HORN EXPEDITION—AYES. 
81 
lengtli 6^ inches, tail 3 inches 2 lines. Gould’s dimensions of A. macrurus, in 
the Proceedings of the Zoological Society and his Handbook are as follows:— 
Total 
length. 
Bill. 
Wing. 
Tail. 
Tarsus. 
P.Z.S., 1847, p. 2. - 
7in. - 
iin. 
- 2 fin. 
- Hin. 
- lin. 
Handbk. Bds. Aus., Vol. I., p. 338 - 
5^in. . 
Mn. 
- 2|in. 
- 21in. 
- -|in. 
IMr. Keartland has since received the eggs of A. text ills from Central 
Australia, which he has forwarded to me, together with the following note:— 
“ This species builds at the foot of cane-grass on banks of creeks or close to 
tussocks of grass. The nest is circular, with an entrance in the side, and is rather 
loosely constructed of dried grasses. Eggs two or three in number for a sitting. 
This nest was taken by Mi’. Cowle during February, 1895.” 
One egg is nearly white in ground colour, with spots and dots, especially 
towards the thicker end, of rich reddish-brown. In the other specimen the 
ground-colour is reddish-white, and is almost obscured by rich reddish-brown 
markings, which predominate as usual on the thicker end. Length (A), 0-77 inches 
X 0'6 inches; (B), 0-77 inches x 0-6 inches. Both of these eggs closely resemble 
different types of the eggs of Cindoramphus nifesce^is. 
With the eggs, Mr. Keartland sent the skin of the female shot at the nest; 
in this specimen the sides of the breast are rusty-red. As pointed out by Quoy 
and Gaimard in their original description of A. textilis, individual variation exists 
in the form of the bill and in the depth of colour of this species. 
[Just as A. striatus is confined to the porcupine grass, so A. textilis is limited 
to the rocky gorges and sides of the ranges, where they appear in companies of six 
or seven, hopping or running like mice with tail erect, and suddenly dropping in 
some crevice or behind a stone. They are particularly plentiful at Stokes’ Pass, 
l)ut were also found at Petermann Creek, Lawrie’s Creek, Hermannburg, &c.] 
No. 41. Xeropiiila leucopsis, Gould. White-faced Xerophila. 
Xeropliila leucopsis., Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1840, p. 175 ; id., Bds. Austr., 
fob, Vol. III., pi. 67 (1848); Sturt, Exped. Centr. Austr., Vol. II., App. p. 30, 
(1849); Gadow, Brit. Mus. Cat. Bds., Vol. VIII., p. 73 (1883); North, Nests 
and Eggs Austr. Bds., p. 150, pi. ix., fig. 14 (1889). 
One adult female, obtained near Charlotte Waters. 
