56 





Jl 



BLACK-CAPPED BARK-PECK K.K 



Adult female — Differs in plumage from the male, in having the forehead, lores, orbital region, 

 nape and ear-coverts black like the croivn of the head. 



Distribution — South-western New South Wales, \'ictoria, South AustraHa, Central Australia, 

 Western and North-Western Australia. 



v,N favourable situations tlie range of the 



piesent species extends o\er the southern 



halt ot the Australian continent. It occurs 



thiiiughout South-western New South Wales, 



Western Victoria, the greater portion ot South 



and Central Australia, and Western Australia as 



tai north as Point Cloates. There are numerous 



specnnens in the Australian Museum collection, 



olitained principally by Mr. K. Broadbent, near 



Port Augusta, and Mr. George Masters at Port 



Lincoln, South Australia, the latter of whom also 



secured examples at King George's Sound in 



Western A..ustralia in 1867. The late Mr. K. H. 



Bennett also forwarded specimens from the 



Mossgiel District, New South Wales. Although 



bearing a general resemblance to each other, 



there is a marked difference in the colour of the head of the two sexes, as will be seen in the 



preceding descriptions. The wing measurement of adult males \ aties from y^ to 3-55 inches. 



The accompanying figure represents an adult female. 



Dr. A. M. Morgan writes me: — "During a trip made in company with Dr. A. Chenery, 

 from Port Augusta to the Mount Gunson District, South yVustralia, in August 1900, SittcUa pileata 

 was frequently met with, but only in myall and mulga scrubs. Two nests were found, one on 

 the ist August, at The Birthday, ninety-five miles north-west from Port Augusta; only two birds 

 were seen at this nest which was just finished. The other was on the 12th August, containing one 

 fresh egg. Five buds were seen at this nest, and both were built in myalls. In August igo2, 

 we found it common in all timbered situations, in small flocks from six to eight in number, 

 during a trip mad-- from Port Augusta to the Gawler Ranges." 



INIr. T. A. Keartland writes me: — " Irioth in Central and Western Australia I frequently saw 

 Sittdla pikata in flocks from six to tweKe in number. They always appeared to be in a hurry 

 and ravenously hungry, running up and down all kinds of small trees, but preferring those with 

 rough bark, in the crevices of which they searched for food." 



Mr. C. G. Gibson informs me that at Tuckanarra, Western Australia he found a nest of 

 Ncositta pileata on the i6th October, built in a mulga, containing three young, and another on the 

 following day with three much incubated eggs. 



Writing from the Mossgiel District, New South Wales in 18.S6, the late Islr. K. H. Bennett 

 remarks: — '' Sittdla pileata is by no means numerous, and is generally met with m small troops 

 of six to eight individuals. It chiefly inhabits the timbered back country, but it is occasionally 

 met with in the clumps of trees out on the plains." 



From Point Cloates, North-western .Australia, Mr. T. Carter writes: — "I have seen Sittella 

 pileata at times in belts of a species of mallee that grows inland from here, but never succeeded 

 in finding its eggs. I shot a fledged young one in company with the adults on 25th July, 

 igoo." 



Mr. Keartland records meeting with flocks of this species at Lake Augusta, Western 

 Australia, and later on at the Fitzroy River in North-western Australia.* The latter birds are 



* Trans Roy. Soc, S A , Vol. XXII., p. 183(18 



