XESTS AXD EGGS 01- AUSTRALIAN BlUPS. 



297 



or chciituut. Tlio following arc the dimensions in indies of three 



clutclics : — 



A (1) 1-7 X 1-U5, (2) lou X 11, (3) 1-51 x lOS 

 B (1) 1-69 X 1-08, (2) 1-64 x 1-05, (3) 1-62 x 1'06 

 C (1) 1.66 X 1-OG, (2) 1-58 x 1-06, (3) 1-43 x 103 



(Plate 11.) 



Olixrrvuliom. — Tlie recorded data regarding the geographieal range of 

 the (f'l/iniKirhinie on the Continent are somewhat perplexing to ornitholo- 

 gical students. Gould states in his "Handbook," " It is true that a bird of 

 this genus inhabits the neighbourhood of Swan River (West Australia), 

 whose size and style of plumage are very- similar (to G. lihiccn), but 

 which I have very little doubt will prove to be distinct," and in ids 

 tabulated list in the West Australian eoliunn he has inserted (J. tihkcii 

 with a query against it. Yet luider the heading of G. huconota, he 

 says that bird (U. /tucoiiotaj is called " Goore-bat " by the aborigines 

 of the low-land districts of Westerti, Australia! In Dr. llamsay's 

 "Tabular List" (1883), G. tibicen is indicated in the West Au.straliau 

 division, wliile in his hist Ust (1888) this author Ikus substituted 

 G. Ituriiiiiita without a.s.signing reason for so doing. 



During my own visit to the Western Territory in 1889, I thought 

 the first point might be easily settled as to which of the two species 

 actually inhabits Western Australia. But to my surprise, on dissecting 

 bii'ds in the bush and observing others in captivity, I found that the 

 m.atui'e male bird possessed a white back, while the female's was black* 

 besides other minor diffei-ences, all pointing to a species distinct from 

 cither of the eastern forms. For the new variety I suggested the 

 specific name dorsalis, on account of the different markings of the backs, 

 and to be known on the vernacular list as the Long-billed Magpie on 

 account of its longer and naiTowor bid. Perhaps I should say here 

 that diuing a recent visit of Colonel Legge to Melbourne, I took the 

 opportunity of bringing under his notice examples of the two eastern 

 birds, together with the westei-n form, and after examination, and 

 without any hesitancy, he concuiTed in my deductions. 



With regard to the range of the western bird I take it to be faii'ly 

 distributed as far as South-western Australia is concerned, excepting 

 the heavily forested Karri countiy between King George's Soimd and 

 Cape Lecuwin, where I did not obsen'e a single bird. After getting 

 out of the Kaixi country I noticed the bird in the neighbourhood of 

 Geographe Bay in the more open Jan-ah tracts, and along the coast 

 northward. It is said to be foimd generally throughout the jam-wood 

 (a species of Araria ) countiy. I noted it as far south as Cranbrook, 

 on the overland railway, si.xty-sovon miles from Albany. A few, I am 

 informed, occur in the upper Murchison and Gascoyne chstricts, and as 

 far north as the Hammersley Range plateau. 



' The adult female I described before the Royal Society of Victoria I have 

 since proved to be an immature bird. I am able to correct myself througli the 

 goodness of Mr. Bernard Woodward, Perth Museum, who has kindly sent me a 

 mated pair, together with a pair of immature birds. 



