BRISTLE BIRD. 
At Mallacoota, Victoria, S. A. White recorded : “ Rare, frequenting 
the low, stunted tea- tree growing on marshy country near the coast.” 
Le Souef and Macpherson have very recently written regarding the 
Birds of Sydney : “It is very pleasing to find that in the grounds of the 
Coast Hospital there are also some Bristle Birds ( Sphenura brachyptera). 
They five in a tangled mass of scrub and rank vegetation growing along a 
small creek, and over some swampy land. The male bird has been observed 
by Mr. Harry Burrell. If one enters his domain he will rise to the top of 
the bushes for a moment to view the intruder, and drop to cover again ; the 
female is apparently not to be seen.” 
This bird seems very little known, as there are no notes concerning 
it, although the Victorian Maccoyornis is now well established. Campbell 
records eggs taken by Jackson in the Clarence River district, and includes 
South Queensland in its range, but I have never seen birds from so far north. 
I recently distinguished the Victorian bird on account of its darker 
coloration, and were series collected from the Clarence River thev would 
KJ 
probably show a very distinct form. At present, there are two forms : 
Sphenura brachyptera brachyptera (Latham). 
New South Wales (Sydney District). 
and 
Sphenura brachyptera victorice Mathews. 
Victoria. 
As shown above the genus name Sphenura must be rejected; and the 
names become : 
Dasyornis brachypterus brachypterus (Latham) 
and 
Dasyornis brachypterus victories (Mathews). 
VOL. x. 
153 
