Stipiturus Ruficeps (Rufous-crowned Emu-wren) Samuela Alisteri (Black-Breasted Ground-Bird)

Superb lithograph of the Rufous-Crowned Emu-Wren and the Nullarbor Quail-thrush, from the last great bird series on Australian ornithology, The Birds of Australia, by G. Matthew’s.

This series is rarer than John Gould’s work on Australian birds, with only 225 sets made. It was the last series produced using the laborious process of hand colouring of each individual lithograph.

Common name: Rufous-Crowned Emu-Wren
Modern binomial name: Stipiturus ruficeps
First described: Campbell, 1899 Mathews, 1910
Distribution: WA, NT, QLD, SA

Common name: Nullarbor Quail-thrush
Modern binomial name: Cinclosoma alisteri
First described: Mathews, 1910
Distribution: WA, SA

Collections:
State Library New South Wales: Call Numbers: MRB/F598.2/M
State Library Victoria: RARESF 598.2994 M42
State Library South Australia: Rare Books Room 598.294 M429 b
State Library of Western Australia: Call Number Q 598.2994 MAT
National Library Australia: Rex Nan Kivell Collection ; NK9772
State Library Queensland: RBF 598.2994 MAT
National Museum of Australia: Call no: AIA F 598.2994 MAT

References:
Anker, J. Bird Books and Bird Art. Amsterdam 1979 328.
Nissen, C. Die illustrierten Vogelbucher. Stuttgart 1995 IVB 605.