Vol. XVI. J White, Everavd Range Tit-Warbler. 159 



Measurements of dry skin. — Total length, 98 mm. ; l)ill, 9 mm. ; 

 wing, 51 mm. ; tarsus, 19 mm. ; tail, 42 mm. 



The bird most closely allied to this species is Acanthiza nro- 

 pygialis condor, but this new species differs in having a stouter 

 bill ; the iris is of a very dark shade of red, while that of A . 

 uropygialis condor is white. The bluish-grey of the upper surface 

 is of quite a different shade from that of any other Acanthiza yet 

 described for Australia. 



I have to thank Mr. S. Sanders for moimting this bird for re- 

 production, as well as the Parrots which appeared in the July 

 Enm, 1916, vol. xvi., part i, Plate I. 



Descriptions of New or Rare Eggs. 



By H. L. White, R.A.O.U., Belltrees, X.S.W. 



Ninox humeralis, Hombr. and Jacq. {types) (Rhabdoglaux queens- 

 la ndica). Queensland Rufous Owl. 



During a late trip to Rockingham Bay, North Queensland, in 

 company with Mr. A. J. Campbell. Mr. H. G. Barnard was 

 fortunate enough to secure a full clutch (two eggs) of this ex- 

 tremely rare Owl. I can find no previous authentic description of 

 the eggs. Mr. Mathews, in " Birds of Aixstralia," vol. v., p. 351, 

 mentions a clutch of two eggs, but leaves us in doubt whether 

 he intends his reference to apply to Ninox rufa or Ninox humeralis. 

 No locality is given, nor is there anything said of the taking. 

 Mr. Barnard sends me a most interesting account of the securing 

 of my specimens ; I append it, together with a photograph kindly 

 supplied by Mr. A. J. Campbell. 



Mr. Barnard forwarded a pair of skins, which, curiously enough, 

 reached me about the same time as a fine series of Ninox rufa 

 specimens secured by Mr. M'Lennan at the King River, Northern 

 Territory, close to Gould's type locality. The two species are 

 very easily separable, and Mr. Mathews's description (" Bi^-ds 

 of Austraha," vol. v., pp. 350, 351) is readily followed, though he 

 omitted to mention the broad band of white feathers which exists 

 round the necks of immature specimens of N. rufa. 



The specimens composing my clutch, as mentioned above, are of 

 true Ninox shape ; colour pure white ; texture of shell smooth 

 and glossy, showing numerous pit tings when examined with the 

 lens. 



Dimensions in inches : — {a) 2.09 x 1.74, {h) 2.12 x 1.74. 



Nest in a dead spout of a tall paper-bark tree {Melaleuca), in 

 forest near scrub on the Meunga Creek, 3 miles from Cardwell, 

 North Queensland. Tree standing amongst ground-ferns, and 

 about 100 feet in height ; nesting-spout about 80 feet from 

 ground. The tree at 4 feet from the ground measured 13^ feet 

 in circumference. 



