^iq" 1 J Descriptions of a Neiv Xerophila and Acanthiza, W.A. Ji 



Locality. — Day Dawn, Murchison. 



Types in Western Australian Museum, Perth. 



The following field-notes by Mr. Lawson regarding- the new 

 species will, I am sure, prove interesting : — " The cinnamon 

 flanks are a consistent feature. The call-note is musical, though 

 rather plaintive. They love rocky places and are ground feeders. 

 Usually I find the species in company with Sericornis brunnea 

 and Acanthiza pyrrhopygialis. They are fairly common, but 

 I have been leaving them until in good feather. They are a 

 flaky-plumaged bird, and the loss of a few feathers about the 

 head is always perceptible and an eyesore." 



The second new bird belongs to the genus Acanthiza, and to 

 that section where (a) the dark tail band occupies nearly the 

 terminal half of the feather, and (b) the base of the tail is bright- 

 coloured like the rump and upper tail coverts. It was discovered 

 by Mr. Lawson in the month of May last. The bill is remarkably 

 robust for an Acanthiza. The general colour of the upper 

 surface is much more sombre than with the Acanthiza? generally. 

 The head, neck, and upper mantle of the male bird are bluish- 

 grey, with black longitudinal striations, some of the feathers of 

 the forehead showing hoary-grey sections, and producing a rigid 

 " lined " appearance. The " scaling " or shell-marked feathers 

 of the forehead, present in many members of the genus, are 

 absent in this one. Above the rump is a conspicuous patch 

 of white silky feathers, and the rump and upper tail coverts 

 are snuff-coloured, as also is the basal half of the tail. The 

 sub-ocular and auricular regions are evenly and regularly 

 " rippled." The plantar surfaces, too, are more than ordinarily 

 developed. Here follows the technical description : — 



Acanthiza robustirostris (Thick-billed Tit), sp. nov. 



Head, nape, and upper mantle clear bluish-grey, the feathers 

 having longitudinal black centres, bold on the forehead and 

 crown, but faint and rare on the upper mantle ; some of the 

 feathers on the forehead with hoary-grey sections ; the lower 

 mantle not so sombre as parts described, and with a brownish 

 tinge ; a conspicuous patch of white silky feathers on the rump 

 and its sides ; upper tail coverts of a uniform rust or snuff colour ; 

 tail feathers same colour at base, blackish for terminal half, with 

 parti-coloured tips of light brown and white ; primaries blackish- 

 brown, with whitish margins ; ear coverts and cheeks bluish- 

 grey (lighter than crown), with whitish margins, producing a 

 " rippled " appearance ; chin and throat ashy-white, showing- 

 indistinct dusky edgings ; chest brownish-grey ; centre of 

 abdomen silky white ; sides of abdomen, flanks, and sides of 

 body brownish-buff ; under surface of wing deep ashy with 

 greyish margins ; under tail coverts silky white ; under surface 

 of tail feathers deep ashy, with lighter ash and faint white tips. 

 Flesh measurements — total length, 3.5 ; culmen, 0.3 ; wing, 2.1 ; 

 tail, 1.6 ; tarsus, 0.8. Iris pale brown ; legs, feet, and bill black. 



The sexes are alike in colour except that the upper surface 



