416 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



NOTES FROM POINT CLOATES, N.W. AUSTRALIA. 



By Thomas Carter. 



Since my last notes appeared in 'The Zoologist' (1899, 

 p. 139), Mr. A. J. Campbell's description of the new species of 

 Emu Wren (Stipiturus ruficeps), with a beautiful plate of the 

 bird, was published in the * Ibis,' July, 1899. There is little 

 doubt that Mr. Keartland found the same species on the late 

 Wells expedition, but, unfortunately, the skins obtained had to 

 be abandoned in the desert, with many others. So far, I have 

 only seen this bird on one limited part of a high rugged range 

 that abounds with masses of large prickly spinifex and scrub, 

 though apparently the whole length of the range (about seventy- 

 five miles) offers similar conditions. I saw several of these birds 

 there in July last, but failed to secure eggs or any particulars as to 

 their breeding habits. It is surprising to see these tiny birds run, 

 and occasionally fly, headlong into the dense prickly masses of 

 spinifex, and thread their way through the countless spines like 

 mice, without being impaled. One showery day, my native and 

 self came upon a party of these birds, and succeeded in hunting 

 one down and catching it alive, its feathers having become drenched 

 with wet. One other new species I may claim for last year, viz. 

 Western White Plumed Honey-eater (Ptilotis leilavalensis). I 

 forwarded a skin to Mr. Campbell, as for some time I suspected 

 it differed from P. pencillata, the eastern type, but had no skin 

 to compare. 



A specimen of the same species was forwarded to Mr. A. J. 

 North about the same time from North Queensland, and the 

 bird was named (differently) by both gentlemen. It is one of the 

 commonest and most noticeable birds on all the rivers and white 

 gum creeks where water lodges, from the Gascoyne River to 

 here, and doubtless its range extends across the tropics. In fact 

 it is so abundant that for some years I never even closely 

 examined a specimen, never imagining it was likely to be a new 



