THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, 27 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF AMYTIS 



(GRASS-BIRD) FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 



By Alex. W. Milligan, Perth. 



(Communicated by F. G. A. Barnard.) 



{Read hefore the Field Naturalists' Cluh of Victoria, 20th May, 1901.) 



Whilst recently examining two birds in spirits, sent me by Mr. 

 Bernard H. Woodward, F.G.S.. the Curator of the Perth Museum, 

 I had need, for the purposes of comparison, of such of the genus 

 Amytis and the genera aUied thereto as were locally available. 



The only skin of the genus referred to, readily procurable, was 

 one thought to be Amytis macrura, but a brief examination 

 sufficed to show that it was not that bird, and, further, that it did 

 not answer to any other member of that genus hitherto described. 



I have, therefore, to declare it a new species, and I base my 

 declaration on the following external and structural differences, 

 taking A. macrura as a type : — 



Firstly. — The five rictal bristles characteristic of the genus are 

 not so pronounced as in A. striata (a skin of which has since 

 been furnished me), the two bristles nearest the nostrils being 

 only just discernible to the naked eye. Under a powerful lens 

 both A. striata and A. gigantura show six rictal bristles, the 

 sixth being rudimentary. 



.Secondly. — The mandibles are less robust than in A. striata. 



Thirdly. — The total length, as also the length of the wings and 

 tail, exceed in a material degree those of any other member of the 

 genus. A table of measurements is subjoined for comparison. 



Fourthly. — Material differences in the colour of and dispositions 

 of colour in its plumage compared with the other members of 

 the genus. 



These differences and dispositions may be summarized as 

 follows : — 



Present. — {a.) Rusty-red shoulder patch of J. textilis. 

 Absent. — (6.) Black cheek stripe oi A. textilis. 



(c.) Chestnut-red upper surface, dark fore part of 

 crown, bright ferruginous lores, and white 

 fore-neck and breast of A. striata. 



(d.) Black cheek stripe, ashy-white lores, brick-red 

 streak at forehead base, and dark brown ear 

 coverts of A. macrura; and 



(e.) White lores, white cheeks streaked black, white 

 under surface of body, and bright rufous 

 sides of yl. goyderi. 



The feather striations are very distinctly and regularly marked. 

 The following is a specific description of the new species : — 



