78 Notes and Notices. [..f'juiy 



" When arranging the specimens of AcantJiiza in the Tring 

 Museum I was struck by the different colouration in a series 

 which had been named Acanthiza nana, and it soon became 

 evident that two different sub-species were represented. One 

 form is characterized by having the upper surface olive-green 

 and the under side bright yellow. This bird inhabits New South 

 Wales, and has been described by Vigors and Horsfield as 

 AcantJiiza nana. I have examined skins from Sydney and 

 Parramatta. 



" In the other form the upper parts are less green, rather less 

 bright, and of a more brownish tint, and the under surface is 

 paler and of a more bufify yellow, contrasting with the pale 

 rufous-buff throat. This form inhabits Victoria, and I have 

 examined skins from Box Hill, Castlemaine, Mulgrave, and 

 Springvale in the Tring Museum, and from Saddleworth in 

 Mr. Mathews' collection. I propose to call this new form 



Acanthiza nana matiiewsi, sub-sp. n., 



in honour of Mr. G. M. Mathews, the author of the most recent 

 list of Australian birds. 



"Type in the Tring Museum. $. No. 76A. Springvale, 

 23/10/97, A. G. Campbell coll. 



" It may be added that the specimens of Acanthiza in the 

 British Museum said to have been collected in Queensland {cf. 

 Cat. Birds B. M., vii.,p. 293) were certainly not procured in that 

 locality. They were purchased from Cockerell, and the par- 

 ticulars on his specimens are always untrustworthy." — Bulletin 

 B.O.C., No. clix. 



Important Announcement, 



The next annual session of the Australasian Ornithologists 

 Union will be held at Brisbane during the first week in October. 

 Thereafter the usual working expedition (for about 10 days) 

 will be made to one or two of the islands of the Great Barrier 

 Reef, with Gladstone as a base. The Government of Queens- 

 land, through the Under-Secretary, have been good enough to 

 intimate that a suitable steamer will be placed at the disposal 

 of the expedition. Applications from members intending to 

 join the expedition must reach the hon. secretary A.O.U., 

 Mr. H. W. Wilson, 105 Drummond-street, Carlton, Victoria, 

 not later than 31st August. 



