164 Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. \ iJ^^Un 



Kangaroo Island or Tasmanian bird. The latter shows a consistent brown 

 colouration of upper parts, which is wanting in both of the smaller island 

 forms. 



Corvus australis {tasmanicus). Tasmanian Raven. — Many Ravens were 

 seen flying high over the island. As soon as specimens were secured Mr. 

 Mathews was supported in his making a sub-specific distinction, because the 

 great size of the bill is evident at once in the Tasmanian form. 



Strepera arguta. Hill Crow-Shrike. — Not numerous, and were very shy. 

 Collyriocincla rectirostris. Whistling Shrike-Thrush. — Fairly numerous 

 on the island ; call and habits seem identical with the Tasmanian bird. 



[Gould procured the Ground-Parrot {Pczoporus formosus) on Flinders 

 Island, and the party of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria observed the 

 Pink-breasted Robin {Peirceca rJtodino^^astra), 1893. Neither of these birds 

 appears to have been seen by the present expedition. No doubt a Cala- 

 manthus and the Emu-Wren are also found there. — EDS.] 



Descriptions of Three New Birds. 



By (Capt.) S. a. White and J. W. Mellor, Ms.R.A.O.U. 



The following are descriptions of three new species of birds 

 obtained during the working camp-out of the R.A.O.U. on Flinders 

 Island (Furneaux Group), Bass Strait, during November, 1912 : — 



Falco melanotus (Black-backed Falcon), sp. nov. 



Adult Female. — Forehead, crown of head, cheeks, ear coverts, 

 and all the upper surface glossy black ; primaries dull black, with 

 exception of tips, and marked on the internal webs with oval spots 

 of brown ; two centre tail feathers almost black, with very 

 indistinct markings of bluish-grey ; remaining tail feathers black, 

 marked with many spots (in some cases almond-shaped) of reddish- 

 brown, all slightly tipped with buff ; throat and head yellowish- 

 white, some of the feathers of the latter slightly marked with 

 black. All the under surface a rich rufous colour, many of the 

 feathers marked down the centre with black, feathers on flank and 

 thighs blotched strongly with black, upper tail coverts bluish-black, 

 tipped with bluish-grey, centre of tail feathers marked with black. 

 Iris brown ; bill horn colour, black at tip ; feet grey, nails black. 

 Total length, 13 inches ; wing, 10 inches. 



Habitat. — Flinders Island (Furneaux Group). 



Megalurus flinders! (Flinders Grass-Bird), sub-sp. nov. 



Adult. — Upper surface dull brown, feathers of the mantle centred 

 with dull black, marged with brown, turning into rufous-brown on 

 the rump, where the black centre disappears. Primaries blackish- 

 brown ; secondaries becoming darker and narrowly edged with 

 light brown on outer edge. Forehead dull rufous-brown, a line over 

 the eye dull white ; ear coverts dull white. Under surface dull 

 greyish-white ; chin, throat, and breast mottled, owing to the 

 feathers having a small elongated central spot of dark brown ; 

 centre of abdomen dull greyish-white, passing into a rufous tinge 



