THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
1909, they only remained there a fortnight ; and I am informed that this is 
the only recorded instance of their occurrence at that Island. 
“ I visited Philip Island on 3rd November, 1908 ; and, after a stiff climb 
up the steep and crumbling slopes leading to the higher levels of the island, 
discovered that large colonies of the ‘ Titeracks ’ were sitting on their recently 
laid eggs. From a dozen to a hundred or more birds take possession of one 
of the large White Oak {Lagunaria patersoni) trees, and adorn every convenient 
fork or other suitable place — not despising a broad horizontal branch with a 
few upright shoots — with their compact little nests of brightly coloured sea- 
weeds brought fresh and damp from the rocks, and pressed into cushion- 
shape, with a slight depression in the centre. The birds display considerable 
taste in the selection of strikingly contrasted colours, red, green and purple 
seaweeds being matted together with strands of the ‘ Mooo ’ grass. 
“ The colonies do not commence to breed on the same day, as we found 
nests in course of construction, fresh eggs, and others well advanced in incu- 
bation in the same tree. In 1909 fresh and incubated eggs were taken on 
15th December. The birds were not shy, but generally left the nests when we 
were within reach, and sidling along the branch, uttered the querulous cry 
which has earned them their local appellation.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor says he saw “ Eighty nests in a single tree on an island 
in the Capricorn group. The birds were in pairs and would sit side by side 
billing and cooing to one another all over the tree, ever and anon dropping 
to the ground to pick up a leaf and add it to the nest.” 
The bird figured and described was collected at Mackay, North 
Queensland. 
This species has been unfortunate in its nomenclature. For many years 
known as A. 7nelanogenys, more recently it has been allowed that A. leucocapillus 
should be used, but I can see no valid reason for the rejection of A. ^ninutus 
Boie, which has priority over both. 
In the Isis, 1844, p. 188, Boie proposes Anous ininutus for birds from 
Nova Hollandia with the diagnosis : — 
Etwas grosser als St. nigra. Von dem typischen Colorit, oben dunkler, unten heller. 
Flugel vom Bug weniger lang. Schwanz me bey der stolida. Schnabel und Fiisse schwarz, 
ersterer sehr schwach. 
This description is applicable to this species only, the bill-characters 
being diagnostic, and these have recently been made the basis of a generic 
separation. 
The following year Gould {Proc. Zool. Soc. (Bond.) 1845, p. 103) intro- 
duced Anous leucocapillus thus : — 
A. vertice et nucha albis ; loris, et partibus circumocularibus, intense nigris ; omiii 
inferiore corpore alisque fuliginosis, necnon, occipite, dorso et cauda sed cinereo tinctis. 
r 
420 
