Sept., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 55 



Endeavour must make many more trips before even the experts 

 can venture to speak with authority. But, apart from the 

 economical aspect of the trawler's work, surely the Federal 

 Government is justified in keeping her in commission to the end 

 that science may be advanced. For that the scientific work 

 which Mr. Dannevig and his assistants are carrying out is of 

 value, and will add much to our knowledge of Australia's marine 

 fauna, none can doubt. 



[The paper was illustrated with a number of excellent lantern 

 views. — Ed. Vict. Nat.\ 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF ACANTHIZA, 

 FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 



By Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S., C.M.B.O.U., Ornithologist 



to the Australian Museum, Sydney.* 

 Mr. R. Etheridge, Curator of the Australian Museum, has 

 placed in my hands for determination a parcel of bird-skins 

 received from Mr. H. L. White, of Belltrees, Scone, New South 

 Wales, and collected for him by Mr. F. Lawson Whitlock, in the 

 vicinity of Lake Way, East Murchison District, Western Australia. 

 Although only a small collection, it contains some interesting 

 forms, notably Cinclosoma marginatutn, Acanthiza robtostirostris, 

 Climacteris auperciliosa, and three specimens of an apparently 

 new species of Acanthiza, which may be characterized as 

 follows : — 

 Acanthiza whitlocki, sp. nov. 



Adult Male. — General colour above pale greyish-brown; 

 upper wing-coverts like the back, some of the outer greater series 

 with darker brown centres ; quills brown, the primaries ex- 

 ternally edged with ashy-white, the secondaries broadly margined 

 with gre)ish-brown on their outer webs ; upper tail-coverts light 

 rufous brown ; tail feathers pale brown, crossed with a broad 

 sub-terminal black band, less distinct on the central pair, and 

 having a spot of white extending about half-way across the tip 

 tip of the inner web, and which is smaller and less distinct 

 towards the central pair; feathers on tlie forehead blackish with 

 whity-brown margins; lores and ear coverts whitish, the latter with 

 narrow indistinct blackish margins ; all the under surface white, 

 the feathers of the chin, throat, and fore-neck with blackish mar- 

 gins, those of the breast faintly tinged with fulvous ; lower sides of 

 the body and under tail coverts pale fulvous ; " bill black ; legs and 

 feet black ; iris red " (Whitlock). Total length, 4 inclies ; wing, 2 ; 

 tail, 1.9 ; bill, 0.4 ; tarsus, 0.8. 



Adult Female. — Similar in plumage to the male. 



* Contributions from the Australian Museum, lay permission of the Trustees. 



