Some Anstmlian Birds Eggs and Nests. 25 



[Appendix.] 



Notes on a neiu species of Arses or Flycatclier. 



By A. J. Campbell, F.L.S. 



It is with pleasure I have to record an addition (a new 

 species) to the list of Australian avi-fauna. During a successful 

 collecting trip to Northern Queensland, Mr. Dudley Le Souef, 

 Assistant-Director Zoological Gardens, Melbourne, returned with 

 many specimens of Natural history, new to science, amongst 

 which there appeared a Fy catcher, evidently of the genus Arses, 

 founded by Lesson. This genus of exceedingly elegant birds, 

 mostly in simple black and white garb, embraces five hitherto 

 known species — four confined to the New Guinea region, and one 

 to Northern Queensland. The sixth species, or last discovered 

 one, differs from the other Queensland bird in possessing a frill or 

 colour upon the back of the neck, and again differs from the 

 other Frilled-necked Flycatchers of the New Guinea region, by 

 having a broad band of black across the breast, but resembles 

 most of all the Little Frilled-neck Flycatcher (A. aurefisis, 

 Sharpe). 



The new species was discovered by Mr. Le Souef last 

 November (1893), on the Bloomfield River about fifty miles 

 south of Cooktown, Northern Queensland. Mr. Le Souef 

 informs me that the bird is peculiarly a denison of the thick 

 palm scrubs. Its movements are graceful, and the white frill, 

 which appeared to be erect, imparts a singular appearance to the 

 bird, and serves to at once arrest the eye of the observer. 

 Mr. Le Souef thought its actions somewhat resembled those 

 of the Tree-creeper ( Climacieris), especially in its mode of 

 ascending the under side of holes of trees and of scrub in search 

 of insect prey — its chief food. Mr. Le Souef only saw one pair 

 in addition to a few single birds, which were observed either in 

 the morning or towards evening. 



I have proposed the name Arses terrce-regina; for this new 

 species, which may be known on the vernacular list as Le Souef's 



