102 



MlLLIGAN, Description of a New Gymnorhina. [ istC)ct. 



The species enjoys a very extensive range, although on my 

 own personal observations, as well as from authenticated records, 

 1 cannot yet admit the extent of range mentioned or suggested by 

 Mr. Campbell in his work on " The Nests and Eggs of Australian 

 Birds," page 296. (But it is just possible that his more northerly 

 range may turn out to be occupied by my new species'.) The 

 farthest limits, so far as 1 have observed or have records of , are as 

 follow : — 



Southern .. Cape Naturaliste, distant 150 miles from Perth 

 South-Eastern Stirling Range, distant 274 miles from Perth 

 Eastern .. Kellerberrin, distant 133 miles from Perth 



North-Eastern Jack's Well (Lake Way), distant 81 q miles from 



Perth 

 Northern . . Moore River, distant 79 miles from Perth 



i believe, however, that the above limits will in time require 

 to be enlarged, more especially in the North. The birds are 

 dwellers of the woodlands and open country and appear to shun 

 the forests. In the south of this State the karri forests appear 

 to act as the line of demarcation. 



Descriptions of the Nests and Nestlings of Certain 



Acanthizae. 



By Alex. Wm. Milligan 

 {Honorary Ornithologist, Perth Museum, W.A.) 



ACANTHIZA ROBUSTIROSTRIS (Milligan), (Thick-billed Tit). 



Nest. — In considering this species previously to describing it,* 

 it appeared to approach nearer to Sericornis (Pyrrholcemus') 

 brunnea (Gould) than any other member of its genus, by reason 

 of its sombre upper surface and its bill. In the latter respect and 

 in its general contour it looks like that species in miniature. 

 The nest (which Mr. Fred. Lawson only discovered after hours 

 of patient and vigilant search) supports in a degree my early 

 impressions. The structure itself is globular in form, but with 

 the upper portion elongated and gathered to a point at the top. 

 The same portion also is very fragile, and upon its being held 

 up at the height of the eyes daylight may easily be seen through 

 it. The lower portion is of a stronger and closer structure. 

 The nest, in size, form, and materials, very much resembles that 

 of Malurus leucopterus, except that the lipped threshold present 

 in the latter is wanting in the former. The materials of which 

 the nest is composed are old stems of grasses, with which are inter- 

 woven a few spiders' webs, the latter still bearing the body cases 

 of devoured insect prey. The outside of the lower portion of 

 the nest is profusely adorned with spider cocoons and with what 



* The Emu, vol. iii., p. 71. 



