THIN-BILLED TIT. 
To me these notes resemble the syllables ‘ Tip-tip-tip ’ uttered rapidly but 
with a distinct glassy ring about them. Possibly it has a song, but I have only 
heard this call note between the sexes. I have watched the parents feeding 
their young, and have also watched pairs before the breeding season had set in. 
They seem to spend most of their time busily searching the samphires or salt- 
bush for insect life as they flit from bush to bush, and as the observer moves 
towards them, they are rather wary, and, unlike other species of Acanthiza, will 
not permit of a near approach.” 
Captain S. A. White has written me : “ This little bird is widely distributed 
over the interior but is nowhere plentiful. Mostly found on open plain amongst 
low bush they are very quick in their movements.” 
Mr. E. Ashby also writes : “I have only seen this bird alive near Nackara, 
on the Broken Hill Line in South Australia. There it seemed to prefer the open 
rocky hill sides covered with Salt Bush and Bluebush but was exceedingly shy, 
mostly shifting on before the collector was within range. I received birds in the 
flesh in August 1910, from Leigh’s Creek (the type locality) further north, and 
have specimens collected at Waddilina in West Australia.” 
Even Milligan and Zeitz were dubious of the specific distinction 
of this bird, the latter placing his doubts before North who stated it was quite 
distinct from any other of the group. Nevertheless a writer was so confused 
as to write a long note in the Emu declaring that a plate of Geobasileus 
hedleyi rosince portrayed the present species, and made a whole series of 
inaccurate remarks. I replied laying down the facts of the cases which need not 
be here recapitulated save as they refer to this species. Acanthiza tenuirostris 
was selected by Zietz as the name for a new species from the interior of South 
Australia. Milligan reported the same species from West Australia. I received 
specimens of the latter and distinguished it as a new species with the name 
A. iredalei. At the same time I pointed out that the South Australian species 
confused with it must have a new name and so I named it A. morgani. I later 
agreed that these might be representative forms and as the rules lay down 
anteriority of position as carrying the priority of the names to be used became 
Acanthiza iredalei iredalei and A. i. morgani and as such I listed these birds in 
my “ Reference List ” and my 1913 “ List.” Later Wilson added another 
form from the Victorian Mallee as A. winiamida noting that I should call it 
A. i. winiamida. In the paper cited these are the names I used. 
The forms now admitted read : 
Acanthiza iredalei iredalei Mathews. 
Interior of Western Australia. 
The type was named from Lake Way but Campbell and Whitlock have recorded 
it from Shark’s Bay. 
VOL. IX. 
457 
