short and has from Yandill Station, near Wiluna, Canning a white tip-marks of immaturity." He also Stock Route, W.A., differs from three from . stated that further specimens from Eyre the Everard Ranges, S.A., and one from Peninsula might prove whiteae to be valid, Barrow Ranges, W.A. The bird from near but preferred to treat it as a synonym of Wiluna, W.A., is much more "rufous" be­ C. m; melanorhamphos. Available material neath, including the under tail coverts, and has been limited, but it would appear that the tail is also tipped with reddish buff Mathews' name may prove to be acceptable. instead of pale 'buff. It is a male col­ A single breeding male, collected by A. M. lected on April 5, 1930. Morgan at White Well, Wilcherry, Eyre Pen­ insula, S.A., agrees with two other South AUSTRALIAN RAVEN Australian skins (from Elwomple and Tilley Corvus coronoides Swamp-both places south-east of Murray Vigors and Horsfield (39) Bridge) in having a much smaller bill than Corvus c. tasmanicus Mathews. * specimens from Clare (N.S.W.), Seymour A larger bird in every way than the main- (Vic.), and east of Morgan, River Murray land "Raven." Confined to Tasmania. (S:A.). A bird from Willunga (south of Corvus c. coronoides. * Adelaide) is also small-hilled, Details of all C. marianae mellori Mathews: Angas t these short-billed birds are: culmen 39 rom. Plains, S.A. [690e] (all); wing 220, 230, 225, 230; tail 195, C. tnarianae halmaturinus Mathews: t 195, 198, 205, in the order mentioned above. Kangaroo Island. [690f] (?) Corvus dilJicilis Stresemann: Malbon, On the other hand, the skins from Clare, Cloncurry district, Qld. (Stresemann, loco Seymour and east of Morgan are noticeably cit., p. 125.) longer-billed, as mentioned above, and de­ Eastern Australia (the whole of Victoria, tails of these specimens are: culmen 48 mm., New South Wales and Queensland (except 47, and 45; wing 230, 245, 215 (plus); tail Cape York Peninsula and the coastal regions 215, 220 and 200. All skins examined south to beyond Mackay); eastern and appear to be adult. southern South Australia; Kangaroo Island; . One is thus led to believe that South south-western Australia, as far north as Australian birds are short-billed, while Vic­ Geraldton) . torian and N.S.W. populations are charac­ terised ·by a much heavier and longer bill. AUSTRALIAN CROW Corvus cecilae Mathews The bird from the upper River Murray be­ longs to the last-named group. Stresemann, loco cit., regards this as a race of Corvus orru of New Guinea. . The genus STREPERA Lesson WHITE-WINGED CHOUGH The classification of this genus is beset Corcorax melanorhamphos (Vieillot) with difficulties, as in most forms the plumage changes color rapidly with wear, and the Corcorax melanorluun.phos whiteae * Ma. birds become very "ragged" and brownish thews: near Lake Greenly, Eyre Peninsula, just before the moult. Also no organised S.A. [693d] collecting of these birds has ever been under­ Mathews' original diagnosis of whiteae taken, and Museum collections are composed of random gatherings which have been "too (39) .A review of the genus Corous-ui Aus­ few" and "far 'between." Ashby (Emu, tralia and NeW' Guinea is given by 25, p'p. 199-203) attempted to list the various Stresemann, Journal fur Ornithologie, species, but generally speaking the group 91, 91-, pp. 121-135, 1943. has been neglected. The most distinct memo 66 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, .1951

bers are the Pied (S. graculina) * Strepera V. melanoptera Gould: South and its various races, including juliginosa Australia. [695] (the "" of the R.A.O.U. :j: S. u. howei Mathews. . . Checklist. The relationships between This bird is confined to the eastern South melanoptera, versicolor, arguta, and inter­ Australian mainland, north-west Victoria, and media of the R.A.O.U. Checklist are incom­ perhaps Kangaroo Island (or? halmaturina}, pletely known, but there appear to be It occurs as far north as Quorn at least, and good grounds why they should be a typical male has been examined from Port regarded as conspecific. (40) They are Augusta. It is fairly numerous in the Mur­ allopatric forms, and all except melanoptera ray Mallee and the South-East. The color have a white wing speculum at the base of is blackish in fresh plumage; brown when the primaries; all have white under tail worn. coverts. In melanoptera there is often a ( ?) Strepera V. halmaturina Mathews: suggestion of a speculum (which in the Kangaroo Island. [695a] limited material examined seems to be Mathews stated when introducing the name characteristic of females and young birds). halmaturina: "Differs from S. m, melanop­ Except for its larger size, there seems to be tera in its smaller size and darker coloration little to separate arg,uta from intermedia; above; wing 267-273 mm., typo 290 mm." both are blackish. Only two skins in good plumage (dark) have been examined, 'but it is probable that this GREY CURRAWONG is a valid race. However, the bills of the Stepera versicolor (Latham) specimens in question are longer than those * Strepera v. versicolor (Latham): Syd­ of adjacent mainland birds. ney, N.S.W. * Strepera v. intermedia Sharpe: Port :j: S. v. vieilloti Mathews: Olinda, Vic. Lincoln, S.A. [698] :j: S. jusca Ashby: Eyre Pen., S.A. [698a] This form probably ranges from Queens­ This form occurs on Yorke and Eyre Penin­ land (?) through N.S.W. to south-western sulas. The general color is blackish. A skin Victoria. Specimens have been examined (unsexed but probably female) from Laura. from Cobargo (2) and Blue Mts., N.S.W.; S.A., appears to be a true intermediate be­ Alexandra West, Glenaroua, and Wangar. tween intermedia and melanoptera. The wing atta, Victoria. The general plumage color speculum is of the same pattern as in inter­ is dark grey. media, ,but is masked by .a pale brownish Terrill and Rix, loco cit., p. 99, list wash; only the absence of pure white colora­ this bird for South Australia, stating that tion prevents it from being placed under "the only authentic record ... is ... a speci­ intermedia. Laura is on the same longi­ men taken by the son of Dr. A. M. Morgan tude but about 70 miles north of Yorke at Robe in 1922 or 1923." This is referred Peninsula proper. to in the Monthly Proceedings of the S.A. * Strepera V. centralia Mathews: Everard Ornithological Association, volume 7 of this Ranges, S.A. [698b] ]oumal, page 39. The whereabouts of the Mathews said of centralia: "Differs from skin referred to is a mystery. The only N. V. intermedia (Sharpe) in being lighter, skin of a Strepera from Robe in the S.A. and in having a bigger bill." Museum is a male taken on April 7, 1923, by J. Lea, and it is without doubt melanop­ Two skins (moulting) from Ernabella, tera. It differs from other specimens of that Musgrave Ranges, support this; the bill is form (except a female from Quorn) in having noticeably longer than in skins from Eyre prominent whitish tips to the secondaries. Peninsula. Another marked characteristic of these skins is the prominent white bar It is doubtful if S. v. uersicolor occurs in on the tips of the primaries and secondaries. South Australia except as a straggler over Plumage color (?) brownish. the Victorian border near the Glenelg River, in the south-east corner of the State. * Strepera V. plumbea Gould: Western Australia. (4,0) Cf. Cleland, S.A. Om., 8, 1925, p. 49. This race is confined normally to southern Also Austin, Emu, 50, 1951, p. 283. Western Australia, south of the Mulga-

------_._- ~ THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 67 August, 1951------_._------_. Eucalypt line. It is very like centralia, but very few specimens in Australian collee­ the bill is somewhat shorter and there is tions. less white on the tips of the primaries. In general coloration it is more brownish than Gymiiorhina tibicen (Latham) (42) inter'media. . ~. . .' ,;, GYll}ndrlLina t, tibicen (Latham) .. PIED BUTCHER-BIRD This is the southern black-backed form Cracticus nigrogularis (Gould) which. inhabits the drier inland areas (mallee, There are a number of geographical races etc.) of South Australia, and also occurs of this species. . eastwards to the coastal' regions of New ,;, Cracticus nigrogularis nigrogularis South Wales, ant; in the northern half of (Gould) Victoria. Range: Eastern and southern Australia. ,;, G. t. leuconota Gould: South Australia. * Cracticus nigrogularis picatus Gould [707a] Range: Northern Australia. A large (white-backed) form. inhahitinz *Cracticus nigrogularis kalgoorli Mathews. southern Victoria, the more southern district~ Range: Arid interior of \V'.A., S.A., N.T. of South Australia, and Kangaroo Island. ( ?) Cracticus nigrogularis niellori Ma- Hybrids (or intermediates) between this and thews: South Australia. [700e] the previous form occur about a zone run­ GREY BUTCHER-BIHD ning from near Bordertown, S.A., through Cracticus torquatus (Latham) (4,1) Nhill and Shepparton to Wangaratta, Vic­ '.- Cracticus torquaius leucopterus Gould. toria, and northwards to beyond . In t Cracticus . torquatus etlielae Mathews, South Australia, "white-backs" occur in Eyre Peninsula, S.A. [702f] southern districts north to Burra and Kalli­ Mathews in his 1931 List regards this as a oota, and westwards to a little beyond Pt. synonym of his olitulus, but this is obviously Augusta, and in the east the .two forms incorrect. Specimens examined have a pale normally meet in the vicinity of the River 'grey back, more white on the wing, and are Murray, where intermediates occur. They small-billed; they are from S.W.A., Goffin are also found on the whole of Eyre Penin- Bay (Eyre Peninsula), Eyre Peninsula, Mc­ . sula and in the south-east corner of the State. Douall Peak, Owieandana (Flinders Ranges}, ,;, G. t. finlci Mathews: Finke Hiver, N.T. Yorke Peninsula, vicinity of Adelaide, Mur­ Material examined suggests that this is a ray Mallee, Mildura, and Yanco (S. W.Old.i. black-backed form with a very .narrow, black * Cracticus t. cinereus (Gould), ... saddle and long bill. I know of no speci­ A noticeably large bird in all its dimen­ mens of "white-backs" from the' Northern sions with a dark: grey back. Confined to Territory, in spite of several sight records. Tasmania. Range: non-tropical Northern Territory; not * Cracticus t. torquatus (Latham). numerous. Range: Eastern N.S.W. and Victoria (ex­ ':' G. t, luypoleuca Gould. cept N.W.). A larger-billed and darker bird A well-marked, diminutive "white-back" than leucopterus. confined to Tasmania. ,;, Cracticus torquatus argenteus Gould. ,;, G. t. longirostris Milligan. According to \\lhittell and Serventy (Syst. A long-billed (black-backed) raee ranging List Birds W.A., 1948, p. 101.) this bird from the Ashburton River in W.A. eastwards occurs in the Kimberley Division, W.A. In to the Kimberley Division and coastal N.T. the Northern Territory it has becn reported ,;, G. t. dorsalis Campbell. from Darwin, Pt. Essington, S. Alliaator This is the "Western Magpie" of the River, Mary n., King- H., Adelaide River R.A.O.U. Checklist, which occurs in southern township, above 0.'1'. Crossing, Fonntain Western Australia. Head, Manton Dam, Hum Jungle, and Batche­ Other black-backed forms have hecn de­ lor. Although not a rare bird, there are scribed from Groote Eylandt and Queensland. ._------. ... NOTE: The above brief outline of the (41) Includes Cracticus argenteus, Silver­ backed Butcher-Bird. of the R.A.O.U. (4-2) Includes Gymnorhina luypoleuca, dor­ Cliecklist. salis of the R.A.O.U. Checklist. 68 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST August, 1951 ---_._-----._------various.recognisable forms of certain species tibicen finlci (Northern Territory) is .a well­ of the Cracticidae (Strepera, Cracticus and marked form in which the narrow black Gymnohina) is given pending a more detailed saddle is hardly visible in life, until the review of "the group. Since the above was birds are flushed, and this undoubtedly.ac­ written, however, I have received from the counts for certain published .records . of author a copy of "Taxonomic Notes on the "White-backs" in the vicinity of Alice Australian Butcher-Birds (Family Cractici­ Springs. Specimens in the Museums in dae)" (Amadon, Am. Mus. Nooit., 1504" Sydney'and Melbourne support this. Strepera April 6, 1951). Readers -are referred to versicolor centralia is another well-marked this publication in connection with certain race, with a long bill and prominent white ,suggestions put forward above. Although tips on the primaries and secondaries. The Amadon states "At present it would be pre­ race howei represents a population inter­ -mature to unite the white-backed and black. mediate between versicolor and melanoptera, backed magpies," his discussion supports the but from material examined by the writer view that they are conspecific. Gymnohina does not seem to occur in South Australia.

SUMMARY 1. The following new geographical races lis, Pachycephala pectoralis, P. rufiuentris, have been described: Colluricincla harmonica, Cinclosoma castano­ (a) Colluricinela harmonica anda (Clif­ tum, Pomatostomus su.perciliosus, .Acanthiza ton Hills, S.A.). nana, Malurus lamberti, Artamus cinereus, (b) Cinclosoma castanotum. morgani (18 Purtlalotus rubricatus, Zosterops lateralis, miles N.W. of Kimba, S.A.). Meliphaga oirescens, 'M. penicillata, Gym­ (c) Calamanthus [uliginosus parsonsi (23 norhina tibicen, and the genera Sericornis, miles east of Meningie, S.A.). Calamanthus, Amytornis, Stipiturus, Climac­ (d) Calamanthus [uliginosus suttoni (Wer­ teris, Strepera. tigo, Eyre Pen., S.A.). 10. Details of type specimens of the fol­ 2. A number of forms listed as species lowing forms, which are in the S.A. Museum, in the R.A.O.U. Checklist are regarded as are given: . geographical races. Platcycercus elegans [leurieuensis Ashby. 3. Myzantha melanotis Wilson is recog­ Psephotus haematonotus caeruleus Condon. nised as a full species. Rhipidura mayi Ashby. (Neotype.) 4. Several forms, usually regarded as Petroica cucullata meloillensis Zietz. distinctly Australian species, are treated as Pachycephala rufiuentris minor Zietz. geographical races of extra-limital species. Colluricincla harmonica anda Condon. 5. A number of subspecies proposed by Cinclosoma castanotum. clarum. Morgan. G. M. Mathews have been found to be Cinclosoma castanotum. morgani Condon. invalid. Acanthiza tenuirostris Zietz. 6. The names of all species and races, Sericomis maculatus condoni Mathews. which have been, described from South Aus­ Sericomis maculatus houtmanensis F. R. tralian localities, are given. Zietz. 7. The inclusion of supplementary notes Calamanthus [uliginosus parsonsi Condon. on occurrence, and corrections to the infor­ Calamanthus fuliginosus suttoni 'Condon. mation given by Terrill and Rix (5.A. Om., Stipiturus malachurus halmaturinus Par- 50, pp. 53·100). sons. 8. The time of introduction, range, and Climacteris waitei S. A. White. occurrence of 9 species of foreign birds in­ Zosterops westemensis flindersensis Ashby, troduced into South Australia are given. n. Terrill and Rix have listed 381 native 9. Variation has been discussed at some species for South Australia. Using the length in the following: Nino» nouae-seelaii­ R.A.O.U. Checklist nomenclature the number diae, Podargus strigoides, M,icroecd leuco­ is 385, but this can be reduced to 361, with phoea, Petroica multicolor, Eopsaltria austra- 9 additional introduced species. -----.------Printed by E. J. l\1eALIS'lER & CO., Z4 Blyth Street, Adelaldo, ----