ig6 Whitlock, On the East Murchison. [ist^Trii 



of the Australian Museum, Sydney, for confirmation of identity. Soon 

 afterwards there was published one of the " Records " of that institution 

 (vol. vii., No. 4, 1909), under the date 30th August, 1909. This record 

 describes the plumage of the female of Ciiiclosoma mara^inatum (Sharpe), in 

 addition to other interesting information, and purports to have been taken 

 from a skin shot by Mr. C. G. Gibson, Assistant Geologist to this State. 

 The skin referred to was received so long ago as July, 1908. If this 

 specimen was in a recognizable condition, it is odd indeed that such an 

 interesting bird should so long remain undescribed. Mr. Gibson was 

 recalled from his work at Wiluna very shortly after obtaining this specimen, 

 and was sent out as geologist, on behalf of this State, to accompany the 

 Transcontinental Railway survey party. This party, however, returned to 

 Perth prior to Christmas of the same year, so that, had further information 

 been required by Mr. North, Mr. Gibson was at hand to supply it. Cindo- 

 soma marginatuvi happens to be not only a very loose-plumaged bird, but, 

 in addition, the skin about the loins, head, and neck is remarkably 

 tender. I defy anyone but a practised hand to make a skin without losing 

 a large percentage of the feathers and badly tearing the skin, and, even if 

 fairly successful in that direction, to restore the various feather tracts to their 

 proper positions in the completed skin. Mr. Gibson deserves every credit 

 for his interesting field notes, but why these should be necessary in describ- 

 ing the plumage of the female it is hard to see. Mr. North has recently 

 described two new species of birds collected by myself at Lake Way, and 

 without applying to myself or to Mr. H. L. White for further particulars 

 other than were attached to the skins. In addition to describing the 

 plumage of the female, the record contains an excellent photograph of the 

 nest and eggs taken in situ by Mr. Gibson. This is accompanied by a 

 description of the eggs and nest by Mr. North. According to the report, 

 Mr. Gibson took nests with eggs on 13th June, 30th August, and ist 

 September, 1908. There is some discrepancy here. On the two last dates 

 Mr. Gibson was away on the Transcontinental Railway survey. There can, 

 however, be no doubt of the identity of these eggs, but it is as well to be 

 accurate in records of this nature. It is probable that the two latter clutches 

 were collected by some local man on behalf of Mr. Gibson.* 



I do not consider Ciiiclosoma margiiiatinii a shy bird. As before 

 mentioned, it still frequents country where active mining operations are in 

 progress, and can be seen within easy distance of the main street of Wiluna. 

 All that is necessary is to walk through the bush quietly, keeping one's eyes 

 well ahead. At the first alarm, perhaps, a pair may run under a bush, but 

 if the observer stands motionless the female, followed by the male, soon 

 comes out again, and both will quietly feed right up to one's feet if reason- 

 able quiet is maintained. 



As to its geographical distribution, Mr. Gibson is approximately correct. 

 Probably its southern limit overlaps the northern limit of C. castmiofiotum 

 about the latitude of Menzies or Leonora. How far east it extends is 

 unknown. Westwards I have met with it within 100 miles of the coast, in 

 the latitude of Geraldton ; but, despite much search for it on the Pilbarra 

 goldfield, I failed to find it there. No doubt it extends much further north 

 than Wiluna. I have little doubt that the specimens of C. castanonotiim 

 recorded as shot near Separation Well (see Campbell's " Nests and Eggs," 

 p. 256), should have been referred to the present species and not to the 

 latter. 



* From this somewhat contradictory evidence it would appear as if Mr. Gibson's 

 specimen of the female bird was too mutilated for detailed description, and that Mr. 

 North fell back on the specimens of both sexes collected by Mr. Whitlock, which 

 were placed in his (Mr. North's) hands for identification, or, rather, for confirmation, 

 by Mr. H. L. White. However, Mr. Whitlock can claim to have cleared up the 

 indification of this little-known and interesting bird. — Eds. 



