THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
that of the Maluri. It feeds solely on minute insects of various kinds, in search- 
ing for which it assumes the usual clinging and prying positions of other 
insectivorous birds which seek their food among the leaves and branches of 
shrubs and trees.” 
Mr. Tom Carter’s only note reads : “ Is common about Albany, creeping 
about in the scrubby undergrowth of the Jarrah and Red Gum timber around 
there.” 
Mr. Edwin Ashby states : “ I have found this Tit fairly common in the 
neighbourhood of Perth, W.A., and had recently a specimen sent me in the 
flesh from the coastal scrubs over a hundred and fifty miles north of 
Perth, this somewhat extending its range northward. I think it must be 
considered as a wet district bird confined to the south-western corner of the 
state.” 
Milligan only wrote : “ I secured several on my first trip. The birds had 
bred, and had their young with them.” 
Other writers record them as Common or Rare, but apparently con- 
sidered this little bird so insignificant as to object to record any of its 
habits at all. 
The restricted range of this little species did not suggest much variation, 
so that for sixty years all specimens from West Australia were regarded as 
identical. Then North differentiated the birds from King George’s Sound 
as a distinct species, the Swan River form having been named by Gould. This 
was rightly considered by contemporary workers as a doubtful “ species ” as it 
was certainly only of subspecific value, and I therefore regarded it as such in 
my “ Reference List ” admitting : 
Acanthiza inornata inornata Gould. 
Swan River District, West Australia. 
and 
Acanthiza inornata master si North. 
King George’s Sound, South West Australia. 
Later I separated as : 
Acanthiza inornata submaster si 
writing : “ Differs from A. i. master si in having much paler flanks and much 
lighter back ” the form from 
Stirling Ranges, South West Australia. 
The year after Mr. Tom Carter sent me a bird from Carnarvon, Mid- West 
Australia which I unhesitatingly named : 
Acanthiza inornata carnarvoni 
stating : “ This new subspecies differs from A. i. master si North, in being 
lighter above and in having the feathers of the fore-head much whiter at the 
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