258 White, Rufous Scrub-Bird — a New Sub-species. [i^f April 



It is in the bill, however, that the greatest difference exists. 

 Though rather shorter and stouter, the New South Wales speci- 

 mens are all very slightly hooked at the tip, while the Northern 

 form possesses a well-defined bend. 



The female, the first described, and therefore the type, is much 

 smaller than the male, as the measurements which follow will 

 show ; the coloration on the back is similar, but differs mate- 

 rially on under parts. The whitish-coloured throat and black 

 breast patches are absent, the whole under-surfacc being a uni- 

 form rufous-brown or cinnamon-rufous. Following are the meas- 

 urements in millimetres taken in the flesh : — 



Male. — Total length, 183 ; wing, 67 ; bill, 20 ; tarsus, 19. 

 Female. — Total length, 160 ; wing, 55 ; bill, lyh ; tarsus, 18. 



For this distinct sub-species I suggest the name Atrichornis 

 riifescens jacksoni.* 



Mr. G. M. Mathews, F.R.S.E., on page 71, vol. iii., of the 

 Austral Avian Record, mentions Atrichornis r. tweedi as occurring 

 •on the Tweed River, but his description is so extremely vague — 

 viz., " darker below and lighter above than Atrichornis riifescens " 

 — that I am quite unable to identify it ; my Richmond River 

 birds by no stretch of imagination may be made to conform with 

 Mr. Mathews's description of Atrichornis r. tioeedi. 



Haunts of the Rufous Scrub-Bird (Atrichornis rufe- 

 scens, Ramsay). — Discovery of the Female on the 

 Macpherson Range, S.-E. Queensland. 



By Sidney William Jackson, R.A.O.l^ 



During last September I arrived at the elevated scrul)s of the 

 Macpherson Range (forming part of the boundary of Queensland 

 and New South Wales) in South-East Queensland, and there 

 pitched camp at an elevation of over 3,000 feet, and in a direct 

 line about 30 miles from the ocean. 



This ornithological expedition was carried out by me on behalf 

 of Mr. Henry L. White, of Belltrees, Scone, New South Wales, 

 chiefly for the purpose of procuring the hitherto unknown 

 female of the interesting and unique Rufous Scrub-Bird above 

 mentioned. The Queensland Government kindly supplied me 

 with a permit under which I was allowed to collect a pair of 

 the birds in the interests of science. 



* Unless under exceptional circumstances, I am strongly opposed to nam- 

 ing birds after persons ; the practice, in many instances, being reduced to 

 an absurdity. In the present case, however, I consider Mr. S. W. Jackson 

 deserves all the honour that can be shown him. For very many years he 

 studied the Atrichornis, and is our b?st authority upon tliis little-known 

 bird ; therefore, the name of Jackson should always be associated with 

 Alrichorui'i rufesceiis. 



