274 Campbell, Report on Muiton-Bird Rookeries. [isf April 



From the table it will be observed that in Area III. {d and e) 

 the percentage of birds is small. This is a favourite rookery, open 

 ground and easily raided, while in areas with scrub and sword- 

 grass — notably Area IV. (c) — the percentage of birds is high, 

 owing to the difficulty of roots and crooked burrows impeding 

 eggers' hooks. 



In view of the serious depletion of the Cape rookeries, it might 

 be recommended (with the sanction of the part owner of the 

 land) that that portion of the Cape headland enclosed by Mr. 

 Cleeland's most southern barbed-wire paddock be strictly pro- 

 hibited next season from both egging and birding. This area 

 contains approximately 75 acres, and includes the favourite 

 pigface {Mesembrianthemum) rookery, which is most easily raided, 

 and, in consequence, the one we found most depleted. 



Possibly the public would not object to any moderate restric- 

 tion in favour of the birds, their own sport and profit. The birds 

 require a rest. Egging has been carried on uninterruptedly, 

 more or less, for the last 40 years. Another and a better 

 recommendation would be to prohibit egging and birding every 

 alternate year until the birds reassert their former numbers. 



Notes on a Small Collection of Bird^Skins from the 



Northern Territory. 



By A. J. Campbell and J. A. Kershaw, Ms. R.A.O.U. 



Through the courtesy of Mr. Atlee Hunt, C.M.G., Secretary 

 Department of External Affairs, there has been placed at the 

 disposal of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union a small 

 collection of bird-skins for examination, and, for publication, the 

 whole of Mr. G. F. Hill's ornithological field notes obtained during 

 the Barclay Exploring Expedition through the Northern Territory. 

 The Council of the Union deputed us to examine the birds, while 

 Mr. Hill's field notes appear in extenso, beginning at p. 238. 



The collection of skins (a few being in spirits) is small but 

 interesting. There are 65 specimens, representing about 36 

 species. Xerophila castaneiventris, Milligan (Chestnut-bellied 

 Whiteface) is new for the Northern Territory, likewise Malurns 

 coronatus, Gould (Purple-crowned Wren). A female only of the 

 latter was obtained, which appears darker in general colouration 

 than Gould's figure (" Birds of Australia," SuppL, pi. 20). 



The bird of most interest is a Grass-Wren new to science, which 

 we have named Amytornis riifa. The following is its descrip- 

 tion : — 



Adult Male. — Upper surface rich rufous, each feather from 

 head to mantle, including upper wing coverts, having a white 

 central stripe ; line of black from gape, extending backward about 

 half an inch ; ear coverts dark, striped with white ; throat 

 whitish ; rest of under surface buffy, darkest on flanks, which 



