ORTHONYX SPALDINGI (Rams.) 



SPALDING'S ORTHONYX. 



TfTlOR many years it was thought that only one species of this genus existed in Australia, but through 

 J- the untiring energy and activity of Mr. Spalding a second one was discovered in a dense brush 

 about thirty-five miles inland from Rockingham Bay. Like the Orthonyx Spinicaudus, it obtains its 

 food by scratching among the fallen leaves and debris in the thickest portions of the scrub. 



It assimilates to the Orthonyx Spinicaudus in its form and to a great extent in the colouring, 

 but is nearly twice the size. 



The whole of the head, cheeks and ear-coverts, the sides of the head, sides and back of the 

 neck, the sides of the chest and the shoulders are black ; primaries and outer webs of the secondaries, 

 brown ; the rest of the wing, brownish-black, margined with dark brown ; chin, throat, chest and under 

 surface, white ; flanks, rump and back, olive-brown ; tail, blackish-brown ; bill, legs and feet, brownish- 

 black. 



The female differs in having the centre of the chin, throat and chest a rich, deep rust-red. 

 Total length, b\ inches ; bill, 17 M mcn ; wing, 4^ inches ; tail, 4 X / 10 inches ; tarsi, l 4 /-, inch. 



