Vol. II. 

 I go 



^''1 A. G. Campbell, The Birds of King Island. 207 



* Megalurus GRAMINEUS (Grass-Bird). — This is easily identified by its 

 shrill whistle among the reed-beds bordering the lagoons. 



CISTICOLA EXILIS (Grass-Warbler). — Common. 



Acanthiz^ (Tits). — One bird shot on the Pass River coincides in every 

 particular with the description of A. eivingii of Gould, which was afterwards 

 merged by that naturalist, presumably for want of further material, with 

 A. diemenensis. At the same time attention was drawn to its being the 

 slenderer bird, with more brown at the base of the primaries. A second 

 Acanthiza, which inhabits more the shorter scrub of King Island, away 

 from the watercourses, proves to be a species quite distinct from any 

 known ; a description of it is given in another part of this issue (page 202), 

 under the name of A. magnirostris, or Great-billed Tit. 



Sericornis. — The species of Scrub-Wren common on King Island 

 approaches nearest 5. humilis of Tasmania, in having dusky under parts, 

 but from its smaller size, lighter colour on the back, and the possession 

 of a distinct band on the tail, it appears to be a link between that form and 

 5. osculans of the southern part of Victoria. Further research may prove 

 these two species to be very closely allied. 



*Ephthianura ALBIFRONS (White-fronted Chat). — A sombre-coloured 

 bird shot on the margin of some scrub proved to be a young female of 

 this species, but no mature birds, nor indeed any other specimens, were 

 seen. 



Pachycephala OLIVACEA (Olive Thickhead). — This large Thickhead 

 with beautiful aesthetic markings, is characteristic of the dense scrubs of 

 King Island, but its distinctive whistle is more often heard than the bird 

 is seen. 



AcANTHORHYNCHUS TENUIROSTRIS (Spine-bill). — This seems even more at 

 home in the gardens about the homesteads than in the native bush, where 

 the flowers are small and not so laden with honey and insects. 



ZoSTEROPS CCERULESCENS (White-eye). — Common. 



Melithreptus validirostris (Strong-billed Honey-eater). — This power- 

 fully built bird is ever on the move, in parties of five or six, among the gum 

 trees along the ridges and in the valley of the Pass River, where alone on 

 the island it is found. Not only does it search among the leafy tree tops 

 for its food, but it can be seen climbing about the loose shreds of bark, and 

 prying into every crevice. It has a harsh cry. 



Melithreptus melanocephalus (Black-headed Honey-eater). — This is 

 another bird seen only in the timber about Pass River, and is there even 

 more plentiful than the preceding species. It is a very energetic little 

 Honey-eater, and rather pugnacious, driving away even the larger Yellow- 

 throated Honey-eater from its domains. On one occasion two Black-headed 

 Honey-eaters fell at my feet struggling in one another's claws, and they 

 continued the dispute on the ground for some seconds. They, too, pry 

 about actively on the eucalyptus bark in search of food. The fully-fledged 

 young are brown on the back, quite yellow on the under surface, and 

 the complete brilliant black hood characteristic of the adult is represented 

 only by dull black on the face and chin. 



- Ptilotis FLAVIGULARIS (Yellow-throated Honey-eater). — Inhabits the 

 dense scrubs. Its note and all its habits are similar to P. leucotis of the 

 mainland. 



iViELIORNis AUSTRALASIANA (Crescent Honey-eater). — Is a rowdy denizen 

 of tea-tree scrubs along the watercourses. 



