156 D'Ombrain, Bird Notes from New South Wales. [,/'")"„. 



We soon found a half-finished nest in a dwarf-apple bush 

 {Angophora). We left, and returned to where wc were at first, 

 and the bird quickly followed. After remaining here for thirty- 

 five minutes we had to move on, and she very reluctantly had to 

 leave us. A Fulvous-fronted Honey-eater {Glyciphila fitlvifrons) 

 had come within a yard of us, and as soon as the White-eared 

 left for its nest the former bird flew at the latter and tried to rob 

 it of the nesting material. 



Note by E. A. D'Ombrain. — All the forest country is singularly 

 devoid of domestic quadrupeds, and it is evident the scarcity of 

 hair or fur for nest-construction was the cause of the determined 

 action of the bird to commandeer the necessary and desired 

 material from the first thing offering. The same experience 

 occurred to a colleague of mine, Dr. C. Shepherd, whilst his party 

 were having a rest and afternoon tea during a motor drive through 

 another part of this region (French's Forest). 



Acanthiza reguloides (Buff-rumped Tit). — Pymble, 11/10/16. — 

 A nest of this Tit was found in a cleft of bark ; under the nest were 

 four old ones. The new nest contained two eggs and one of the 

 Bronze-Cuckoo {Chalcococcyx basalis). 



Correspondence. 



SPECIES versus sub-species. 



To the Editors of. " The Emu." 



Dear Sirs, — While appreciating the article " The Birds of 

 Rockingham Bay," by Mr. H. G. Barnard and myself, my friend, 

 Mr. W. B. Alexander, in the October issue of The Emu (p. 112), 

 is inclined to support Mr. G. M. Mathews in his (Mathews's) 

 division of the Australian Bee-eater into two races or sub-species. 

 Seeing that this bird varies in seasonal plumage, Mr. Mathews's 

 description {Nov. Zool., vol. xviii., p. 290) is not convincing. 



Again, Mr. Alexander thinks there may be two Drongos. All 

 Mr. Mathews states regarding his sub-species is — " differs in its 

 larger wing — 161 mm." Not much of a peg (new description) 

 for one to hang one's (ornithological) hat upon {Nov. Zool., vol. 

 xviii., p. 437). The late Mr. A. J. North gives the average 

 measurement of the Drongo's wing as 6j inches, practically the 

 same as Mr. Mathews gives for that of his new sub-species. 



Both the Bee-eater and Drongo migrate from New Guinea 

 Archipelago and distribute themselves to a greater or lesser extent 

 over Australia to breed. The interesting instance of the Common 

 and the Northern Willow- Wrens being seen in company in Britain, 

 which Mr. Alexander mentions, is, I think, hardly an analogous 

 case, because 1;he common Willow- Wren breeds in Britain, while 

 the sub-species is only an occasional visitor on migration. The 

 other case of the Chiffchaff and Siberian Chiffchaff is still weaker, 

 because, in addition to the latter being only an occasional visitor, 

 some authorities state it is a distinct species and not a sub-species. 



