THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 115

CRITICAL NOTES ON THE STATUS OF SOME BIRDS by SHANE A. PARKER, Arid Zone Research Institute, Alice Springs

INTRODUCTION the McArthur River in November 1964, and These notes deal mainly with data addi­ at Walkers Creek near Normanton, north­ tional to those summarized by G. M. Storr west Queensland (RKC). in his List of Northern. Territory Birds BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE (1967), and their implications in relation (Elanus notatus). to previous knowledge of the species con­ Map 1 shows the recent Northern Terri­ cerned. Some critical records are re­ tory records detailed by me (Parker, 1969: examined. Once again I am considerably 61) and the following: between Henbury in the debt of Dr Storr for his groundwork and Erldunda, one seen on May 31, 1935 in this field and for his valuable criticisms (Cleland, 1936:194); Idracowra, sighting in of this paper in draft. early March 1911 (Hill, 1913:240); sandhill Abbreviations of observers' names and country near Chambers' Pillar (S. A. White, institutions are: AL (A. Lendon), AON (A. 1914:425); Katherine, one collected (Anon., O. Nicholls), BG (Mrs. Billie Gill), CC 1943:7) ; McArthur River, few seen and nest (Mrs. C. Cox), CDF (C. Dean Fisher), with 3 young found, May 1913 (Barnard, CSIRODS (C.S.I.R.O. Wildlife Research 1914:42); Humpty Doo, two seen, July­ Dingo Survey: Messrs Laurie Corbett, Peter August 1964 (Lendon, 1966:196); Oenpelli­ Hanisch, Harry Wakefield), DC (David East Alligator River, sightings in late Sep­ Crawford), DH (David Howe), DN tember 1948 (Deignan, 1964:356); South (Desmond Nelson), DS (David Stewart), Alligator River, 8 specimens collected by J. HD (Hans Dimpel), JB (John Bywater), Tunney in September-October 1903 JE (John Elliott), RB (Ronald Berry), RK (Hartert, 1905:208); Alexandria, one col­ (R. Keetch), RKC (R. K. Carruthers), SP lected by W. Stalker in June 1905 (Ingram, (author), WBH (Warren Hitchcock); AM 1907:398). (Specimens in the AMNH from (Australian Museum, Sydney), AMNH the last two localities were kindly checked (American Museum of Natural History, New as to species by Mrs Mary LeCroy). York), BMNH (British Museum (Natural History) London), HLW (H. L. White Col­ Other (unpublished) records of this species lection, National Museum of Victoria), appearing on Map 1 are: few miles south NMV (National Museum of Victoria, Mel­ of Gallipoli homestead, one over blacksoil bourne), NTM (Northern Territory plains, August 14, 1967 (WBH); Central Museum, Alice Springs), QM (Queensland Mount Wedge, sighted August 26-28, 1967 Museum, Brisbane), SAM (South Australian (BG); Yuendumu, sighted June 1968 (DS); Museum, Adelaide). Barrow Creek, one seen August 15, 1968 (SP); 10 miles north of Banka Banka, one All measurements in this paper are in mil­ above shrubby Acacia/Eucalyptus woodland, limetres; bill measurements are taken from August 4, 1968 (SP); 8-10 miles east of the skull and wing measurements are of the Allambi homestead, one seen June 16, 1968 flattened wing unless otherwise stated. (DH); 47 miles south of Tennant Creek, one quartering Plectrachne savannah, June 16, LITTLE BITTERN (Lxobrychus minutus). 1968 (SP, AON); midway between The Point Charles specimen, listed by Hermannsburg and Alice Springs, one seen, Storr in his Appendix (1967:69) is in the August 17, 1968 (SP, AL); south-east of AM, and was, according to H. J. de S. Curtin Springs towards Mount Conner, one Disney (in litt.), correctly identified by North over mulga/red sandhill country, May 21, (1913:41) as belonging to the Australian 1969 (SP); Mount Olga, a pair. and Ayers race dubius Mathews. This bittern has also Rock, a pair in open bloodwood/Grevillea been observed in mangroves at the mouth of striata/mulga woodland, July 24, 1969 (SP, 116 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST

DH); Mount Baddy, one bird, mid-October BANDED LAND-RAIL 1969 (JE); Arltunga, one bird, October 25, (Rallus philippensis). 1969 (JE); Reedy Rockhole, George Gill There are two currently-accepted Austra­ Range, one bird, August 31, 1969 (DS). lian forms of this species (Mayr, 1938; 1969 records indicate the species' continuing Deignan, 1964): R.p.mellori Mathews (olim presence.in the Alice Springs area, though australis Pelzeln) of mainland in smaller numbers than in 1967 and 1968. except Cape York Peninsula, and R.p.yorki The picture" is thus of a species which at Mathews of Cape York Peninsula and islands present is fairly common in the range country of the Great Barrier Reef south to 24·S. of the southern Northern Territory, with (Lady Musgrave I., specimens in NMV). scattered occurrences north to the coast. The My examination in the NMV of seven skins breeding season in the southern ranges, as of yorki and twenty-one of mellori showed indicated. by 1967 and 1968 nesting records, that the former differs from the latter mainly is from May to September. in its darker, narrower breastband (6-10 mm, deep in yorki, 14-30 deep in mellori), LETTER-WINGED KITE and the shorter wing of its females (129-135 (Elanus scriptus), m.m, in three females of yorki, 134-140 in Map 1. Recent records of this species in five females of mellori). As, however, there the Northern Territory are almost all from appears to be no break in the distribution of the Barkly Tableland: Attack Creek, two this rail from Cape York southward, it is to collected,' February-March 1966 (McEvey, be expected that the two races grade imper­ 1967:20,31) ; Austral Downs, sighting, May ceptibly into each other. 1967 (RKC); Ranken Store, one seen, early The following Northern Territory speci­ 1968 (CC); Brunette Downs, late March mens were compared with material in the 1966, small flock nesting (RKC); McArthur NMV and may all be assigned to the race River mouth, sighting in February 1965 R.p.mellori: Borroloola, female ad., February (RKC); Brunette Bore, flock of 16 birds on 6, 1914 (HLW 4904), shot on nest with October 2, 1967 (Blackburn, 1968:234); eight eggs by H. G. Barnard; Larrakeyah, Frewena,' nest in shrub savannah with three Darwin, ? sex, September 29, 1968 (NTM nestlings, ,August 8, 1968 (DH); Rockhamp­ 4219); Howard Springs swamp, south-east ton Downs, nest with four eggs, September of Darwin, male ad., August 25, 1968 (NTM 9, 1968 (CSIRODS); Banka Banka, between 4203); Alice Springs, male ad., February 12, bores 12 and 1 in open grassland, two adults 1965 (NTM 2706); Alice Springs, female and three full-grown young flying around ad., March 9, 1965 (NTM 2751). It may nest and feeding-platform in small tree, July be that whereas the northern records re­ 30, 1968 (CSIRODS); Georgina Downs, present resident birds, those from Alice Sandover.River, two seen on August 9, 1968 Springs are of individuals which have tra­ (DH); c~ 6 miles south of Brunette Downs velled to the Centre with adventitious rains. homestead, nesting colony on March 20, 1968 (Hall, 1969); Elliott township, one CRESTED PIGEON (Ocyphaps lophotes). seen on November 13, 1969 (SP). Map 2. Further records of this species have permitted a finer resolution of its It appears from the foregoing that the Northern Territory range than that outlined Letter-winged Kite is at present not un­ by Storr (1967 :31). The following recent common .on the Barkly Tableland, in open northern records also indicate its increasing grassland and shrub savannah, presumably frequency in areas where it was formerly in consequence of the current abundance considered to be either a rare vagrant or there of Rattus villosissimus. The indications absent: are that the breeding season is prolonged, from March to September. 1. Barkly Tableland (one previous record, Alexandria, vide Ingram, 1907:391): 43 An extralimital record from near the miles north of Gallipoli homestead, one in Northern Territory border in Western Aus­ low grassy woodland, August 14, 1967 (SP); tralia is from the Forrest River Mission, 26 between Barry Caves Motel and Soudan, one miles north-west of Wyndham, two specimens in shrub savannah, March 24, 1968 (SP); 20 in the AM collected by Allen Keast on May miles north of Anthony Lagoon turnoff (116 30 and Jvne 18, 1952. miles east along Barkly Highway), in shrubby THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 117

Acacia lysiphloia]Eucalyptus terminalis hummocky areas with few creeks, June­ woodland with Triodia and other grasses, December 1968 (RB). flock of at least twelve birds, May 16, 1968 2. Sandover River: sanguinea common (AON); Avon Downs and Soudan, frequent around Ammaroo homestead on September along Eucalyptus micro theca-lined water­ 18, 1956, while 24 miles west-south-west courses, June 13-14, 1968 (SP, AON); along the Sandover, at No. 8 bore, lead­ Brunette Downs, several seen in Acacia beateri observed on May 22, 1954 (DN). cambagei woodland near homestead, Novem­ (At 16 miles west-south-west of Ammaroo ber 17, 1969 (SP). homestead there is a Corella Bore.) 2. Carpentaria drainage (no previous re­ 3. Plenty River area: sanguinea recorded cords): Cleanskin Creek yard, open grass­ from near Huckitta out station (CSIRODS), land with scattered trees, one on August 16, while 20 miles west, on Entire Creek, lead­ 1967 (SP); Seven-Ten Waterhole, upper beateri observed on July 13, 1967 (DN). Nicholson River, fairly common in open 4. MacDonald Downs: both sanguinea and grassy forest, August 26, 1967 (SP); Border leadbeateri recorded (Chalmers, 1934:213; Waterhole, common in open woodland, late Ellis, 1948:15). August-early September 1967 (WBH, AON, In the Tanami semi-desert area and ad­ HD); Borroloola area, and Mount Roper, jacent regions near the Northern Territory/ near mouth of , "good numbers" Western Australian border, the density of in savannah woodland (Fifth Harold Hall both forms is considerably reduced, and Expedition, 1968, ms.); 90 miles east along occasional instances of sympatry have been Roper River road from Stuart Highway, one recorded. The plotted records for this area on May 5, 1968 (DC); 15 miles north-west on Map 3 are: of Mataranka, one on May 5, 1968 (DC). sanguinea: western end of Wilson Creek, c. 30 miles north-north-east of Talbot Well, one 3. Northern drainage (one previous record, bird on April 11, 1959 (DN); Newry, Katherine; vide Thomas, 1947:56): Kathe­ Auvergne, Top Springs and Timber Creek, rine, several in open grassy area with a few fairly common, August 1968 (SP); Humbert trees, July 27, 1967 (SP); Old Marrakai River, several birds, May 1968 (RK); Flora homestead, one on August 16, 1969 (DC); Valley (Jenkins, 1947:38). between Elliott and Pine Creek, in fair leadbeateri: Timber Creek, flock of seven numbers, July 1964 (Lendon, 1966:193). birds on June 12, 1969 (JB; furthest north The predilection of the Crested Pigeon record for this species in the N.T.); Hooker for dead bare trees of the mulga habit Creek area (Elsey, 1857: 26-27, fide G. M. (Acacia aneura, A. georginae; A. shirleyi, Storr, in litt.); Tanami Goldfields, March etc.) is a noticeable feature of its ecology in 1910 (Clark, 1910:76); Red Hill (= Quartz Central Australia. The range extension into Ridge, nine miles west-north-west of The the northern drainage system and across the Granites), five birds seen regularly during Barkly Tableland into the Carpentaria drain­ 1928 (Terry, 1930:163); Thomson's Rock­ age, where such trees are rare or absent (the hole, August 1936 (Cleland, 1938:128); areas concerned comprising mainly low Brookman Waters, south of Lake Hazlett, mixed woodland and savannah woodland), Western Australia, June 1933 (Terry, 1937: suggests the recent acquisition of greater 239). habitat tolerance in this species. Thus the most sharply-defined allopatry PINK COCKATOO (Cacatua leadbeateri) occurs where both sanguinea and leadbeateri and LITTLE CORELLA are common. The reasons behind this allo­ (Cacatua sanguinea). patry in the Northern Territory are at pre­ sent not apparent; the entire situation, both In the Northern Territory these two here and in other parts of Australia where a species show a remarkable degree of allopatry similar allopatry is indicated, calls for further (Map 3'). The closest points of approach so study. far recorded are: 1. Hatches Creek: sanguinea common near GOLDEN BRONZE CUCKOO township along gum-lined watercourses Chrysococcyx lucidus plagosus), amongst the ranges, while ten miles to the The specimen collected by W. Stalker at west leadbeateri occurs regularly in open Alexandria on December 25, 1905, and iden- lU THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST ocyphaps lophotes • Elanus notatus '* Elanus serlptus 1. »:/

I I· • I I I • 1-- I ~Newcastle Waters I I .·Newcastle Waters I I I I· • • I 0j«"'* I I ·1 "' I/< I ••••I..1 II 0 TenJ'\a~ Creek ~ • I l e-Tennant Creek o I I •••I I *1 I •• I I *1 I .:. I I I I ••• I I I I I \•• • ••1 II 0 o· I .. ~lice..Springs I I. ••: ••-snee Springs I 1 .. I •• I I. • •• I I ·0 • 0° I I• I------L - I------• .----L- e caeatua sanguinea Eremiornis carter! • cacatua leadbeateri 3. »:I

o

o

i' 0 00 h 1 I o o o 1-­ I I o-NewcastleWaters I• 0 Newcastle Waters I I o I I I I I o I • o o 01 I .. I 1 o I I o-Tennant Creek I I ~ennant Creek I I o ~o I• • • o £, 0 I I I I .0 •• • o I I I .1 ' 0 •• .. ea10 1 I • J I • •• 0 N I [ ••• 000 ~ 1 0 0 • 00 0 0 I 1. I I ••• I I, . I I • _;Alic:e Springs •• .2 AliceSprings •• I I•• .. I I • ..- • J • .' It • I I' .... I I ~------~------L- I------L- THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 119

.. Golluricincla harmonica brunnea Neositta chrysoptera .. Colluricincla harmonica serventyi (see text) 5. (specimens only) »: 6.

I I r--- 1''­ I o Newcastle Waters o Newcastle Waters I A I 1 AI I A I • I I o TennantCreek I o Tennant Creek I I I I • I I I I I .. .. I I I I I I I I • 3d I • • 1 I •• 0 AlleeSprings I I • '\ Alice Sp!lngs I I • I Sa,e, " I \. I I I I I ~ L_ I sf-I. I ~------__L_ Meliphaga keartlandi

I I DISTRIBUTION OF I o Newcastle Waters • •I I SELECTED NORTHERN I .. I I • • I I ...Tenna~t Creek I TERRITORY BIRDS • • • I I •••• I I • • I I •• • I J I ... • I I • I •• , t· ... • ·'...%Uce Springs \. • • ,I I· • I ~------__L~ 120 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST tified by Ingram (1907 :402) as the above Simpson Desert, at 24°19'S., 135° 09'E., form (Storr, 1967:70), is now in the AMNH December 27, 1968, party of four birds feed­ (Mathdws Collection). Mrs. Mary Le Croy ing in flowering mulga-like trees (Acacia sp. (in litt,) informs me that it is actually an innom., aff, do'ratoxylon) in hollow on sum­ immature of the Horsefield Bronze Cuckoo, mit of range (SP). Chrysococcyx basalis, and continues: "pla­ The specimen collected at Cockatoo Creek gosus immatures differ most noticeably from on August 21, 1931 by A. Rau and identified immatures of basalis in being more green by J. B. Cleland as Acanthiza uropygialis above, having a subterminal black spot on (Cleland, 1932:131), is in fact an example central rectrices and in lacking ochraceous of A. robustirostris (specimen in SAM, on the :basal two-thirds of most of the rec­ examined); Cleland states (loc. cit. :127) trices-except the outer. The Stalker bird that Cockatoo Creek runs through mulga agrees with basalis in these characters." plains. The northern limit of A. uropygialis II in the Northern Territory is maintained at NORTHERN SCRUB-ROBIN c. 22°S., however, by a specimen of the latter (Drymodes superciliaris). in the AM collected at Mount Doreen on Storr (1967 :70) questions the Roper River May 9, 1952 by A. Keast (H. J. de S. as the provenance of the ochraceous speci­ Disney, in litt.). mens described by Mathews as D.s. col­ cloughi. The holotype, AMNH 585473, is RUFOUS GRASS-WREN an adult male collected on the Roper by (Amytornis striatus). M. Colclough in September 1910 (data J. The holotype and paratype of A.s. rufus on label). Of the male and female in the Campbell and Kershaw were obtained by QM the latter alone bears a register number, G. F. Hill in 1911 in the Tanami semi­ 011/19 female, the male being a mounted desert. The authors (1913 :276) gave data specimen. Under 011/19 in the QM re­ gister are listed both specimens, entered on for the holotype as "No. 52, July 3, 1911, Lat. 19°27", about 160 miles north of Camp February 15, 1911 with other Colclough ma­ terial from the Roper River (D. Vernon, 4" (Hill's Camp 4 was on the Lander River in litt.). There seems little doubt, therefore, at 21"26'33"S.), and for the paratype "No. that the three known specimens of D,s. 37, June 2, 1911, Lander Creek (Spirit speci­ colcloughi did come from the Roper River men-some of notes obliterated)". The number 52 for the holotype must be a mis­ area. reading of 32, since 52 is one of Hill's SLATE-BACKED THORNBILL missing specimens (c. 50-74) from the Me­ (Acanthlza robustirostris). Arthur River. Listed, by Storr (1967 :46) as scarce, occur­ The error involving the paratype is more ring in the south-western corner of the serious. Hill stated (1913:248) that this Territory, north and east to Hermannsburg. grass-wren was first encountered 20 miles This species is apparently fairly common in west of Camp 4. On June 2, 1911 (Camp­ mulga areas; some recent records are: Ayers bell and Kershaw's date for the collection Rock, April 1952 (specimen in AM, collect­ of the paratype) Hill was approaching Camp ed by A: Keast); Ayers Rock, and midway 2, which was in 22° 47' 43"S., 131" 35' 35"E. between :Ayers Rock and Mount Olga, May [Oodnappina Waterhole in the Siddeley 22, 1968, common in dense mulga (SP, DS; Range,] and where he stayed for the 3rd and NTM 4136-7); 12 miles north of Mulga 4th June, collecting specimens No. 23-27. Park homestead (NTM 4138), and near the As the paratype's field number, 37, succeeds homestead, and 22i miles east of the home­ that (corrected) of the holotype, 32, we stead, May 23, 1968, common in dense may assume that it was collected after the mulga (SP, DS); Napperby Station, August latter. Hill further stated that rujus was not 6, 1968, specimen collected in dense mulga observed north of "about 19°5.", which (DN; NTM 4198); 2 miles west along the rough latitude he notes for July 4. Speci­ Yuendumu road 16 miles north of Alice men No. 34 [Malurus lamberttJ was col­ Springs, August 16, 1968, two adults feeding lected on this date; Campbell and Kershaw three fully-fledged young in dense mulga (loc. cit. :278, under M. assimilis) gave its (SP, AL); hills to the east of the Rodinga location as 179 miles north of Camp 4 which Range on the north-western edge of the is actually about 18·44'S. ("about 19·5."). THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 121

Therefore, the paratype of A.s. rufus, No. from: 3 miles south of Barrow Creek, in 37, was almost certainly taken on July 4, dense spinifex in creekbed, a pair on April ]911 at about (but not much north of) 179 17, 1967, and one, same locality, April 15, miles north of Hill's Camp 4.* Kea:t's (1958: 1968 (DC); 3 and 5 miles east of the 44) "Calder River" as type-locality is doubt­ Stuart Highway, on Attack Creek, two single less a lapse for "Lander River," itself birds (one collected, specimen in Museum erroneous. of Zoology, University of Michigan), and 20­ Mees (1961: 115-116, 135) records speci­ 25 miles east-north-east of Tennant Creek, mens of A.s. rufus from wells 35 and 48 on two single birds, during September 1967, all the Canning Stockroute, Western Australia. in large dense clumps of spinifex growing on In the NTM there are three Northern Terri­ flats near a stream (CDF); Pulka Currinya tory specimens of rufus (i.e., with the Gorge, Stuart Bluff Range, one in tall spini­ blackish dorsal streaking confined to the fore­ fex of creekbed, June 8, 1968 (AON), and crown; subspecific determinations confirmed several on June 22, 1968 (SP, AON); Sid­ by A E. McEvey): Davenport Hills, April deley Range, two, June 9, 1968 (AON); 21, 1967, male ad. (NTM 3619) and Mount CoporyIIia Springs, several in spinifex of Strickland, April 28, 1967, female ad. (NTM creekbed, August 17, 1968 (SP, AL). Dr 3620), both collected on spinifex plains by Lendon, after seeing this species at the last the British Combined Services Expedition locality, informed me that his sighting of (Norris, AY., in preparation); 12 miles east Tawny Grassbirds, "pair between Banka of Irving Creek, Petermann Ranges, January Banka and Tennant Creek" (Lendon, 1966: 16, 1969, female ad. (NTM 4360) collected 202), is undoubtedly referable to Eremiornis by DH in mallee/spinifex on red sand. carteri, and that the actual site was a spini­ There is also, in the SAM, an immature fex-lined creekbed within a mile of Chur­ (of this race, by locality) from Western Aus­ chill's Head Rock on the Stuart Highway, tralia near Lake Mackay, collected in May on August 7, 1964. 1933 by the explorer Michael Terry. The frontal feathers in this specimen have the WESTERN AND BROWN SHRIKE- central shaft streak bordered palest grey. THRUSHES (Collu'ricincla harmonica Other Northern Territory records of Amy­ group.) tornis striatus (not identified to subspecies) Map 5. Macdonald (1968) describes a include: 3 miles from Ayers Rock towards pale ecophenotype, Collu'ricincla rufiventris Mount Olga, several birds seen, a search serventyi, ranging from mid-western Western revealing three old nests, and c. 50 miles Australia, across to south-western Northern east of Ayers Rock, a pair seen; spinifex Territory and northern , dif­ clumps unusually large in both localities fering from C.r. rufiventris in the paler (Ellis McNamara, 1958, in litt.); Willy upperparts and the more extensive rufous­ Rockhole, sighting, and between Willy Rock­ cinn~mon of the underparts. The following hole and the Ehrenburg Range, specimen specimens from the Northern Territory have collected and skeletonized, April 1967 (Bri­ been compared with the holotype of serventyi tish Combined Services Expedition, fide A Y. and other material from within the range Norris, ms.). specified by Macdonald, and are referable to this form: NTM 434, male ad., Docker SPINIFEX-BIRD (Eremiornis carteri). River, Petermann Ranges, June 23 1958 Map 4. Recorded in the Northern Terri­ wing 118.8, tail 100.1, bill 28.6;* NTM 2933~ tory . from Krichauff and James Ranges male ad., Honeymoon Gap, west of Alice (Whitlock, 1924:268-9); 14 miles south-west Springs, June 2, 1965, wing 126.9, tail 106.6, of Arltunga; Wave Hill; few miles west of bill 28.5; NTM 3651, male ad., near Kings Ooraminna Rockhole; 15 and 17 miles south Canyon, George Gill Range, June 12 1967 down the Deep Well road, south of Alice wing 124.4, tail 104.5, bill 28.5; NTM 4169' Springs; COl;roboree Rock; Honeymoon Gap male ad., Pulka Currinya Gorge, western end and Serpentme Gorge, west of Alice Springs of Stuart Bluff Range, June 22, 1968, wing (Parker, 1969:68). Further records are "These me~surements may be fully integrated with • Matthews (1922:203-4) indicated but did not those In Macdonald (1968), which were also resolve the discrepancies in the dates. taken by me. 122 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST

123.1, tail 97.8, bill 28.2; NTM 2239, female Arthur River Station (2), Borroloola (1), ad., Refuge Basin, Tanami Sanctuary, Sep­ upper McArthur River (1). In these speci­ tember 11, 1964, wing 114.2, tail 97.2, bill mens the dorsum is pale grey-brown with 27.3; NTM 2843, female ad., Alice Springs, black striations, and the wing-patch pure April 21, 1965, wing 119.2, tail 107.5, bill white; measurements: 8 males: wingchord 27.3; NTM 2934, female ad., Honeymoon 75-82, bill 14-16; 6 females: wingchord 77­ Gap, June 2, 1965, wing 120.4, tail 99, bill 82, bill 13.5-14. 28.4; NMV B.43, male ad., Hermannsburg, (2) Near leucoptera but only a few feathers 1933, wing 125, tail 102, bill 28; NMV 7097, of the dorsum with blackish centres (less male ad.", Attack Creek, Brunchilly, March 7, heavily-streaked above): NWV: Brunette 1966, wing 123, tail 102, bill 27; specimens Downs, 2 males, wingchord 86, 81, bill 15.5, in SAM, not measured: Harry Creek, 30 15.5. (subleucoptera Mathews type-locality miles north of Alice Springs, April 28, 1962 Alexandria, belongs here). ' (2 specimens) ; 5 miles east of Central Mount (3) Specimens intermediate between north­ Wedge, October 16 1954; Hanson's Creek, ern lepcoptera and southern pileata: 1891. ' a) NTM 3009, female ad., Alice Springs, The holotype of Colluricincla brunnea July 1, 1965: wing-patch mainly white, julietae Mathews from Sturt Creek, northern secondaries and some inner primaries Western Australia, is, as by Mees (1964 :94), faintly tinged cinnamon; dorsum pale correctly referred to C. brunnea. It is a brown-grey, few feathers with dark female and appears to be not fully adult, to centres; wingchord 79.5, bill 15.5; which one may attribute its small size. Far plumage fresh. ~'rom regarding this single specimen as repre­ b) AM 041477, male subad., Camp Noll, senting a separable form, as Mees (loc. cit.) Tanami semi-desert, April 9, 1965: and Mayr (1967 :42) have done, I suspect wingpatch white, very faintly tinged that west of the ill-defined range of C.b. cinnamon; dorsum unmarked pale "superciliosa" (northern Queensland; this grey-brown; wingchord 76, bill 16. name is merely one of convenience applied c) NTM 3010, male ad., Alice Springs, to the populations of the extensive zone of July 1, 1965: outer primaries of wing­ intergradation between C. brunnea and C. patch white, tinged cinnamon, grading harmonica), none of the proposed races to pale cinnamon on inner secondaries; within the undoubtedly continuous range of dorsum almost unmarked pale brown­ C. brunnea is worthy of nomenclatural re­ grey; wingchord 77, bill 16.5; plumage cognition, thus concurring with Deignan, slightly worn. 1964:408. J. P. Rogers' record of C. brunnea d) NTM 3967, male imm., Alcoota, from Tanami (Clark, 1910:76; possibly a December 10, 1954: wing-patch very sighting only, as no Colluricincla appears in pale cinnamon; wingchord 80, bill 14; Mathews' ms, catalogue with Rogers' Tanami plumage fresh. specimens) may indeed refer to that form, e) HLW 7716, male ad., Hermannsburg, though this is precisely the area in which June 17, 1923: wingpatch very pale one would expect to find intergradation bet­ cinnamon but slightly darker than in ween C. brunnea and C. rufiventris (see map 3d; dorsum unmarked brown-grey; 5). wingchord 83, bill 17.5; plumage fairly (N.B. brunnea, rufiuentris and harmonica fresh. are treated as species in the foregoing merely f) NTM 4548, female ad., 2 miles west of for convenience of discussion; they are clearly Acacia Well, Erldunda, May 17, 1969: no more than subspecies-groups within the as 3e but wing-patch slightly darker, one widespread species C. harmonica). pale cinnamon throughout; wingchord WHITE-WINGED SITTELLA (Neositta 84, bill 16.5; plumage fresh. chrysoptera leucoptera) and BLACK-CAP­ g) NTM 4546, male ad., (shot with NTM PED SITTELLA (N.c. pileata). Map 6. 4548): wing-patch light cinnamon, Specimens examined: slightly darker than in 3f, but still (1) Typical N.c. leucoptera: NMV: Napier noticeably paler than in typical pileata Broome Bay (3), Leopold Downs, West Kim­ from further south; dorsum unmarked berley (3), Oscar Range, Fitzroy River (1), light brown-grey; wingchord 84, bill King River, south of Goulburn Is. (3), Me- 17; plumage fresh. THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 123

h) NTM 4547, male ad., (shot with.NTM lected by Hill in February 1912; this is 4548): as 3g; wingchord 85, bill 17; probably the one listed by Campbell and plumage fresh. Kershaw 1913: 277, as having no parti­ culars) ; 'McArthur River ~tation (? speci­ i) NTM 2831, male ad., Alice Spri?gs, mens in the HLW Collection obtamed by April 8, 1965: as 3g and 3h; wing­ Barnard on August 29 and September 24, chord 76 bill 17; plumage fresh. 1913' Barnard 1914:49); China Wall, Into series :3 would fit the specimen col­ George Creek, ~d Springvale, upper Nicl:ol­ lected by Whitlock at Coporyllia Springs, son River district (sightings by SP durmg west of Hermannsburg (not found in NMV), August and September 1967) ; Mount Rope:, in which several of the flight-feathers had in sandstone outcrops (FIfth Hall Expedi­ the "orange band replaced partly by white" tion, 1968, ms.). This honeyeater is.frequent (Whitlock, 1924:276). in the Tanami semi-desert (Parker, m prepa­ (4) Typical N.c. pileata (f:om within same ration), but is apparently absent from the longitudes as above specimens}: NMV: Simpson Desert. Although the most easterly Ooldea South Australia, 1 female ad., record in Central Australia is from Mac­ Kychering Soak, South Australia, 2 female Donald Downs (Ellis, 1948:15), the species ads., 1 female imm. Wingchords and bills of probably occurs sparinglyfurther east to con­ the 3 adults 82, 15.5; 84, 15; 82.5, 15.5; of nect with the scattered populations of west­ the immature 79, 14. Wing-patches bright ern Queensland. cinnamon-chestnut as in other typical pileata The crescent-marked honeyeater observed from southern Western Australia and Vic­ in the lower portion of the Petermann toria; dorsum light grey-brown, practically Ranges in February 1934 by Finlayson unmarked. (1935 :89) was probably M. keartlandi. Other Three factors may have contributed jointly plots from the south-western comer of the towards the situation presented by the sit­ Territory on Map 7 are based on observa­ tellas in Central Australia: tions made by DS whilst on patrol to the 1) The response of the melanins to the Bonython Range in April 1967, and by DH central arid environment, causing the whilst on a faunal survey of the Petermann southwards reduction and loss of the Ranges during January and February 1969. blackish dorsal streaking of leucoptera and the northwards paling of the wing­ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS patch of pileata (and see Austin, 1968:5). Although assistance came from many 2) Hybridization over a wide area between sources, I am especially indebted to the fol­ the northern white-winged leucoptera lowing. Mrs. Mary LeCroy of the American and the southern chestnut-winged pileata; Museum of Natural History, New York, Mr. influence of pileata genes extends as far H. T. Condon of the South Australian north as c. 20° 30' S. (specimen 3b) and Museum, Adelaide, Mr. H. J. de S. Disney of leucoptera genes for at least as far of the Australian Museum, Sydney, Mr. south as the Macdonnell Ranges. Allan McEvey of the National Museum of 3) Nomadism of individual birds, and of Victoria, Melbourne and Mr. Don Vernon flocks or family parties with little crossing of the Queensland Museum, Brisbane, all amongst them, hindering the formation sent me details of specimens in their care. of the hybrid gradient possible between Dr. G. M. Storr, of the Western Australian more sedentary forms. Museum, Perth, kindly lent me the holotype of Colluricincla rufiventris serventyi Mac­ GREY-HEADED HONEYEATER donald and Colluricincla brunnea julietae (Meliphaga keartlandi). Mathews. Lt-Cmdr A. Y. Norris generously Map 7. Listed by Storr (1967:57) as deposited with the Northern Territory ranging north in the Territory to Tanami, Museum his ms, notes on Amytornis spp. north-west of Tennant Creek in about 19°8., Acknowledgement is also due to the Com­ Frewena and Alexandria. Localities north mittee of the Bird Exploration Fund, British of these are: 14 miles south of Elliott (2 Museum (Natural History) for making avail­ specimens in SAM, collected on May 2, able certain unpublished notes of the Fifth 1962); Borroloola (specimen in NMV col- Hall Expedition. 124 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST

REFERENCES ------,. 1967. Checklist of the An~n.,. ,1943. Birds of the Pachycephalinae (in Peters Checklist of birds g~8:nct, Northern Territory. S. Aust. Orn., 16: of the world, vol. 12:3-51): McEvey, A., 1967. Birds of the Victorian Austin, C., 1968. Centralian expedition bird list Fisheries and Wildlife Department Northern (pt. 2). Bird Observer, 434:2-6. ' Territory Bustard Expedition, 1966. Pp. 1-39. Barnard, H. G., 1914. Northern Territory birds. Mees, G. ~., 1961.. An .annotated catalogue of Emu, 14:39-57. a collection of bird skins from West Pilbara Western Australia. ]. roy. Soc. W Aust ,,~ Blackburn, A., 1968. Letter-winged Kites in the 97-143. . ., "'"t. Northern Territory. Emu, 67:233-4. Campbell, A. J., & Kershaw, J. A., 1913. Notes . . . . '. 1964. Geographical va- on a·smalI collection of bird-skins from the rianon and distribution of some birds from Western Australia. ]. roy. Soc W Aust 47' Northern Territory. Emu, 12:274-8. 91-96. " .,. Chalmers, C. 0., 1934. Bird notes from Mac­ Donald Downs, 150 miles north-east of Alice North, A. J. 1913. Nests and eggs of Australian Springs, C.A. S. Aust. Orn., 12:211-14. birds, vol. 4. White, Sydney. Clark, M. S., 1910. Birds of the Tanami gold­ Parker, S.A., 1969. New and interesting records fields. Emu, 10:75-6. of Central Australian birds. S. Aust. Orn. 25: Cleland, J. B., 1932. Notes on Central Australian 59-71. ' birds-c-Alico Springs to Cockatoo Creek. S. A ust. ------, (In preparation). Birds Orn., 11 :126-35. of the Tanami semi-desert. Storr, G. M., 1967. List of Northern Territory ------, 1936. Notes on birds in birds. Spec. Publ. W. Aust. Mus., No.4. Central Australia between Alice Springs and Perth. Ayers Rock. S. Aust. Orn., 13:191-6. Terry, M., 1930. Hidden Wealth and Hiding ------.,,------,. 1938. Notes on birds People. Putnam, London. seen between Alice Springs and The Granites ------, 1937. Sand and Sun. in August, 1936. S. Aust. Om., 14:126-8. Joseph, London. Deignan, H. G., 1964. Records of the American­ Thomas, D. A. G., 1947. Birds seen in the Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Northern Territory. Part 1. S. Aust. Orn., 18: Land, Vol. 4 (Zoology)' : 345-415 (birds). Ed. 55-60. by R. L. Specht. Melb. Univ, Pr., 4 vols. White, S. A., 1914. Scientific notes on an expedi­ Ellis, L. J., 1948. Birds of MacDonald Downs tion to the interior of Australia carried out Station, Northern Territory. S. Aust. Orn., 19: by Capt. S. A. White, M.B.O.U., from July to 15-17. , October 1913. Trans. roy. Soc. S. Aust., 38: Elsey, J. R., 1857. Letter to John Gould from 407-74. the Victoria River Depot. Proc, zool. Soc. Whitlock, F. L., 1924. Journey to Central Aus­ Lond., 1857:23-9. tralia in search of the Night Parrot. Emu, 23: Finlayson, H. H., 1935. Miscellaneous notes on 248-81. some species of birds in Central Australia. S. SELECTED GAZETTEER Aust. Orn., 13:88-91. The following localities mentioned in this paper Hartert, E., 1905. List of birds collected in North­ are those which have not already been listed by western Australia and Arnhem Land by Mr. J. Storr (1967) or Parker (1969). T. Tunney. Novit. zool., 12:194-242. "About 19°5". (Hill, 1911) = 160-179 miles HalI, L. S., 1969. The Letter-winged Kite and north of Hill's Camp 4 (q.o.), i.e., from about rats in the Northern Territory. Emu, 69:182. 19° 0' 27" S. to 18° 44'S. along 132° 26'E Hill, G. F., 1913. Ornithological notes, Barclay Acacia Well, Erldunda, 25° 36'S., 132° 53'E. Expedition. Emu, 12:238-62. Allambi, cattle station, 24° 13'S, 134° 25'E. Ingram, C., 1907. On the birds of the Alexandra Bonython Range, Western Australia/Northern district, Northern Territory of South Australia. Territory border, 23° 38'S., 128° 59'E. Ibis, (9) 1:387-415. Border Waterhole, Queensland/Northern Territory Jenkins, C. F. H., 1947. Overland to the Ord border, 18° 36'S., 138° OO'E. River. Emu, 47:35-41. Brookman Waters, flowing into Lake Hazlett, Keast, A., 1958. Speciation in the genus Amy­ Western Australia near Northern Territory tornis Stejneger (Passeres: Muscicapidae, Malu­ border, 21° 37'S., 128° 42'E. rinae) in Australia. Aust.]. Zool., 6:33-52. Brunette Bore, at Brunette Downs Homestead (see Lendon, 'A., 1966. Notes on Northern Territory Hall, 1969; Mrs. Billie GiJl, in litt, states that birds. Aust. Bird Watcher, vol. 2., No. 7 :191­ there was no mistake as to the name of this 206. bore, as suggested by Hall in reference to the Macdonald, J. D., 1968. Speciation in the Collu­ note by Blackburn, 1968). ricincla harmonica complex. Results of the Hall Camp 4 (Hill, 1911), on the Lander River at Expeditions No.8. Emu, 67:215-223. 210 26' 33"S., 132 0 26'E. Churchill's Head Rock, Stuart Highway, 18 0 55'S., Mathews, G. M., 1922. Birds of Australia, vol. 1340 07'E. 10. London. Cleanskin Creek Yard, 18 0 25'S., 137 0 27'E. Mayr, E.; 1938. Birds collected during the Whit­ Davenport Hills, 230 35'S., 129 0 21'E. ney South Sea Expedition. XL. Notes on Docker River, Petermann Ranges, approx. 240 New Guinea birds. V. Amer. Mus. Nouit., 48'S., 129 0 02'E. 1007. Ehrenburg Range, 230 17'S., 1300 21'E. THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 125

Entire Creek, approx. 220 54'S., 1350 12'E. Hooker Creek track at approx. 190 09'S., 1300 Forrest River Mission, Western Australia, 150 11'S., 04'E. 1270 51'E. Corrections to "New and interesting distribution Gallipoli, cattle station, 190 09'S., 1370 53'E. records of Central Australian birds," S. Aust. George Creek, near upper Nicholson River, 180 Orn., 25 (1969): 59-71. 15'S., 1370 16'E. p. 62, col. 1, seventeenth line from bottom, for Georgina Downs, cattle station, 210 07'S., 137 0 Micropteranthes read Macropteranthes, 39'E. p, 66 col. 2, fourth line from bottom, for Darkin Hanson's Creek (T. W. Cornock, 1891) = Hanson read Darken. River near the Telegraph Line, approx. 210 p. 67, col. 1, twentyfourth line from bottom, for 50'S., 1330 37'E. cinnamomium read cinnamomeum. Hatches Creek, mining township, 200 56'S., 1350 p. 67, col. 1, fourth line from bottom, for cinna­ 12'E. momeum read castanotum, Howard Springs, near Darwin, 12° 27'S., 1310 Paper received for publication 12-12-69. 03'E. Huckitta Out Station, 220 54'S., 1350 27'E. Humbert River, approx. 160 29'S., 1300 39'E. Irving Creek, Petermann Ranges. 250 08'S., 1290 50'E. Kings Canyon, George Gill Range, 240 15'S., 1310 35'E. Kychering Soak, South Australia, possibly near Kychering Hill (Malbooma) on the Trans­ continental Railway at 300 40'S., 1340 09'E. Lake Mackay, Western Australia/Northern Terri­ tory border at approx. 220 20'S., 129 0 OO'E. Leopold Downs (Old HS), Western Australia, 170 51'S., 1250 53'E. Mount Barkly, 210 35'S., 1320 27'E. Mount Roper, 140 51'S., 1350 03'E. Mount Strickland, 23° 19'5., 1290 26'E. Mulga Park, cattle station, 250 55'S., 1310 40'E. Napier Broome Bay, Western Australia, 140 05'S., 1260 36'E. Napperby, cattle station, 220 31'S., 1320 45'E. Ooldea, South Australia, on the Transcontinental Railway at 300 28'S., 1310 50'E. Oscar Range, Western Australia, 17 0 57'S, 125 0 23'E. Pulka (or Pulca) Currinya Gorge, Stuart Bluff Range, 220 50'S., 1370 52'E. Quartz Ridge, Tanami semi-desert, 200 30'S., 1300 14'E. Red Hill = Quartz Ridge, q.u, Reedy Rockhole, George Gill Range, 240 18'S., 1310 36'E. Rockhampton Downs, cattle station, 180 57'S., 1350 ll'E. Seven-Ten Waterhole, upper Nicholson River, 180 OO'S., 1370 17'E. Siddeley Range, approx. 220 47'S., 131° 31'E. Sturt Creek, Western Australia, 190 09'S., 1280 09'E. Talbot Well, 190 33'S., 1290 55'E. Timber Creek (near A. C. Gregory's Victoria River Depot No.1), police station, 15· 39'S., 1300 28'E. Walkers Creek, near Normanton, Queensland, approx, 170 28'S., 141° 10'E. Well 35, Canning Stock Route, Western Aus­ tralia, 220 12'S., 125 0 04'E. Well 48, Canning Stock Route, Western Aus­ tralia, 20° 15'S., 126 0 31'E. Willy Rockhole, 230 16'S., 1290 45'E. Wilson Creek, headwaters crossed by Tanami­ Hooker Creek track at approx, 190 09'S., 130· 04'E. Willy Rockhole, 230 16'S., 1290 45'E. Wilson Creek, headwaters crossed by Tanami-