Part 27

J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith. C. Hullmandel Imp. ]

ACANTHIZA EWINGII, Gould. Ewing’s Acanthiza.

Acanthiza Ewingii, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., August 13, 1844.

This species of Acanthiza is a native of Van Diemen’s Land, and has been named after the Reverend Thomas James Ewing, a gentleman ardently attached to the study of Natural History, and a sincere friend to all who have the advantage of his acquaintance. That there were two nearly allied species of this genus inhabiting Van Diemen’s Land was an opinion I had entertained before my visit to that country, and I have since ascertained that this opinion was a correct one, although I did not reside there long enough to ascertain what difference may exist in the habits and economy of the two birds.

The Acanthiza Ewingii is more elegant in all its proportions than its near ally, the Acanthiza Diemenensis, for although it is a smaller bird, its tarsi are longer and more slender. There is also a rich brown mark at the base of the primaries of A. Ewingii, which does not occur in any other known species; the markings of the breast also are more indistinct and clouded with blue-grey, while in A. Diemenensis this part of the plumage is lighter and more inclined to brown. I have never seen this little bird on the continent of Australia, and I believe that it never occurs there.

Crown of the head light brown; all the upper surface brownish olive; wings dark brown; primaries margined at the base with sandy buff; tail rich brown, crossed by a broad band of black near the tip; the lateral feathers tipped with white; throat speckled black and white; under surface pale olive; irides dark brown; bill and feet brown.

The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.

ACANTHIZA UROPYGIALIS: Gould.

J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith. Hullmandel & Walton Imp. ]

ACANTHIZA UROPYGIALIS, Gould. Chestnut-rumped Acanthiza.

Acanthiza uropygialis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 146; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part IV.

I received this new and well-marked species from New South Wales, with the belief that it had been collected either on the Liverpool Plains or the country immediately to the northward of them; but as there is some degree of uncertainty as to the locality in which it was procured, a knowledge of its true habitat would be very desirable, and I should have been happy to have cleared up this point had it been in my power so to do.

The chestnut colour pervading the basal half of the tail and the tail-coverts forms a very conspicuous mark, and presents a strong contrast to the remainder of the plumage. That its habits, actions and economy are very similar to those of the other members of the genus there can be no doubt, but on these points also I am compelled to silence, no notes of any kind having been sent with the specimens.

Head, upper surface and wings brown, slightly tinged with olive; the feather on the forehead tipped with a lighter colour; rump and upper tail-coverts rich reddish chestnut; tail-feathers brownish black, largely tipped with white, which on the two centre feathers is tinged with brown; throat, chest, and centre of the abdomen greyish white; flanks and under tail-coverts buffy white; bill and feet black.

The Plate represents the bird, which I believe to be a male, in two different positions.

ACANTHIZA APICALIS: Gould.

J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith. Hullmandel & Walton Imp. ]

ACANTHIZA APICALIS, Gould. Western Acanthiza.

Acanthiza apicalis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., March, 1847.

Djool-be-djoȍl-bung, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western Australia.

Wren, Colonists of Swan River.

This species, which is a native of Western Australia, is distinguished from those immediately allied to it—A. Diemenensis, pusilla and Ewingii—by its large size, by its larger and rounder tail, by the broad and distinct band of black which crosses the tail-feathers near their extremities, and by their being largely tipped with white.

It occurs in great abundance in the colony of Western Australia, both at Swan River and King George’s Sound, and is to be met with in all wooded situations. Like the other members of the genus, it is active and sprightly in its actions, leaping about from branch to branch with its tail erect, and often repeating a note which very much resembles the syllables Gee-wo-wut. Its stomach is somewhat muscular, and the food consists of small insects of various kinds.

It breeds in September and October. The nest, which is usually placed in a thickly-foliaged bush, or in a clump of the Tea-tree, is of a domed form, with the entrance in the side, and is composed of dried grasses and strips of Tea-tree bark, and lined with feathers. The eggs are from three to five in number, of a flesh-white, thickly freckled with reddish chestnut, the freckles becoming so numerous at the larger end as to form a complete zone; their medium length is eight lines, and breadth six lines.

The sexes are alike in plumage, but the female is somewhat smaller than her mate.

Feathers of the forehead deep buff, edged with dark brown; all the upper surface, wings and tail light olive-brown; tail crossed with a broad and distinct band of brownish black near the extremity, and largely tipped with white; upper tail-coverts tinged with rufous; throat and chest greyish tail-coverts pale buff; white, each feather margined with black, giving that part a mottled appearance; flanks, abdomen and under irides light red; bill, legs and feet dark brown.

The figures are of the natural size.

ACANTHIZA PYRRHOPYGIA: Gould.