Vol. XVI. j White, Descripiion of Xew Honey-eaief. 165 



Description of New Honey^eater of the Genus 

 Ptilotis, from North Australia. 



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



Ptilotis albilineata, sp. nov. White-stripe Honey-eater. Col- 

 lected by William M'Lennan. 



Adult. — Whole of upper surface fuscous, darkest on the head ; 

 primaries and tail feathers edged with olive-yellow. Conspicuous 

 white stripe extending below the eye from the gape to behind 

 the ear coverts ; under surface dull white, whitest on the throat, 

 and mottled with fuscous about the breast ; under wing coverts 

 yellowish- buff, and the inner edges of the wing feathers also 

 buffy. 



Bill brownish-l:)lack ; gape yellow ; feet brownish-grey ; eyes 

 light or bluish-grey. Sexes are alike in coloration. 



Dimensions in millimetres : — 



(S, (i) Length 192, wing 90, tarsus 22, culmen 20 ; (2) length 

 185, wing 89, tarsus 21, culmen 21. 



$. (i) Length 183, wing 83, tarsus 19, culmen 19 ; (2) length 

 171, wing 82, tarsus 20, culmen 20 ; (3) length 170, wing 79, 

 tarsus 19. culmen 19. 



Stomach contents, seeds and skins of fruit. 



Type Locality. — King River,* Northern Territory. 



Observations. — The bird appears to be confined exclusively to 

 the rocky gorges of the sandstone hills, and was seen only in the 

 deepest and narrowest ravines. Its call is a loud, clear whistle — 

 " Tu-u-u-heer, tu-u-u-in," uttered occasionally. When the call 

 is imitated the birds will come within a few feet of the observer, 

 peer all round, and try to locate the sound. On one occasion a 

 pair of birds was called up and became very excited, flitting 

 through the bushes, and even examining the crevices in the sand- 

 stone. 



Description of Nest and Eggs of the Desert Chat 

 (Ashbyia lovensis, Ashby). 



[Ephthianura lovensis, Ashby, Emu, vol. x., 191 1, p. 251 ; 

 Ashbyia lovei. North, Agric. Gaz. N.S.W. , vol. xxii., p. 211.) 



By S. a. White, M.B.O.U. 



The Board of Governors of the South Australian Museum 

 organized a collecting expedition to the north-eastern limits of 

 this State in September and October, 1916, under the leadership 

 of Mr. Edgar R. Waite, F.L.S., Director of the Museum, the 

 writer being attached to the party as ornithologist. Upon the 

 return journey by way of Cooper's Creek, and when traversing 

 a wide belt of table-land, the eggs of the Desert Chat {Ashbyia 



* About 90 miles east of Port Essingtou. 



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