THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
measurements are: Length 3 ‘9 in. ; bill *31 in. (two specimens were *4 in.): 
wing 1*9 in., tail 1*6 in., tarsus 8 in.” 
In the preparation of my “ Reference List ” I noted the Acanthiza 
magnirostris, proposed by Campbell, had been previously used by Gould, so 
I named the King Island bird Acanthiza archibaldi. It was then observed that 
Gould’s Acanthiza pyrrhopygia was also invalid, but as I concluded that North’s 
Acanthiza albiventris was only subspecifically distinct from that I renamed 
Gould’s species as Acanthiza albiventris hamiltoni. The complete examination 
of the material at hand compelled me to reduce all the above-named (save 
ewingii and rufifrons, which were admitted on Australians’ determinations) to 
the rank of subspecies with the addition of a Victorian race, for which I used 
Quoy and Gaimard’s name, macularia, a South Australian form from Venus 
Bay, which I called Acanthiza pusilla venus. Differing “ from Acanthiza pusilla 
apicalis in having fewer white tipped feathers on the head and a more reddish- 
brown rump.” Thus of Acanthiza pusilla I recognised eleven subspecies, 
ranking as such Acanthiza whitlocki a species just previously described by 
North on account of its very pallid coloration throughout. I allowed Acanthiza 
ewingii as distinct with two subspecies in agreement with Colonel Legge’s judg- 
ment. I also described as a new species a bird received from Tanami, Northern 
Territory, with the name Acanthiza tanami , writing : ‘ ‘ Resembles Acanthiza iredalei 
in the coloration of the fore-head, but had the rump coloration of Acanthiza 
pusilla hamiltoni, with the tail-feathers as in Acanthiza pusilla apicalis ; the throat 
is of the same style as that of Acanthiza ewingii , and the abdomen is whitish.” 
A few months later Milligan “ re-discovered ” Quoy and Gaimard’s Saxicola 
macularia, ignoring my anticipation of his result, pointing out the differences 
as “ the lustrous live-brown tint of the upper surface, the uniform bright 
umber-brown tail, and the erectile feathers of the fore-head. The frontal 
feathers alone render the bird easily recognisable, and also distinguishable from 
its nearest ally, Acanthiza magnirostris (Campbell) of King Island.” 
At that time (Oct. 1912) Milligan stated he was preparing a monograph of 
the Acanthizce, but such has not yet appeared. The present essay will, I hope, 
serve as a basis for such a monograph as I am putting on record all the facts, 
especially in view of the intricacy of the subject and the desirability of long 
series sexed correctly and perfectly localised. 
[Since this was written Milligan has died, so we must look to some other 
younger Australian ornithologist for a complete Monograph of this most 
interesting Australian group.] 
The same year I differentiated Acanthiza pusilla arno from Arno Bay, Eyre’s 
Peninsula, as being darker than Acanthiza pusilla hamiltoni, and especially the 
rump darker red, and named Acanthiza pusilla consobrina from Leigh’s Creek, 
426 
