1868.] MR. E. p. RAMSAY ON BIRDS FROM aUKENSLAND. 385 



outer two tail-feathers margined with white. This is said to be a 

 female, and is slightly smaller iu size. I scarcely consider tliese 

 differences sufficient for the foundation of a new species, notwith- 

 standing many have been founded upon less, but for the present 

 will defer the matter until I have obtained other specimens from 

 the same locality. 



19. CiSTICOLA RUFICEPS. 



During the last two years I have been getting together a series of 

 this species for comparison, from all parts of Australia. It ranges 

 from Cape York to Adelaide, South Australia. The young males 

 resemble the females in having the head and all the upper surface 

 striated black and rufous buff. Adult males, with rufous head and 

 rump, are frequently found with half-grown wings and tails : this 

 is one theory. Another is, that Mr. Gould's C. riijiceps is the young 

 of C. exilis or C. isura ; and with this I am at present most inclined 

 to ao-ree. My specimens throw no light on the subject, save that I 

 have' no examples of the rufous-headed and ruuiped birds with long, 

 or fully grown tails, while I have specimens of the same with short 

 tails and a few striated feathers on the crown. I believe C. rujicejys 

 of Mr. Gould to be the young, and perhaps the young male alone of 

 the striated birds, which may be either Cisticola exilis, C. isura, or 

 C. lineocapilla, Mr. Gould's descriptions (?) of each being referable 

 to the striated females of C. ruficeps. 



The size of Cisticola ruficeps varies according to the age of the 

 bird, the young ones with short tails being only 2 inches, the stri- 

 ated adults 4-7 (including their long tail), rufous-headed males 4-5 

 inches ; so that no specific value can be placed on measurements of 

 the tail's. The wings differ by f y- inch, aud the bills by -^^ inch. 



The nest of C. ruficeps is a neat, round, cup-shaped structure, 

 composed of grass, hair, interwoven with cobweb, and half sus- 

 pended by the branches and stems of grass and weeds amongst 

 which it 'is placed. The eggs are three in number, light blue 

 blotched and dotted with dull reddish brown. 



20. Chlamydodera nuchalis. 



21. mimeta flavocincta. 



22. Sphecotheres flaviventris. 



23. Calornis metallica. 



24. GuciPHiLA subfasciata, sp. nov. 



Female. Total length 4-8 inches ; bill, from the angle of the 

 mouth 0-G, from forehead 0-5, width at base 0'2, across nostrils 

 0-1 ; wing, from flexure 2-5 ; tail 2 ; tarsi 0-(i5. 



The whole of the upper surface, sides of the head, and neck glossy 

 brown, a short oblique stripe under the eye white, feathers on the 

 crown of the head centred with dark brown. The whole of the 

 under surface and the extreme tips of the ear-coverts silvery white. 

 The chest faintly barred with lines of brown, which join the sides 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1868, No. XXV. 



