26 WEITE—A Long -Lost Bird. 



A Long-Lost Bird. 



By S. A. White, M.B.O.U. 

 The rediscovery of John Gould's Xerophila pectoralis must 

 come to Australian ornithologists as a subject of great inte- 

 rest, one specimen only having been seen up to this, and from 

 which the great ornithologist described the species in 1871 

 (Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., series 14, vol. VIII.). The bird is 

 known now as Aphelocephala pectoralis (Mathews' "A List of 

 the Birds of Australia," p. 246). Several South Australian 

 ornithologists, including myself, have hunted for years after 

 this bird, but could never find a trace of it, and I know of late 

 a very strong feeling has been in my mind as to the possibility 

 of this species ever existing. On June 29th, 1914, my assistant 

 and taxidermist (Mr. J. P. Rogers) brought in a couple of small 

 birds, and I at once recognised them as the lost bird. Within 

 a few hours I met with a small party myself and secured 

 several specimens. I found this bird to extend over the country 

 for 100 miles west of Oodnadatta, and seemed to be entirely 

 confined to the tableland country covered with gibber stones, 

 with small clumps of low bushes and a few mulga (Acacia 

 aneuraj growing in the watercourses. A. pectoralis was found 

 nearly always in the company of A. nigricineta and another 

 species which was very numerous and resembled both A. 

 leucopsis and A. p. cas'taneiventris. Their habits seem to be 

 identical with other members of the genus, but their call is 

 distinctive, in being a low plaintive note, and they are not 

 nearly so bold as the more common species, and on being 

 alarmed they flew straight away out of gun shot. A few 

 points of rain fell in February over this country, and these 

 birds must have bred, because fully fledged young were col- 

 lected with the parent birds, but unfortunately I did not meet 

 with anv nests containing eggs. 



Description of some Interesting Birds from 

 the Northern Territory. 



By Edwin Ashby. 

 Amongst a small collection of birds recently collected by 

 Mr. C. E. May at the Union Bore, near Pine Creek, Northern 

 Territory, the following show differences from their nearest 

 allies that are worth noting. 



