TNSESSORES. 309 



to form a complete zone ; their medium length is eight lines, 

 and breadth six lines. 



The sexes are alike in plumage, but the female is somewhat 

 smaller than the male. 



Feathers of the forehead deep buff, edged with dark brown ; 

 all the upper surface, wings, and tail light olive-brown ; tail 

 crossed with a broad and distinct band of brownish black 

 near the extremity, and largely tipped with white ; upper 

 tail-coverts tinged with rufous ; throat and chest greyish ; 

 tail-coverts pale buff white, each feather margined with black, 

 giving that part a mottled appearance ; flanks, abdomen, and 

 under irides light red ; bill, legs, and feet dark brown. 



Total length 4 inches ; bill ^ ; wing 2 ; tail 2 ; tarsi |. 



Sp. 224. ACANTHIZA PYRRHOPYGIA, Gould. 

 Red-rumped Acanthiza. 



Acanthiza pyrrhopygia, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iii. 

 pi. 58. 



This species differs from the Acantlnzcd diemenensis, pusilla, 

 and apicalis, in having a shorter and more robust bill, and in 

 the greater depth of the red colouring on the rump and upper 

 tail-coverts ; it also differs from the two former in having the 

 tail tipped with white, in which respect it assimilates to the 

 A. apicalis and A. uropyi/ialis, to the former of which it is 

 most nearly allied. 



I discovered this species in the Belts of the Murray, where 

 it inhabits the small shrubby trees ; upon first seeing it, I at 

 once perceived that it was a distinct species by the red 

 colouring of the rump, which showed very conspicuously at 

 the distance of several yards, and also by the peculiarity of 

 its note. In its actions it very closely assimilates to the other 

 members of the genus, being an alert and quick little bird, 

 carrying its tail above the level of the back, and showing the 

 red colouring of the coverts to the greatest advantage. I 



9, 



B 



