54 CARTER, A'ofes on Some AustraUan Birds. Pi^^ff^T licle. 'i'his conspicuou>ness in colour probabl}- oust the male bird liis life, as he suddenly disappeared. In conclusion, there are two factors that may be the cause of this variation in G. f/77iVr», cross-breeding with G. Icnconota. and variation under nature. The writer's opinion is that it is purely a natural variation, whereby in one locality the typical birds when mated ])erpetuate a greater percentage of their ])rogeny true to type ; whilst in other localities, these variations are in evidence, and that a "zvJiitc-backed" bird seen associated with a "black-backetl" or partial '"black-backed" bird may be purely a variation of G. iibiccii, as in Fig. E, anil not a (/'. leuconota species, as in Fig. F. The following nieasurements are taken from the birds figured : — A. — Total length, inches — 15.3; wing. 11.25; bill. 2.1 ; tarsus. 2. B. — Total length, inches — 15.8; wing. 10.8: bill. 2.1 : tarsus. 2.5. C. — Total length, inchc- — 13.5: win^'. 10.7; l)ill. i.<>; tarsus,. 2.2. D. — Total length, inches — 15.5; wing. 11 : bill. 2.^; tarsus, 2.2, E. — Total length, inches. 13.5: wing. 11 ; hiil. 2; tarsus. 2.3. F. — Total length, inches — 16; wing. 10.73; l)ill. 2.23: tarsus. 2.2.
Remarks and Notes on some Western Australian Birds
By TOM CARTER, R.A.O.U., Sutton, England.
On page 123 in The Emu, vol. xx., Part 3 (January, 1921)^ Mr. Ashby states that the Bristle-Bird (Sphenura littoralis) was locally known at Ellensbrook as the "Rain-bird." It was the Coachwhip Bird (Psophodes nigrogularis) that was so called, as stated by Mr. Milligan in his paper, The Emu, vol. ii., p. 72. When I was staying at Ellensbrook in November, 1902 (vide The Emu, vol. iii., p. 38-K)), Miss Bussell referred to the Black-throated Coachwhip-Bird, in conversation with me as the Rain-bird, and said how much she missed hearing certain notes uttered by this bird, that invariably foretold rain. Page 123-24, Mr. Ashby expresses surprise at finding that Mallee Fowl {Leipoa ocellata) breeds at Cape Naturaliste, and surmises that birds from that locality may prove to be a good sub-species. Mr. G. M. Mathews classes the Western Australian Leipoas as one species. These interesting birds have been well known (locally) to breed all along that coast, and past the Cape Leeuwin, to at
