60 KINGHORN, 1REDALE, White-backed, Wren [ ut jiT" 
lists, but Ogilvie Grant (Ibis, 1909, p. 675), and North (in “Nests 
and Eggs,” ii., p. 217), both of whom examinned many named 
examples, decided that none of them exactly agreed with Gould’s 
description, and that M. leuconotus was not distinct from M. 
leucopterus, = M. cyanotis. Carter (Ibis, 1910, p 653), agreed 
with North and Ogilvie Grant, and added that “the appearance of 
more or less white depends a good deal upon the making of the 
skin.” Recently in the Ibis, 1917, p. 589, pi. 10, Mr. Tom Carter, 
in collaboration with Mr. G. M. Mathews, determined that the 
White-backed Wren had been based on a freak skin of the com¬ 
mon and well-known Blue Wren, then called AI. cyanotis , and 
this decision has been accepted by most if not all Australian 
ornithologists. 
The specimen collected by Mr. Troughton came from the banks 
of a dry creek, in the vicinity of Mt. Ryndlmrst, 30 miles east of 
Farina, S.A., as the following note from his field diary will show : 
“White-backed Wren — the white back of the small bird showed 
up clearly against the dark colouring of the other parts, while I 
followed it amongst some low bushes on the flats and along the 
side of a dry creek.” It is quite possible that Gould’s bird came 
from this or a near-by district, in view' of the vicinity of St. 
a’Becket’s Pond, and possibly Machrihanish Station to Farina 
and Mt. Lyndhurst. We have examined many specimens in the 
Australian Museum on which Mr. North wrote under both 
names, but as the blue feathers extend down from head to tail 
the scapulars alone being w'hite, they are undoubtedly M. cyan¬ 
otis. Contrary to this, the specimen collected by Mr. Troughton 
has the blue of the head ending abruptly half-way down the neck, 
while the w'hole of the back as well as the scapulars arc white, no 
blue being present at all, and there is no suggestion that the neck 
ever bore long blue feathers, as shown in Mathews and Carter’s 
figure (quoted above). Our specimen is a good one, and agrees 
perfectly with Gould’s description. 
We have much pleasure in acclaiming Mr. Troughton’s speci¬ 
men as a representative of the long-lost, probably very local, but 
quite distinct bird, Malunis leuconotus, and we consider that this 
species should be at once re-instated in Australian lists. As 
Gould’s type is apparently lost, the specimen in the Australian 
Museum will become the neotvpe. 
Wanted to Buy. 
The Emu, part 4, Vol. III. Price to C. E. Simson, R.A.O.U., 
“Roseneath,” Casterton, Vic. 
I he Emu, Part 3, Vol. I.; Horn Expedition to the Centre of 
Australia; Sturt’s Expedition; Eyre’s Expedition; Gould’s Syn¬ 
opsis; Gould’s Birds (Heads). Price to F. E. Howe, “Athenav” 
Bryson St., Canterbury, Vic. 
