376 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 



Genus Acantliorhynchus. 

 Bill very long, slender and curved. Tail square, equal to 



wings in length. 



Key to the Species. 

 No white streak behind the eye. A. tenuirostris. 



A white streak behind the eye. A superciiiosus. 



,, ,, M A. dubius. 



The Spine-bill. 



Acantliorhynchus tenuirostris. 



The Eastern half of the Continent. 



Crown of head blaCk with a greenish gloss; prseoeular region, ear- 

 coverts and a crescent on the sides of the neck and chest bronzy -black ; 

 mantle reddish-brown from chestnut on hind-neck through olive-grey to 

 bluish-grey on the rump and upper wing- and tail-coverts; rest of wing 

 and six central tail feathers black; the two outer pairs of the latter with 

 large white terminal tips; cheeks, throat, centre of upper chest white, 

 with a dark reddish-brown patch on the eentre of the throat; breast, 

 flanks, abdomen and under tail-coverts reddish fawn-coloured; under 

 wing-coverts white;, bill black; feet reddish-brown; iris red." Culmen 

 1.2 inch, wing 2.7, tail 2.35, tarsus .7. Female siinilar with the crown 

 dark-grey, more or less tinged with olive. 



Tasmanian specimens {A. dubius) "are generally somewhat 

 brighter-coloured on the under parts," darker on the upper. 

 Wing 2.5. 



A. halmaturimis from Kangaroo Island. Crown and collar 

 and throat and abdomen are all lighter in colour. Abdomen 

 oehreous buff. Wing 2.6. 



The White-browed Spine-bill. 



Acantliorhynchus superciiiosus. 



South and West Australia. 



Entire crown of head, mantle, back and upper tail- and wing-coverts 

 greyish olive-brown; wings and six centre tail feathers blackish-brown, 

 the three outer pairs of tail feathers with large white subterminal patches; 

 a white streak behind the eye and above the ear-eoverts; cheeks and chin 

 while; throat and neck all round chestnut-red; breast, abdomen, flanks 

 and under tail-coverts pale buff; the chest crossed by a conspicuous white 

 crescent followed by another of brownish-black; vmder wing-coverts 

 whitish. 



The Tasmanian Spine-bill. 



Acantliorhynchus dubius. 



This species has a patch in the centre of the throat, and the lunated 

 marks on the sides of the neck much deeper, and the whole of the under 

 surface richer chestnut than on the mainland spcies. It is also smaller 

 in size. Total length 5 inches. 



