.VESTS AXP EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 24I 



194. ACANTHORNIS MAGNA, Gould. ("228) 



SCRUB TIT. 



Figure. — Gould: Birds of Australia, fol.. supp , pi. 28. 

 lieference.—Ca.l. Birds Bril. Miis., vol. vii . p. 308. 

 Previous Descrif'tioHS of /i^^s.— Campbell : Southern Science Record 

 (1882); North: Aiistn. Mus. Cat, app (i8yo). 



Geiii)rapli>cal Diitfrihution. — Ta.imauia. 



Nest. — Not unlike that of a Sinib Wren ( Scricurnis), largo, globular. 

 with side entrance; outwardly composed of .strips of bark ( Evralyptus I. 

 intenningled with grass, moss, rootlets, &.c. ; lined inside with feathers. 

 Usually situated low or within rea^h in a thick bush, sometimes in dead 

 or f:iilen bouglis of tea-tree ( M i hili nrn ) scrub, but occasionally placed 

 liigh up in that scrub. Dimensions: diameter about 8 inches; entrance 

 about 1 A inches across. 



E(i(j^. — Clutch, three ; the usual Acanthiza type ; oval inclined ; texture 

 of shell fine ; colour, pearly-white, moderately blotched, especially about 

 the larger end, with chestnut or reddish-brown and pui"ple-brown. 

 Dimensions in inches of a pair: (1) -76 x -54, (2) -74 x -54 ; of a single 

 example: -72 x -5.3. (Plate 11.) 



Observations. — This interesting bird is peculiar to Tasmania, where it 

 was first found in the neighbourhood of Mount Wellington, but since has 

 been observed in similar localities in other parts of the island. 



Tliere has been some little confusion about the genus to which the bird 

 should bo assigned. Gould, from his single specimen, for which he was 

 indebted to Mr. Ronald C. Gunn, placed it among the Amnthizce. from 

 which the British Museum Catalogue transformed the name to Sericomis. 

 But, oologically speaking, it is more an Acantliiza. However, Colonel 

 Legge has founded the new genus, Acnnthornis, for the crcatiure. 



Dming my \'isit to Tasmania, October, 1883, I was instnunental in 

 re-discovering this rara avis. Nothing had been heard of the species for 

 thirty years, or since Gould figured and described Mr. Gunn's specimen. 

 In fact, one prominent Tasmanian naturalist informed me he doubted 

 the existence of .such a bird upon the island. 



The securing of the second example came about thus. In Hobart I met 

 Mr. Arthur L. Butler, an energetic oologist. On cross-questioning that 

 gentleman closely about the supposed Acanthiza,hG said he had undoubtedly 

 observed a bu-d resembling it near Moimt Wellington ; therefore, by 

 appointment, one afternoon we went in search, taking with us a breech- 

 loader and a few charges of dust shot. We were about to return without 

 accomplishing the object, of oiu- outing, when a small bird was seen to dart 

 through the undergiowth. Quick .is thought Mr. Butler discharged the 



