'^°'i9§'""]CAMrP.ELL, A. G., Acanthizac or ThornhUls. 199 



The throat striations of ^Icanthiza are unic|ue. Each feather 

 has two edges black but not the tip. As the feathers overlie \one 

 another the effect produced is a series of bold black striations. 

 These, however, are movable and rearrange themselves as the 

 feathers are moved from side to side. The markings are en- 

 tirely different from those of Hylacola pyrrhopyu'ia (first called 

 Acaiithica pyrrhopyc/ia by Vigors and Horsfield), which consist 

 of a black central stripe on each feather. A marked peculiarity 

 of Ccobasileiis is that the two outermost tail feathers have a 

 white, or buff edging on the outer web, distally, for at least half 

 an inch. 



There have been listed ten species and no less than 7?> sub- 

 species* — total 83. I submit there are 17 species and 43 sub- 

 species — total 60. 



My notes and criticisms where they touch upon the work of 

 others are intended to be constructive, building vtpon the foun- 

 dations already laid, or at most a rearrangement of certain parts 

 of the material already in hand. 



For the examination of the bird-skins and literature I am 

 chiefly indebted to the trustees of the National Museum, Mel- 

 bourne (per favour of Mr. J. A. Kershaw, Curator), in which 

 is the "H. L- White Collection" of skins. I am also indebted for 

 material and assistance to the R.A.O.U., to Mr. Edwin Ashby, 

 Adelaide, and to Mr. A. J. Campbell, Melbourne. 



The Annual Congress and Camp-out of 

 the R.A.O.U. 



The twenty-first annual congress was held at the Royal 

 Society's rooms, Adelaide, on October 16th, 17th, and 18th (three 

 sessions daily), and the camp-out was held at Mt. Remarkable 

 from October 19th— 24th. Lectures illustrated by lantern slides 

 were given in the Royal Society's rooms and at Melrose, Mt. Re- 

 markable, by Dr. MacGillivray, Captain White, Messrs. Cayley 

 and Bellchambers. The proceedings terminated with committee 

 meetings to clean up the check-list on \Vednesday, October 25. 

 This "majority" congress ranks amongst the most important in 

 the history of the Union. Delegates were ])resent from all the 

 States except Western Australia. South Australia, the home 

 State, of course, had the largest representation. Tasmania and 

 Victoria had four delegates each ; New South Whales had two, 



*See "List of The Birds of Australia," 1913, G. M, Mathews, and 

 additions thereto. 



