1^2 Campbell, Birds of Kangaroo Islai/d. fist Fan 



constant difference between the island form and that of the mainland. 

 The mantle is blackish, and not brownish-olive. The legs are black, and 

 not brownish-black. The throat markings are heavier, while the forehead 

 feathers at their bases are fawn-coloured, and not rufous. Indeed, though 

 it lacks the white tips to the tail feathers, this island form approaches 

 nearer A. apicalis of Western Australia than it does to A. pusilla of 

 Victoria. Its measurements are : — Length, 3.9 in. ; bill, .31 in. (two 

 specimens were .4 in.) ; wing, 1.9 in. ; tail, 1.6 in. ; tarsus, .8 in. It 

 inhabits the thick scrub upon the island, and does not venture into the 

 gum-tree tops. One nest was discovered upon the heath lands, placed in a 

 small bush about i foot high. 



ACANTHIZA LINE ATA (Striated Tit). — There is no difference between 

 specimens from the island and those from the mainland. The little voices 

 of this species were always heard among the glossy foliage of the sugar 

 gum-trees, and were also noted in while gum timber inland. 



Sericornis maculata (Spotted Scrub- Wren). — This possesses a very 

 large bill (.51 in.), but otherwise shows no differences. The young are 

 dressed in a browner mantle than the adult. The sides especially are 

 rufous-brown, and the eyebrow, throat, and tail markings are very 

 indistinct. 



Hylacola cauta (Rufous-rumped Ground-Wren.) — On all the uplands 

 the thick shrubby vegetation gave cover to numerous pairs of this bird. 

 Many had full-grown young, while two dome-shaped nests, rather small in 

 proportion to the bird, were found ready for eggs. The male bird is a pretty 

 songster, and always attracts notice by his strong-throated warbling. The 

 female is less brightly marked, and the young is distinguished by a light 

 fawn-coloured throat and chest, though ;t has the dark-centred feathers of 

 the older birds. 



Ephthianura albifrons (White-fronted Chat). 



Gymnorhina leuconota (White-backed Magpie).— This was common 

 along the coastal clearings. One specimen (in captivity) had a narrow 

 black band across the back. 



Eopsaltria (sp.). — A whistle of a Yellow-breasted Shrike-Robin was 

 noted, but the species was not determined. 



Pachvcephala gutturalls (White-throated Thickhead). — Several 

 were seen inland in thick scrub by the creeks. On comparison with 

 specimens from Western Australia, it proves to have a much darker yellow 

 breast — as bright, in fact, as P. guttu7-alis of Southern Victoria. The 

 quantity of black on the tail is made a distinguishing feature between the 

 eastern and western forms, but the island specimen comes between. 

 P. occidentalis has .75 inch (the tip) black, P. giitturalis 1.8 inch (two- 

 thirds), and the specimen under notice i.i inch (one-half). This may be 

 P. interjiicdia (North), but the reference has not been compared. 



Acanthorynchus halmaturina (new sub-species) (Pale-coloured 

 Spinebill). — This presents some variations worthy of note. Compared 

 with the mainland form the tail has less white tip — .75 inch against l.o 

 — and the abdomen and throat are both much lighter in colour. The 

 crown and collar are also much lighter — the latter, in fact, of a male 

 specimen being^ as light as in a female of the mainland, which, of course, is 

 always the lighter and smaller of the sexes. The colour of the abdomen of 

 this new species is ochreous-buff, not rufous-brown. 

 The measurements are interesting : — 



Length. Bill. 

 Victoria ... ... 5.75 .9 



Kangaroo Island ... 5.3 .88 



Tasmania ... ... 5.2 .8 



