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SPHENOSTOMA CRISTATUM, Gouid.
Crested Wedge-bill.

Sphenostoma cristatum, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 150.—Ib. Syn. Birds of Australia, Part IV.

 

Severat years have now elapsed since I published the characters of this bird m the ‘Zoological Pro-
ceedings,” and a figure of the head in my ‘“‘ Synopsis.” If I had little or nothing to communicate respecting
its history at that time, I regret to say that the interval has not added to my knowledge of the subject.
The specimen from which my description and figure were originally taken was a female; and although the
male differs but little in its outward appearance, still the rather more produced form of the bill supplies
a key as to what tribe of birds it appears to be most nearly allied, that of Psophodes; at the same time it
must be admitted, that the affinity is somewhat remote, and it may be that my conclusions are not well-
founded: a knowledge of its habits will materially assist in clearing up this point.

It is an inhabitant of the low scrubby trees and Polygonum bushes which stud the hot plains of the
interior of Australia, particularly those on the borders of the Lachlan and Darling: Mr. Charles Coxen has
also killed it on the Lower Namoi, but could tell me nothing of its habits. Whether it has any kind of
loud sharp whistle analogous to that of the Coach-whip-bird (Psophodes crepitans), or if it has the same shy
disposition, it would be interesting to ascertain ; and to these points, as well as to all other details connected
with its history, I would call the attention of those who may visit the interior, or may otherwise be favour-
ably situated for observing them. ‘The sombre tints of the bird are very like the colour of the earth of the
plams it inhabits; and when the nature of its food shall have been ascertained, its wedge-shaped bill will
doubtless be found admirably adapted for procuring it.

General plumage brown, lighter beneath; chin and centre of the abdomen greyish white; wings dark
brown, edged with pale brown, the fourth and fifth primaries conspicuously margined with white; four
centre tail-feathers dark brown, indistinctly barred with a still darker hue; the remainder brownish black,
largely tipped with white; bill blackish brown; feet lead-colour.

The figures are of the natural size.

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