\\,\. XIX. I j.uKsoN. Disiurcrv of llic roiialc h'lifoii^ Scnib-Hird. 



'M 



regarding the colour ot the bird's eyes, legs, ieet, iind bill, &c., as 

 well as taking all necessary measurements, before 1 skinned and pre- 

 pared the specimen. The note produced when we first met her was 

 a very faint one, repeated now and then, and may be described 

 as resembling the sound produced by pressing your tongue hard 

 up against the front roof of the mouth, and drawing it away 

 suddenly. This is probably the only note she makes. We then 

 tried to get the male, or mate belonging to this female, but he 

 was too wild and excited and impossible to get near, keeping 

 under immense heaps of fallen trees and debris (see accompany- 

 ing Plate L.) But after days of careful hunting he was secured. 

 The bird shot proved undoubtedly a female, and her body I 

 have carefullv preserved in a jar of formalin solution, showing 

 the ovaries and other organs intact, in order to avoid the possibi- 

 lity of any doubt. The ovaries covered a space measuring lo mm. 

 by 8 mm. when the bird was at first examined, and totalled 

 nearly 30 beads in all. Of course, they have shrunken somewhat 

 in the formalin solution, but quite sufficient proof remains to con- 

 firm the sex. Tlu' body of the male was also preserved. 



There is a verv marked difference in the colouring of the male 

 and female. The female is a little lighter on the back than the 

 male, and has no white mark under the throat, and no black on 

 the chest, but instead is rufous all underneath ; pale on the throat 

 and gradually getting darker towards the tail. She is also nearly 

 an inch shorter than the male, and her wings, tail, bill, legs, and 

 toes are all smaller. The following measurements, in millimetres, 

 were carefully taken from the bird while in the flesh : — ^Total 

 length, 160 ; wing from body, y^ ; wing from first joint (usual 

 measurement), 55 ; tarsus, 18 ; bill to gape, 17^ ; tail to flesh, 63 ; 

 middle toe to end of claw, 19 ; bill, upper mandible dark horn 

 colour, lower mandible pale horn or brownish on sides, but more 

 so towards the top, and dull white underneath, chiefly towards 

 the base ; eyes coffee l)r(jwn ; legs, feet, and claws pale leaden 

 grey; skin at base of bill whitish. This l)ird 1 tilk-d out and 

 stuffed to natural size and length — 160 mm. 



The male specimen secured on 28th November, 1919, gives the 

 following measurements (millimetres) taken from the bird while 

 in the flesh :— Total length, 183 ; wing (usual measurement from 

 first joint), 67 ; tarsus, 19 ; bill to gape, 20 ; tail to flesh, 76 ; 

 middle toe to end of claw, 24 ; bill, upper mandible dark horn 

 colour, lower mandible dark horn colour on sides and tip and 

 whitish all underneath ; eyes coffee brown ; legs darkish or 

 brownish horn colour, darker outside than inside ; tongue and 

 eyes also preserved ; feet and claws darkish or brownish horn 

 coloiir ; skin. at base of bill yellowish or creamy white. Bird has 

 comparatively large eyes and brain. This specimen I also tilled 

 out and stuffed to natural si7>e and length. 



Owing to the exceptionally dry conditions prevailing during our 

 visit very few birds of any species were breeding, and I do not 

 think the Atrichvrnis bred there at all that season. If thev had. 



