1 68 Jackso-s , Hattnls of the Letter-winged Kite. [isf"jan. 



A male specimen of Corvus australis (testes swollen) secured 

 measures in mm. : — Total length 495, wing 343, tarsus 56, tail 217, 

 bill 66 ; legs, bill, and claws black ; eyes hazel. And a female specimen 

 of Corvus hennetti (ovaries large) measures in mm. : — Total length 

 425, wing 315, tarsus 51, tail 165, bill 49 ; legs, bill, and claws black ; 

 eyes bluish- white. 



Ashbyia lovensis. Desert-Chat. — We were pleasantly surprised to 

 meet with this far inland species on the Diamantina, and think it is 

 the first record of it for Queensland. Its actions are much like those 

 of a Mivafra, and it flies in short and sudden swoops. Its home is 

 on the ground on the plains, and we saw about 30 of them during our 

 visit. The first one we secured was near our camp on a clay-pan 

 partly covered with two small species of salt-bush — viz., the squash 

 salt-bush {Atriplex holocarpum, F. v. M.) and the purple-flower salt- 

 bush {Frankenia paucifiora, D.C.), both species thickly covered with 

 fine powdered salt. Where these growths spread out flat on the 

 ground, the birds probably collect small insects fi'om under their 

 edges. Specimens of the birds examined contained the remains of 

 small beetles. We obtained a fine view of them to the north of the 

 camp some miles. When the bird flies it usually keeps its bright 

 yellow breast from view, showing its brownish back instead, which 

 colour closely harmonizes with that of the surrounding country. 

 They were also noticed on the flat gravel or stone-covered areas, as 

 well as on the clay-pans and plains. 



Four birds were collected. One of the male specimens secured 

 measures in mm. : — Total length 134, wing 75, tarsus 18, tail 43, bill 

 17-5 ; legs dark brown ; feet blackish ; bill blackish ; eyes pale gold 

 or straw-yellow. (Testes small.) 



Malurus (Hallornis) cyanotus diamantina. Light Blue-and-White 

 Wren. — Among the various birds collected were a few specimens of 

 this very handsome species, which has since been recognized as a 

 new sub-species, and named after the Diamantina (vide Emu, vol. 

 xviii., p. 121). W^e found the birds frequenting the dried-up water- 

 courses fringed with lignum bushes (Muehlenbeckia cunninghami, 

 F. V. M.), and they were very difficult to approach, and when dis- 

 turbed keep on flying ahead over the plains for a long way, and then 

 working round to the lignum bushes again. One specimen which was 

 shot after a long hunt fell into one of the large and countless cracks 

 in the ground, and was lost, though much digging and searching was 

 done. 



Several of the handsome males were seen in company with others 

 of brown plumage, which comprised females and young birds. The 

 note rendered is very typical of the Mahiri genus, and resembles the 

 " twitter " of the common Blue Wren (M. cyaneus) very much. 

 Specimens examined contained the remains of small beetles and 

 insects, including small slaters or wood-lice (Isopoda, sp.), which live 

 in millions in the deep cracks in the ground, and come to the surface 

 when the weather is dull and cloudy, and like rain, and cover the 

 ground in a moving mass. Sometimes they covered our tents. 

 When touched they roll up like a pea. 



A handsome adult male of this species of Wren measures in mm. : — 

 Total length 118, wing 46, tarsus 17, tail 60, bill 13. (Testes swollen.) 

 Legs and feet dark brown ; bill black ; eyes blackish. 



Malurus (Leggeornis) lamberti assimilis. Purple-backed Wren. — This 

 lovely Wren was also found, living in company with the preceding 



