Vol. xvii.T NiCHOLT.s, Siiidv of PeitgiUns on The Nohbies, Vic. 



127 



Altogether, 24 adult (live) birds were removed from their 

 burrows, and at the end of the examination it was seen that they 

 all belonged to the one species, the difference in coloration being 

 due to the various stages the moult had reached. 



Being desirous of ascertaining if the measurements of the culmen 

 would reveal the " short, thick bill " species, E. nndina {E. minor 

 iredalei, Mathews), as compared with E. minor {E. minor novce- 

 hollandice), very careful measurements were made upon the living 

 birds. These are giv^en below, together with the measurements 

 taken from tlie skin specimens. After examining a few of the 

 living birds, M'Lennan detected a difference between the heads 

 of the male and the female. It was hard to define, but, after 

 closely inspecting a number of birds, both Tregellas and myself were 

 satisfied that a difference did exist. What constituted the differ- 

 ence it was then hard to say, but the head appeared to be very 

 slightly larger and more "vicious" looking, whilst the eye had 

 a peculiar expression which can only be described as being more 

 aggressive. 



M'Lennan's acute observation on the living birds regarding sex 

 is now borne out by the culmen measurements in Tables 6 and 7. 

 The asterisks denote pairs of birds {i.e., birds found in the same 

 burrow), and, with the exception of pair Nos. 46, 47 (live birds), 

 the males show the larger measurements. 



In the skin specimens (Table 6) the male is the larger in two 

 pairs of birds listed. 



Culmen Measurements of Adult (Skin) Specimens. 

 Table 6. 



• Pairs of birds g and ii, lo and 3. 



