96 SYSTEMATIC REVISION OF THE AUSTRALIAN THORNBILLS 
The similarity of conditions within the range of this race 
and A. p. macularia is reflected in the resemblance of the two 
forms. Typical leeuwinensis is sharply distinct from the 
adjoining apicalis but some specimens examined afford clear 
evidence of intergradation. 
ACANTHIZA EWINGI Gould. 
Acanthiza ewingi Gould, Birds of Aust., iii, 1844, pi. 55 ; Tasmania. 
Acanthisa rufijrons Campbell, Emu, ii, 1903, p. 203; King Island, Bass 
Strait. 
Acanthisa dovei Mathews, Birds of Aust., ix, 1922, p. 415; Mount 
Arthur, Tasmania. Nom. mid. 
Range. — Tasmania, King and Flinders Islands, Bass Strait. 
Specimens Examined. — Seventeen from the following localities : Tasmania : 
Hobart, Arre River, Launceston. King Island : type of rufijrons, near 
Currie, Surprise Bay, Naracoopa, Sea Elephant River, Yambacoona. Flinders 
Island : near Whitemark. 
Measurements. — Seventeen adult specimens of both sexes: wing, 51-55 
(52 6) ; tail, 45-50 (46.5) ; exposed culmen, 8-10 (9) ; tarsus, 19-21 (20). 
Male. — Forehead from tawny-olive to snuff brown, each feather narrowly 
tipped blackish brown; remainder of dorsal surface light brownish olive; 
lores, above and below eyes, and ear-coverts grey to brownish grey, each 
feather narrowly margined brown; wing quills fuscous; upper wing-coverts 
fuscous black, and all, except outermost greater coverts broadly tipped or 
margined light brownish olive on outer web ; outer web of outermost five or 
six primaries basally snuff brown, forming a conspicuous patch, distally 
becoming olive then whitish ; outer web of remainder of primaries and 
secondaries basally blackish, distally becoming light brownish olive; upper 
tail-coverts snuff brown ; tail drab, suffused snuff brown at base, crossed by 
a broad, subterminal band of blade, indistinct on central feathers, and some 
of the lateral feathers narrowly tipped white on inner margin ; upper portion 
of ventral surface greyish white, each feather with indistinct brownish 
margins ; lower portion of ventral surface white, tinged buffy olive on flanks ; 
under tail-covcrts white; axillaries, under-wing coverts, and inner margin 
of wing-quills white. “Eyes red ; feet greyish flesh-colour.” Bill dark brown, 
paler at base of lower mandible. 
Female. — Similar to male. 
For many years the status and range of ewingi have been in 
doubt. Consigned by Gould (Handb. Birds of Aust., i, 1865, p. 
365) to the synonymy of A. diemenensis (= A. pusilla diernen- 
ensis ) most authors since have accorded it specific rank, but 
Mathews included it as a subspecies of pusilla confined to high 
altitudes in Tasmania. However, all Tasmanian specimens 
available to me are from coastal localities where A. pusilla 
diemenensis also is common, and recently, examples of ewingi 
were obtained from both King Island, the habitat of A. pusilla 
archibaldi (= magnirostris Campb.), and Flinders Island, 
