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Official Organ of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. 



" Birds of zi feather.' 



Vol. XIX.] ist OCTOBER, 191 9. [Part 2. 



The Allied Buff^rumped Tit'Warbler (Geobasileus 

 hedleyi rosinae). 



Bv Capt. S. a. White, C.M.B.O.U., '^ Wetuxga," Ihlham (S.A,) 



The writer had the honour of discovering this bird in i()i2, and 

 it was from specimens sent to Mr. Gregory M. Mathews tliat tlie 

 bird was described by him in The Austral Avian Record (vol. ii.. 

 No. I, p. 9) as Acanthiza rosincr. Prior to 1912 the writer had 

 observed a small dark bird resembling the Acanthiza genus, but 

 no specimens were secured till the type and co-types were taken. 

 As soon as the first example of this bird was obtained it could 

 be easily seen that it was a new bird. Mr. Mathews was at that 

 time describing all my new material, and most kindly named 

 this after my " life's partner " — a worthy tribute and compliment 

 to one who has done much for ornithology by her devotion to 

 her husband and science, for it has been through Mrs. White's 

 loving companionship and assistance that the writer has been 

 able to carry out so much of his field work. I take this as a 

 fitting time to pay this tril)ute to my wife for tlie wonderful 

 fortitude and courage displayed by her during many of our trips 

 into the interior, and she was by my side wlien the type of 

 Geobasileus h. rosince was taken. 



Habitat. — Frequents, as far as known, l)ut one type of country 

 — i.e., samphire fiats along the coast, extending from Port 

 Adelaide along the eastern shores of St. Vincent Gulf, and along 

 the opposite or western side, where it has been recorded by Mr. 

 F. E. Parsons, one of our young and promising South Australian 

 ornithologists. Never has this bird been seen to leave the salt- 

 bordered samphire flats, although the flats may be bordered by 

 mangroves on the sea side and by low bush on the other. Another 

 remarkable thing is that these birds have not been foimd to exist 

 in quite similar country further inland. Much of tlie country 

 inhabited by this bird is under tidal influence, and chning high 

 tides only the tops of the larger samphire bushi's are out of water, 

 and when the tides go out they leave large depressions and in- 

 numerable creeks holding salt water. 



Habits.— \i is common to see small parties of these birds, from 

 five to six up to twenty or more, in the winter months, diligently 



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