THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. 173 



164. Ptilonorhynchus violaceus, VieilL, Satin Bower-bird. 



In collection of Mr. J. S. Andrews. Male. Trafalgar, Victoria. 



In this specimen three interscapular feathers are pure white, 

 and against the metallic blue the glossy whites are very con- 

 spicuous. In all other respects the bird is a fully-matured male. 



Glossy feathers, apart from colour, are the result of smooth and 

 polished surfaces, while the metallic blue is due, it is believed, to 

 a transparent sheath acting like a prism. 



P. rawnsleyi seems to be a freak of this species, for up to 

 1 88 1 only one bird had been obtained, and I believe none since. 

 Sharpe says — " It is like a Satin Bower-bird with wings of a 

 Regent-bird." It is mentioned in a recent French work, " Les 

 Oiseaux Hybrides, recontres a I'etat Sauvage : Suchetet," 

 perhaps the greatest authority on hybrids. References are 

 also made there to hybrids on the borderland of distinct 

 species. This applies to certain Flycatchers in New Zealand 

 {Ibis, 1894, p. 100), and nearer home to a naked-nostriled 

 Magpie, mentioned later on. 



196. AcANTHiZA CHRYSORRHOA, Quoy and Gaim., Yellow-rumped 

 Tit. 



(a.) In collection of Government Entomologist, Melbourne. 



Instead of presenting a dark appearance, in this specimen a 

 yellowish white prevails ; under plumage yellowish-white ; 

 throat darker ; wing coverts white and yellowish-white ; flanks 

 yellowish white ; forehead normal ; crown white and brown ; 

 back brown intermixed with yellow. 



(6.) In collection of Mr. G. A. Keartland. Locality, Whittle- 

 sea. 



Lemon-white, excepting tail coverts, which are yellow ; feet and 

 bill black. Two or three brown feathers are scattered over the 

 breast and one on the wing, all of which should be brownish. 



243. Gymnorhina tibicen, Lath., Black-backed Magpie. 



I recently saw at Swan Hill a specimen with plumage clear 

 white, with a dark shade across the back. 



Specimens of what appear at first sight to be hybrids between 

 this species and G. leuconota have been collected at Bacchus 

 Marsh, Somerville, the Wimmera, and in Central Australia, 

 having the band across the back broad or narrow and in inter- 

 mediate stages. 



244. Gymnorhina leuconota, Gould, White-backed Magpie. 

 {a.) In collection of Mr. G. A. Keardand. Male. Keilor, 



Victoria. 



Cheeks and ear-coverts light brown ; throat fawn ; breast and 

 abdomen splashed with brown ; primary quils brown on inner 

 web, white on outer ; secondaries brown, edged with white ; back 

 and hinder neck while j crown fawn j the distal half of tail fawn to 



