THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 79 



wings short and rounded, the first primary about half the length 

 of the third ; tail longer than wing, the feathers graduated, broad 

 and rounded at the tips, the central ones equal in breadth to the 

 length of the tarsus ; upper and under tail coverts long, broad, 

 the central upper tail coverts more than half the length of the 

 longest tail feathers, and about equal in length to the outer tail 

 feathers ; tarsi short, slender ; feet small, the middle toe with 

 claw equal in length to the tarsus ; hind toe short, with claw equal 

 in length to middle toe. 



Eremiornis carteri, sp. n. 



Adtdt. — Lores and a distinct eyebrow dull whitish ; forehead 

 rufous, remainder of the upper surface brown tinged with rufous, 

 becoming slightly more rufescent on the rump and upper tail 

 coverts ; wings dark brown, the primaries narrowly edged with 

 dull ashy-rufous, and the secondaries broadly margined on their 

 outer webs with rufous : lesser wing coverts like the back, the 

 greater series fulvous-brown, with dark brown centres ; tail dark 

 brown, the four outermost feathers on either side tipped with 

 fulvous-brown ; ear coverts pale rufous-brown, with distinct white 

 shaft streaks ; sides of the neck ashy-brown ; throat dull white, 

 passing into buff on the fore-neck and chest ; centre of the breast 

 and abdomen dull white, washed with buff and becoming darker 

 on the sides of the body ; under tail coverts fulvous-brown, with 

 a slight rufescent tinge, and crossed on their apical portion with 

 a broad subterminal brown band, which decreases in extent and 

 is almost lost on the smaller outermost feathers ; under wing 

 coverts pale iulvous-brown ; bill fleshy-brown, basal half of the 

 lower mandible whitish horn colour ; legs fleshy-brown, feet 

 slightly darker. Total length of skin, 5.65 inches; wing, 2.07; 

 central tail feathers, 2.6 ; outer tail feathers, 1.6 ; central upper 

 tail coverts, 1.5 ; bill from forehead, 0.42 ; depth of bill at nostril, 

 0.1 1 ; width of bill at nostril, o. n ; tarsus, 0.5 ; middle toe 0.4, 

 with claw 0.5 ; hind toe 0.23, with claw 0.4. 



Habitat. — North-west Cape, North-west Australia. 



The slender bill, short tarsi, small feet, and abnormally long 

 upper and under tail coverts, which conceal the greater portion of 

 its long and broad tail feathers, will serve to distinguish it from 

 any other Australian genus. The long tail, short and rounded 

 wings, and habits would indicate its position as being nearest that 

 group of birds frequenting sterile situations with a sparse and 

 stunted vegetation, among which are included Amytis, Hylacola, 

 and Stipiturus. 



Specifically I have much pleasure in associating this bird with 

 the name of its discoverer, an ardent collector and keen observer 

 of bird life in that part of the continent. It will be. known by the 

 vernacular name of Carter's Desert-bird. 



