Vol. X. 

 igii 



] Whitlock, In the Stirling Ranges, W.A. 317 



about by the storm of 31st October and ist November drowned 

 out nests of some of the aquatic species. I was anxious to obtain 

 eggs of the Spotless Crake, but it was too late in the season before 

 I got tangible proof of this bird's existence in a series of large 

 swamps to the west of Albany. A cat brought in a freshly-killed 

 specimen, and the owner of the cat told me it was quite a common 

 occurrence. Far too many cats are running wild in our scrubs, 

 and the local disappearance of more than one exceptionally 

 interesting species may be safely set down to their depredations. 



My researches near the south coast did not result in anything 

 of special interest, but I paid some attention to a newly- 

 described species of White-eye {Zosterops shortridgei). Grant. The 

 types were procured on Rabbit Island, King George's Sound. 

 The latter island is only a huge mass of granite, whose area is 

 limited to a couple of hundred acres or thereabouts, and only 

 separated from the mainland by a very narrow channel. It was 

 out of the question, therefore, that such conditions, with the 

 absence of isolation, could produce a local species. Z. shortridgei 

 is said to differ from Z. gouldi in having the middle of the breast, 

 as well as the belly, thighs, and under tail coverts, pale yellow, 

 the sides and flanks greyer and only slightly washed with cinnamon. 

 In Z. goiddi the thighs are always white {Ibis, ninth series, vol. iii., 

 p. 650). I found birds answering to this description both to the 

 north and to the west of Albany, and it may be noted that the 

 cinnamon wash on the flanks in one or two I procured was 

 absent. Again, I shot others with the latter characteristic very 

 pronounced. I can only say at present, with certainty, that the 

 birds with the grey flanks and yellow thighs were breeding birds. 

 Possibly the other type may have been breeding too ; but I am 

 rather inclined to think the differences are due to age, and are 

 not of specific value. 



Alterations in the Nomenclature of ** Handlist of the 

 Birds of Australia/' 



By Gregory M. Mathews, F.R.S.E., &c. 



Now that the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union is to 

 bring out a " Checklist " of the birds of Australia, and is to use 

 my " Handlist " * as a base, I have thought it necessary to bring 

 this work up to date. 



I have looked up the original description of every bird and 

 genus to see if the spelling, &c., is correct. My object in doing 

 this was that the " Checklist " may be as correct and up-to-date as 

 possible. That other changes will be necessary is a foregone 

 conclusion ; the ones here pointed out are the most obvious. 



I have recognized that the only means of attaining finality in 



* Emu, vol. vii., Supp. 



