164 H. L. WHITE. Xeiu Xests and Ey^is. ["^i^ffan" 



Descriptions of New Nests and Eggs 



By H. L. WHITE, M.B.O.U., C.F.A.O.U., ••Bellti-ee>." X.SAV. 



Cinclosoma alisteri (Mathews). Black-throated Ground-Bird. 

 — Clutch, 3 eggs ; oval in shape ; ground colour dull, creamy- 

 white, with the least perceptible trace of greenish tinge, well 

 spotted and blotched all over, chiefly at the larger end, with 

 olive brown and slaty-grey markings ; surface of shell very 

 smooth and somewhat glossy. Dimensions — A, 1.07 ^ .78; B, 

 LOS X .77; C, 1.07 ^ .77 inches. Xest situated at foot of dead 

 blue-bush, and consisted of hollow scratched in the ground, lined 

 with fine dry grasses, and with a rim of coarse herbage on level 

 with ground. 



Collected by Mr. F. Lawson Whitlock, at Haig, Xnllarbor 

 Plain, Western Australia, 20th October, 1921. 



Acanthiza pusilla tvhitlocki, North. Lake Way Tit-Warbler. 

 — Clutch, 3 eggs ; oval in shape, and much pointed towards the 

 smaller end ; ground-colour, very delicate ]Mnkish-white, marked 

 with small spots and scratches of reddish-brown, taking the 

 form of blotches on the larger end, where they make rather 

 a well-defined zone. Intermingled here and there are a few 

 purplish-brown markings. Surface of shell, very smooth, and 

 sliglitly glossy. Dimensions— A, .68 x .48; B, .72 x .49; C, .72 

 X .47 inches. Nest of the usual Acanthiza pusilla type, taken 

 from a low bush about two feet from ground. Female sitting. 



Collected by Mr. F. Lawson Whitlock, at Zanthus, Great 

 Western Railway, Western Australia, on 18th July, 1921. 



Note. — I have classed this Acanthiza in the pusilla seiies, and 

 it most resembles apicalis, of which whitlocki appears a lighter 

 phase. The bird of the Nullarbor is still lighter coloured, hav- 

 ing the upper surface greyish olive except the coverts, which 

 are wood-brown, while the scales on the forehead are nearly 

 white, thus differing in this respect from all other AcantJiizce in 

 the "H. L. White Collection." 



With the approval of ornithologists, I think this little Null- 

 arbor bird might be known in the vernacular as the 'AVhite- 

 scaled Tit," or ^Icanthiza pusilla nullarhorcnsis. There are four 

 skins in the "H. L. White Collection" from Zanthus and 

 Naretha. 



Strcpcra yraculina rohinsoni (Mathews). N^orthein Pied 

 Bell-Magpie. — P^efore describing eggs of sub-species, I have 

 usually been most particular in obtaining skins of the bird for 

 comparison ; where I consider the variation too slight, I discard 

 the sub-species. In this case I am departing from my usual 

 practice, skins not being to hand. But the difference in llie eggs 

 of this northern bird from those of its southern relative is so 

 very marked that I think I am safe in assuming Strcpcra (jracu- 

 lina rohinsoni to be a good sub-species. 



