158 



NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF THE GULF OF CARPENTARIA. 



closer till they form the rusty black posterior fourth and pure 

 black tip of the tail. Fore limbs silvery grey, hind limbs as the 

 body, claws black. 



Total length ... 84.5 cm. Ear externally ... 5.2 cm- 

 Length of tail 42.25 „ Hind foot 16.2 „ 



,, ,, head Distance from tip 



to outer base of fifth to tip 



of ears. 8.4 „ of fourth toe 4.4 „ 



Length of snout 



from eye ... 4.3 ,, 



Resembles unguifer of the north-west coast rather than the 

 two more ornate species froenata and lunata, but readily dis- 

 tinguished by its ringed tail, continuous dorsal line, black 

 muzzle, and distinct trace of a shoulder stripe. 



Concerning the habits of this animal, Mr. Broadbent remarks 

 " that it frequents open plain country or salt-pans intervening 

 between sand ridges where it is found usually solitary," and 

 that '• it makes a lair in the tussocks occuring in such situa- 

 tions, having similar habits in this respect to the kangaroo-rat. 

 It is shy and difficult of approach." 



Rhipidura phasiana n.s. 



Above brownish grey, becoming sliglitly rufous on the 

 mantle. Feathers of the head minutely tipped with pale grey ; 

 those of the back narrowly edged with rufous. Upper tail 

 coverts brown ; a few of them with lighter tips. A large 

 white spot above the eyes, continued as an indistinct rufous 

 band to the side of the occiput. Lore, side of the head and ear 

 coverts dark brown ; the latter edged with white. Throat and 

 lower part of the side of the neck white. Upper part of breast 

 grey ; lower part buff, fading into buffy white on the lower part 

 of the abdomen and under tail coverts. Wings brown. The 

 inner secondaries broadly edged with white. All the feathers 

 of the shoulder and the wing coverts largely tipped with white. 

 Primaries with dark brown shafts. Tail, dark brown ; all but 

 the two middle feathers, with entirely white shafts. The 

 external feather with the outer web, tip and apical half of inner 

 web white. The next brown on the outer web ; white on the 

 tip and web ; the rest gradually losing the white portion. 

 Middle feathers wholly brown. Legs, feet, and bill very dark 

 brown. Total length 1.49 cm. Tail 1.2. Wing 6.3. Length 

 of gape 1.2. Culmen. 9. Breadth of bill at base. 6. 

 Locality, Kimberley, collected by Mr. K. Broadbent. 



