\ A-S Australasian Ornithologists' Union. ¥"} a 



• * [_ 7th Jan. 



areas, consequent on a change in climate in the southern region 

 of Australia, these forms were one and the same ; that the results 

 of complete isolation from their fellows in Eastern Australia has 

 led to the creation of those differences in plumage, and even 

 structure as regards bill and legs, which now elevate them to 

 the position of sub-species. As regards the tendency among 

 ornithologists, in these days of such exhaustive collecting and 

 widely extended avifaunistic work, to create species on the 

 strength of minor differences, I would fain warn our members 

 against this danger, in the light of what has happened of late 

 years as the outcome of examination by cabinet naturalists of 

 enormous series from widely extended districts. Many new 

 species, described in India during the formation of Mr. Hume's 

 vast collection, and likewise not a few from Australia, have gone 

 down before the scythe of exhaustive comparison, which should 

 make us careful that new species described in The Emu are not 

 similarly treated. Referring to Mr. Milligan's species, his 

 Megalurus striatus is evidently a very well marked form, but 

 Calamanthus montanellus appears to be a sub-species of C. fuli- 

 ginosus, altered by climatic and topographical conditions. Meli- 

 threptus leucogenys also seems to be close to the Eastern bird 

 M. brevirostris. The discovery of a North Australian representa- 

 tive of Gymnorhina tibicen is an interesting point in geographical 

 distribution, and is perhaps an instance of alteration due to isola- 

 tion and climatic and food conditions. The new bird is evidently 

 a sub-tropical form of G. tibicen, our Eastern Magpie, making, 

 with G. dorsalis, two peculiar species for Western Australia. 

 With regard to the specific title of the latter not corresponding 

 to its vernacular name, " Long-billed," if I remember rightly 

 Mr. Campbell proposed the title longirostris, when I suggested 

 dorsalis, owing to the differences in the specimen under examina- 

 tion, in the hood and back, from the Eastern bird. 



Mr. Milligan concludes his article with exhaustive observations 

 on G. dorsalis, whose range will be found, no doubt, to extend 

 further north along the coast, as it is found 800 miles north- 

 east of Perth. 



The addition of a new Acanthiza from the Murchison district, 

 A. robustirostris, gives a noteworthy increase to this typical 

 Australian section of these small Timeline birds. Of still greater 

 interest, however, is the discovery of a new Xerophila, which 

 from the description appears to be a sound species. Any increase 

 to the very small list of Australian representatives of the typical 

 " Titmice," Paridts, must be welcomed by all ornithologists, and 

 it is to be hoped that the addition to it of X. castaneiventris 

 will be supplemented by that of other co-species from districts 

 as yet but imperfectly worked. The geographical distribution 

 of Western Australian birds is further added to by another paper 

 from the pen of Mr. Milligan, on birds observed at the littoral 

 waters north of Perth called Lake Yanchep. 



Our member, Mr. PL E. Hill, is a new contributor to the useful 



