100 



Lord, A Trip to the Natioiuil Park of Tasmania. [im^'o'c 



Iiiiiiiilis) were l)usih- cngagfd amoiii^' tlu' undcrgrowtli. Along 

 this section of the track Ewing's Tit-Warbler {A. civin'^i) was 

 observed. This bird appears to prefer denser vegetation to that 

 preferred by the Brown-tail {A. diemenensis) , and its nest is also 

 easily distinguished on account of its more compact shape. This 

 species has a variable history, as, although figured and described 

 by Gould in his " Birds of Australia" * in 1848, he omitted it 

 from his " Handbook," published in 1865. As Gould's " Hand- 

 book " was the chief work consulted by local ornithologists for 

 many years, the distinction between Acanthiza diemenensis and 

 A. ewingi was not really settled until the A.O.U. congress which 



The Party in the National Park, Tasmani 



was held at Hobart in 1903. Specimens were then obtained, and 

 the points of difference were agreed upon by the experts present. 

 When one observes the two species and notes their coloration, 

 habits, and nests, one wonders wh\' the issue was left so long in 

 doubt. 



The newly-constructed track wound among the giants of the 

 forest, whose spreading branches met far overhead, making the 

 trail appear like some vast tunnel driven through the heart of 

 the bush. One can only hope that this area can be adequately 

 protected from the fire fiend for all time, and that lovers of nature 



* Vol. 

 Society, 



.. pi. 55. Originally described by Gould in " Proc. of Zoological 

 jth August, 1844. 



