THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. 
have a very much more consistent rufous coloration on upper surface and 
flanks in comparison with A. leucopsis.” 
Milligan gave a complete technical diagnosis when he proposed this new 
species X. castaneiventris , and added the field-notes of Mr. Lawson: “The 
cinnamon flanks are a consistent feature. The call-note is musical, though 
rather plaintive. They love rocky places and are ground feeders. Usually 
I find the species in company with Sericornis brunnea and Acanthiza pyrrho- 
pygialis (sic). They are fairly common, but I have been leaving them until 
in good feather. They are a fluky plumaged bird, and the loss of a few feathers 
about the head is always perceptible and an eyesore.” 
Then Milligan, in his notes on a trip to Yandanooka District, wrote: “ I 
was, indeed, pleased to meet with this new species. The birds were in great 
numbers. They associate in small companies, and for the most part keep 
to the prickly bushes before mentioned. They appear to feed on the ground 
under these bushes, and when alarmed rise into them. They are very sprightly 
in their movements, and their song is composed of two or three plaintive but 
musical notes. Their loosely constructed nests are built in the prickly bushes. 
The plumage of one bird that I shot was wholly tinged with warm chestnut.” 
Later, when the bird was figured in the Emu, was added : “ This species 
was first discovered by Mr. J. T. Tunney at Pindar in the Murchison district. 
The birds associate in small companies and prefer the red soils. They are 
ground feeders.” 
Gibson, commenting on birds observed between Kalgoorlie and Eucla. 
wrote : “ Common in the mulga country only 7 ; is not found east of the big 
spinifex and mallee belt or on it; is the western variety of X. leucopsis, 
which is only found on the east side of the spinifex belt, i.e., on the plain 
country.” 
Whitlock writing about the birds of East Murchison: “ Found fairly 
common around Lake Way. It was perhaps most numerous in the neighbour¬ 
hood of Wiluna and the mining belt of the south. I found a number of nests, 
all of which were built in hollow trunks at no great height from the ground,” 
and suggested previous accounts of nesting of this species were incorrect. 
Mr. Tom Carter wrote: “ The Murchison Wliiteface was seen, rather 
numerously 7- , feeding on ground, below scrub about Mullewa, sixty miles east 
of Geraldston in March, 1901.” 
Captain S. A. White recorded under the name : “ Aphelocephala leucopsis 
subsp. (?) Murchison Wliiteface. Distributed very generally over the central 
regions. We collected specimens soon after leaving the head of the line and 
up to the MacDonnell Ranges. They 7 were often found in company with 
A. nigricincta. I quite agree with others that A. leucopsis is not found in the 
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