gS MlLLIGAN, Description of a New Gymnorhina. [i S f Oct 



almost wholly white or white and grey. The whitish-coloured 

 thighs may therefore be taken to be a constant feature. 



The following is a specific description of an adult male of the 

 new species : — 



The whole of the plumage (except as hereafter otherwise dis- 

 tinguished) black with a bluish-black sheen ; a circular-shaped 

 white patch begins almost at the crown, encompasses the back 

 and sides of neck, and encroaches on the upper mantle ; rump, 

 upper tail coverts, and greater part of the upper surface of the 

 tail feathers snow white ; vent and greater part of under surface 

 of tail feathers white, the former having a reddish-chocolate 

 tinge ; upper half and inner sides of the thighs white, the feathers 

 of the lower half of the outer sides being white with dark brown 

 margins, or brown with white margins, the former predominating ; 

 shoulder-patches conspicuously white, and under wing coverts and 

 under tail coverts also white ; mandibles deep slaty-blue with 

 blackish points and highly polished ; iris hazel ; legs and feet 

 black. Depth of terminal black tail-band, i^ inches ; culmen, 

 2.5 ; blackish points of same, .9 inch ; total length from base 

 of skull to tip of tail 12.25 inches, and from base of skull to point 

 of mandibles (over all) 4.25 inches ; diameter of circular neck- 

 patch, 2.25 inches ; tail, 5.5 inches ; tarsus, 2 inches. 



Habitat. — Ashburton River, North-Western Australia. 



Type. — In Western Australian Museum, Perth. 



In the field notes on the attached labels the birds are described 

 as having been found on open plains and as being rare. 



The plumage of the above male shows indications of a moult 

 in progress. 



An almost matured male bird from the Cane River (shot three 

 weeks later than the above, and consequently in better plumage, 

 although not possessing the matured garb of the former) has the 

 neck-patch for the lower half clouded with uniformly bluish-grey. 

 The blue of the basal portion of the bill also is not so intense, and 

 shows less polish. Above and contiguous with the white vent in 

 the centre of the abdomen is a narrow, deep chocolate-brown 

 tract. The upper portions of the thighs are intense white, as 

 also the inner sides, the outer sides being blackish-brown, but in 

 transition to white. In a young female from the .Ashburton 

 River the whole of the abdomen is whitish, slightly clouded with 

 bluish-grey on the upper portion only ; thighs almost white. 



I have assigned to the new species the scientific name of Gym- 

 norhina longirostris and the vernacular one of the Long-billed 

 Magpie, but am aware that in the latter respect I am appropriating 

 the vernacular name given by Mr. A. J. Campbell to his Gymno- 

 rhina dorsalis. However, as such vernacular name is not the 

 transited equivalent of his specific name {dorsalis), and as the 

 vernacular " Long-billed " is the leading characteristic of the new 

 species, I will ask Mr. Campbell to waive his prior right, and, if I 

 may suggest, substitute the vernacular name of the " Varied- 

 back Magpie," which I venture to think will better indicate one 



