Page:The Emu volume 20.djvu/193

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Vo|. ^^j Royal Ausiralasian Ornithologists' Union. 149

176 and 177. Riifous-lronted Flycatcher {Muscicapa ritfi/rons, Lath.)—These arc the tyi)es of a familiar Flycatcher {Rhipidura riipfro)is^. Watling remarks:—"This bird is of very sfiorl flight, and found among brush, rotten wood, and long grass. Native name, ■ Burril.' November."

187. Orange-rumped Flj'catcher (Muscicapa melanocephala, Lath.) — Type of the brilliant Orange-backed INIalurus or Wren-Warbler.

196. Streaked Warbler {Sylvia sagittata. Lath.)—The type of the Speckled Warbler {Chthonicola). Watling's note:—" Tliis bird sings remarkably well."

209. Ciliary Warbler (Zosterops cccntlescens, Lath.)—The wellknown White-eye. Watling's note:—" One-half the natural size. This little l^ird is the only one of the kind ever seen. The white round the ciliary process of the eye is composed of the most beautiful sniall white feathers. The pride and vanity of the draughtsman has (have) induced him to put his name to all the drawings, but should you publish them I think the name may be left out." There are furtluT interesting notes on the Latham-Watling types, namely: —

216 and 217. Two Swifts {Chcptnra caudacuta and Micropus pacipcus).

220. Frogmouth {Podargus strigoides).

226. Pallid Cuckoo (described as a Pigeon, Cohimha pallida, Lath.) 227. Brown Quail {Synoicus australis).

238. Pacific Heron {Notophoyx pacipca).

275 and 277. Two Gulls (Gabianus pacificus and Lams novo!hollandicr^, &c., &c.,

besides much fascinating and informative liistory of many " longforgotten feathers," the elucidation of which history the world at large, and particularly Australia, are for ever debtor to that painstaking and conscientious scientist and servant of the British ][useum—the late R. Bowdler-Sharpe, F.R.S.

THE BIRDS OF THE SWAN RIVER DISTRICT, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.


By W. B. Alexander, M.A., R.A.O.U.


I.—Introduction.


A writer in The Ibis recently remarked that it would be possible to compile a list of the birds likely to be met with in any locality in the world from existing literature. This is possibly true of other continents, but is certainly far from being true of Australia. An ornithlologist who had never resided in Perth would, I suppose, imagine that all the birds generally described in text-books as found throughout Australia would be met with in course of time, together with those recorded as occurring in South-West Australia. A list compiled in this way would contain far more