Rangree Sate Aan ann aan aa Is ' Rt ne na . RY Tare A TOMA teen Raaonn rn ” = Ms ns " nna ceaahadeeee Aaron wnat? Oy ue “Sonata aa : ae ji Uni ideas ets ale ie eh Age Cease sn 3 br lenaray aay saal ee { PU eau ae Dios + } ¥ ih waees Nieto i + r NM ahae + Rta a anal : PA iis bes) estice Wit ‘ Ohare io Rune cate bie) RD, { ii Oy: ee 4 tse Ka es Avert ss eee wbtg ks a petri a . RARKNE eh sant Mids is Pralhupned H ties 4 Pisano ABUT Sle, i Ne On iy — oe Sere ed a JY 6 =| 4 / a fi pe Nie ake THE /AUSTRAL | AVIAN RECORD / A SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL DEVOTED PRIMARILY TO THE STUDY OF THE AUSTRALIAN AVIFAUNA \ EDITED BY GREGORY M. MATHEWS VOLUME |I. JANUARY 1912—MARCH 1913. ere OmCag WITHERBY & CO. 326 Hianh HotBorn Lonpon W C. Plain Peat i SiN ‘at ; aay Dseeaany Hy A aR PAYA NOI We Wet kerk j ve SIN si) . Ny} ! ua ATS Phe ¥ f os ah ear REN, aS) Pe ony Sh NAN Nay aes aR R } i iM Pariao ‘ vei ea, Meta \ » Nees ‘sth Nevin i i Ke 4 } TR ay STS 0 UAT a Is BAS in Wy) ub Canty, Wiles sii RNA De Ai Bay ery Br uD Je ‘ TP Sa I aa MRItH iN UN ior ri SD i f ; My pe shai ioe ' ren) har ayes Di have find ZENIT, ae oh ey nu Tasha : ay irs OEM NNER ae tae is pitas Woe ity nay Air aie, Hess ¢ tra eT ea hy biehate Rei ean Paine Hth % Koh RH "Ny i ae Ble | il Ay ae ny A Y iatity Nat vat ji Naty es avai SaaS CTT VON a ' Dany I ‘ Ree ON HN Ral, Wiel ef) ti) CONTENTS. PART: Notes on Australian Cuckoos — = = = = Dates of Issue of Lear’s Illustr. Psittacidse — a and Miiller’s Nat. Gesch. Land-en Volk. = = PART 2. Additions and Corrections to my Reference List to the Birds of Australia - = a ss i Description of Eggs - - = = to i PART 3. Notes on the Coloration of the Head and Neck of the Australian Cassowary (Plate I.) - — = Diggle’s New Species of Australian Birds- - = -—- Additions . . . to my Reference List - — PART 4. Additions . . . to my Reference List — - On the Generic Name of the Barn-Owl —- is ES PART 5. New Generic Names for Australian Birds— = = Additions . . . to my Reference List ~ - The Geographical Relationships of the Birds of Lord Howe, Norfolk, and the Kermadec Islands _ On the Generic Names Antigone and Mathewsia - 25 53 66 68 73 81 104 105 118 121 122 CONTENTS. New Subspecies of New Zealand Birds A New Bird for Australia —- = 4 a e: A Changed Name -— - = a 4 = ss New Birds — = = 2 = a ig wo Substitute-Names — = = = i is a Additional Notes —- = = = oe PARTS 6 & 7. A List of the Species of Australian Birds described by John Gould, with the Location of the EYRE specimens s ‘S zs a a a PART 8. New Subspecies of Birds from the Monte Bello Islands Additional Species described by Gould from Norfolk, Lord Howe, and Philip Islands— = = = The Genus-name Meliphaga - - - = Additions . . . to my Reference List - - New Genera - - ~ = = = ” 2 lv. 124 125 125 126 127 127 129 181 182 184 187 195 "RECORD A SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL DEVOTED PRIMARILY TO THE STUDY OF THE AUSTRALIAN AVIFAUNA VOL, I. No. i. 2 ISSUED IN CONNEXION WITH THE Austrar Avian Museum, WatrorD, Hirrs, ENGLAND EDITOR _ GREGORY M. MATHEWS Price 1/6 Net WITHERBY | Ay: — 326 HicH Horzorn Lonpon W.C. ( ce ee ee JANUARY 2ND, 1912. \ ¢ esi ; i ee : \ ry Bh one ea oa te THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. A SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL DEVOTED PRIMARILY TO THE STUDY OF THE AUSTRALIAN AVIFAUNA, Vou. 1., No. 1. JANUARY, 2ND, 1912. CONTENTS. PAGE Notes on AUSTRALIAN CUCKOOS.. ai re Re Mia Dates oF Issue or LeEar’s I[tuustr. Psitracip™ .. 23 AND Muuumr’s Nat. Gescu. Lanp-EN VOLK. seat EDITORIAL NOTE. WHILE preparing my Reference List to the Birds of Australia (now in the press), I accumulated many notes of great interest regarding matters that need investigation. In that Reference List I have shortly indicated some of these matters, but detailed accounts could not there be introduced. I have therefore decided to publish, at irregular intervals, such notes as | deem necessary to require immediate attention and referring to birds which either have been already treated of in my Birds of Australia or will not be dealt with in the immediate future. In this place it is proposed to indicate new forms, notes on nomenclature and any other interesting matter relating to the Australian avifauna. bo THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN CUCKOOS. I HAVE been long interested in the forms and nomen- clature of Australian Cuckoos, and have already published some notes regarding the latter (Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 16, 1911). Since then. I have gone more fully into this matter, and find that a general revision is necessary both as regards the generic and specific names and the forms recognisable. I herewith attempt such a revision, with the hope that criticism and co-operation will later enable me to deal more completely with the problems here indicated. In the Australian Museum Special Catalogue No. L., Vol. III., A. J. North recently dealt with this group, and the facts as I read them, unfortunately compel me to differ from his conclusions. Firstly, to deal with the generic names: In my Handlist I admitted as genera Cuculus, Cacomantis, Mesocalius, Chalcococcyx, and Hudynamis. 1 do not propose here to touch upon the aberrant forms Scythrops and Centropus. North did not review the whole of the species admitted as Australian, but only wrote upon those that interested him from an oological point of view. He did not discuss the generic status, though entering into details regarding specific names. I recognised two species as referable to the genus Cuculus and three to Cacomantis. Upon comparison I could not separate the members of the latter genus save by slight difference in size and coloration, which I do not consider to be generic characters. It will be noted that a species which, following the Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., I classed in Cuculus, was considered by that most accurate ornithologist Count Salvadori, to be a member of the genus Cacomantis, and for it alone a genus Heteroscenes had been instituted by Cabanis (Mus. Hein., Vol. IV., p. 26, 1862). When a con- necting link exists, so that the limits of a colour genus cannot even be maintained, I feel justified in advocat- ing its rejection. Moreover in the genus Cacomantis the No. 1.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 3 members differ quite as much among themselves as from other species which are classed in Cuculus. I am therefore referring the Australian species hitherto classed in Cacomantis to the genus Cuculus. In my Handlist I accepted the genus Mesocalius and species palliolatus Latham. This is an interesting case and the facts are simple : In the Mus. Hein., Cabanis proposed numerous new genera without giving diagnostic features, simply relying upon the species named. On p. 16 he gave: Gen. Misocalius Nob. Chalcites Gould, 184% and Bp., 1854 (nec Less, 1831). M. palliolatus Nob. Cuculus palliolatus Lath. and then included in its synonymy Chalcites osculans, Gould (Proc. Zool. Soc. [Lond.], 1847, p. 32). As no other species was included, the type of Misocalius (by monotypy) must be regarded as Cuculus palliolatus, Lath. This species is indeterminable (at present) and therefore I conclude the genus name must be rejected. It may be argued that Cabanis founded his genus on Chalcites osculans Gould, which he identified with Latham’s account of his Cuculus palliolatus, and that therefore the genus name Misocalius should be retained for the Chalcites osculans Gould. The only logical conclusion is however, that inasmuch as Cabanis based his genus on Latham’s Cuculus palliolatus without giving a generic diagnosis, there is no valid reason for accepting the generic name for a bird he deemed synonymous. I consider the safest course in this case is to ignore Misocalius and, therefore, propose the new generic name OWENAVIS for Chalcites osculans Gould, of which genus it is the type and only species. For the Bronze Cuckoos I employed Chalcococcyz, following the Handlist of Birds, whereas North has used Lamprococcyx. + THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I The history of the generic names of the Bronze Cuckoos is worthy of record. In the Isis, 1826, p. 977, Boie proposed Chrysococcyx for Cuculus cupreus Lath., u.a. Whatever the limits of Boie’s genus may have been, the type of the genus by monotypy is Cuculus cupreus Latham. In the Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. XIX., p. 280, the type of Chrysococcyx is given as C. cupreus, but there C. cupreus is used as of Boddaert. Boddaert’s C. cupreus is a different bird from Latham’s C. cwpreus, the latter being the bird later named C. smaragdineus by Swainson (Birds West Africa, p. 191, 1837). Consequently the type of Chrysococcyx Boie is C. cupreus Latham (nec Boddaert) = C. smaragdineus Swainson. Recently Reichenow (Ornith. Monatsb., p. 54, 1896), overlooking the difference between Latham’s C. cwpreus and Boddaert’s C. cupreus, proposed for the former (= C. smaragdineus Swainson) the new generic name Metallococcyx. This has been recognised, but it must fall as an absolute synonym of Chrysococcyx. In the Traite d’Ornith., Lesson proposed a race name Chalcites (p. 152, 1830) for the Shining Cuckoos. This name has often been used in connection with the Australian Bronze Cuckoos, inasmuch as the bird called Cuculus chalcites by Temminck and included by Lesson, was supposed to be a young bird belonging to this group. However, Chalcites was only proposed by Lesson as a race-name, and therefore it is inadmissible as a generic name from that introduction. I base this con- clusion upon Article 2 of the Code which reads : ‘‘ The scientific designation of animals is uninominal for sub- genera and all higher groups, binominal for species and trinominal for subspecies.” This forbids the recognition of sectional and race-names of a value intermediate between species and subgenera. That Lesson’s race-names must be ignored is certain, inasmuch as Lesson used genera, subgenera, and races : thus he would divide his genus into subgenera for which he gave Latin alternative names scarcely without No. 1.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 5 exception, and then oftimes subdivide a large subgenus into races for which he rarely proposed Latin names, though occasionally quoting the Latin names which other authors had introduced as genera, which genera he had degraded to races. The first introduction of Chalcites, in a generic sense, I can trace is that by Swainson (Classif. Birds, Vol. I1., D 322, 1837) when two species only are named— C. auratus and vaillantw. As the latter at this time was a nude name only, the type of Chalcites by monotypy must be C. auratus, which is a synonym of C. cupreus Boddaert. Therefore Chalcites Swainson, 1837, becomes an absolute synonym of Lampromorpha Vigors, 1831, which is the next name to be considered. Lampromorpha: was introduced by Vigors (Proc. Zool. Soc. [Lond.], 1831, p. 92) in connection with the new species Lampromorpha chalcopepla. Inasmuch as this is the only species named, it must be accepted, by monotypy, as the type of the genus Lampromorpha. A footnote at the place quoted reads: “‘ A group including the Shining Cuckoos of Africa, India, and New Holland, indicated in the Transactions of the Linnean Society, Vol. XV., p. 300, Mr. Vigors expressed his belief of having lately seen a name attached to this group by some modern author ; but he could not call to his recollection the work in which it occurred.” At the place given Vigors and Horsfield, treating of Australian birds, diagnosed a section, and under the first species named Cuculus variolosus, wrote: “There are six or seven species of Cuculus belonging to Australia and Africa, which form part of the same section of the group, and which differ from the bird before us only in their colours being bright and metallic...’ The other species included are C. lucidus and C. metallicus. The species C. variolosus is now considered a member of the group Cacomantis. Therefore, if the African Cuckoos are divisible into two groups, Chrysococcyx Boie must be used for the C. smaragdineus Swainson group, and Lampromorpha B 6 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I Vigors for the C. cupreus Boddaert group, as Lampro- morpha chalcopepla Vigors is a synonym of this latter species. In the List Genera Birds, 1840, p. 57, Gray correctly indicated C. cupreus Lath. as the type of Chrysococcyx Boie, with which he synonymised Chalcites Less. and Lampromorpha Vigors. In the Consp. Vol. Zygod, p. 7, 1854, Bonaparte used Chalcites Less. for osculans, basalis ( = chalcites), and lucidus, Chrysococcyx Boie for African Bronze Cuckoos, Lampromorpha Vig. for plagosus and xanthorhynchus. It would appear that Bonaparte placed either lucidus or plagosus without knowing them, as they never can be separated generically, however much genus-splitting may be done. In the Cat. Gen. Subgen. Birds, p. 96, 1855, Gray included Chrysococcyx as noted above in 1840, and added ? Chalcites Pr. B., 1854, nec Less., C. osculans Gould, ? Lampromorpha Pr. B., 1854, nec Vig., C. plagosus Lath. The next attempt to deal with Cuckoos was that by Cabanis in the Mus. Hein., Vol. IV., 1862. On p. 8, Chrysococcyx is properly restricted to C. smaragdineus, as synonyms being given Chalcites Less., 1831, and Lampromorpha Vigors, 1831. On p. 11, Lamprococcyx is introduced for the group noted above by Gray as Lampromorpha Bp., 1854 (nec Vig., 1831), and therein included L. cwpreus ( == cupreus Boddaert), L. klaasz, basalis, and lucidus (inc. plagosus). Gray had indicated, as type of his unnamed group, C. plagosus, and as Cabanis considered that synonymous with C. lucidus, he (Cabanis) designated the latter species as type of his new group. In the Orn. Papuasia e Mol., Vol. L., 1880, Salvadori very thoroughly worked through the Papuasian Cuckoos, and therein recognised Lamprococcyx with type L. lucidus as available for the Austral-Malayan Bronze Cuckoos. In the Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. XIX., No. 1.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD a Shelley monographed the Cuckoos and belittling or disregarding Count Salvadori’s painstaking work, enve- loped these birds in almost hopeless confusion. The nomenclature there adopted was followed in the Handlist of Birds and by myself, and is responsible to some extent for the numerous changes now necessary. In that place, for the Australian Bronze Cuckoos Chal- cococcyx was utilised, while Lamprococcyx was synony- mised with Chrysococcyx, C. cwpreus Boddaert being given as type of both. Chalcococcyx was proposed by Cabanis (Mus. Hein., Vol. IV., p. 15, 1862) for the species C. xanthorhynchus Horsfield alone, and if any genus-splitting whatever has to be done, that species cannot be classed with the Austral-Malayan Bronze Cuckoos. North was quite right in using Lamprococcyx for the Australian Shining Cuckoos, but if it is necessary to use generic names for small natural groups then the basalis group should also be differentiated. I therefore propose NEOCHALCITES for this genus of Shining Cuckoos, and name C. basalis mellori, subsp n., as type. I consider that all the preceding Bronze Cuckoos should be regarded as constituting one genus, viewing genera as being based on structural characters. As however, at the present time, it seems to be the rule to recognise colour-genera I herewith offer some observations on the plumages of these Bronze Cuckoo group types: Chrysococcyx smaragdineus (Swainson), the type of Chrysococcyx Boie, has the adult male brilliant green above, the feathers having a most beautiful metallic scale-like appearance, which suggested Reichenow’s generic name of Metallococcyx. This is also the colour and nature of the throat and upper-breast, while the lower-breast and abdomen are uniform cream-colour. The adult female lacks the brilliant upper-surface colora- tion, being dull green, and has all the under-surface B 2 8 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I whitish, heavily cross-barred with short, narrow, green bars. This is the plumage of the young. Chrysococcyx cwpreus (Boddaert), the type of Lampro- morpha Vigors, has the adult male bronze-green above and the under surface pure white save for a few green crossbars on the abdomen and under tail-coverts. The adult female has the throat and upper-breast heavily spotted and the abdomen cross-barred with dull green, while the upper-surface is duller. The young have the dull upper-surface of the female and the throat and upper-breast spotted, while the abdomen barring is not so pronounced. Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus (Horsfield), the type of Chalcococcyx Cabanis, has the adult male brilliant purple above, the throat and upper-breast of the same colour, the lower-breast and abdomen white with purple cross- bars. The bill is horn-white and consequently a most striking feature. The adult female is dull bronze-green above, closely cross-barred underneath from chin to vent with dull green bars, and this is also the plumage of the young. Chrysococcyx lucidus (Gmelin), the type of Lampro- coccyx Cabanis, has the sexes alike, brilliant bronze- green above and closely cross-barred from chin to vent underneath with bronze-green bars. I have not seen -very juvenile specimens of this species, but other writers conclude they are similar to the adult. Chrysococcyx basalis mellori subsp. n., the type of Neochalcites, has the sexes alike; the upper-surface has only a bronze sheen, while the throat is indistinctly striped longitudinally with dull green, the breast and abdomen barred with distant dull green bars. The young, when they. leave the nest, have little of the bronze upper-coloration above, but have the under-surface wnspotted and unbarred. This must certainly justify the separation of these birds, under the generic Neochalcites, if colour-genera are recognisable. As, at the present time, I only use genera based on structural characters, I can do no No. a] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 9 other than refer all these Austral-Malayan species to Chrysococcyx. The genus Hudynamys I use for the Koel as almost universally admitted, but I am not sure as to its having priority over Dynamene. I am now working up this matter, and so far everything points to the latter being the correct name. The Tahitian Longtailed Cuckoo H. taitensis (Sparrman) has been placed in a genus Urodynamis by Salvadori (Orn. Papuasia e Mol., Vol. I., p. 370, 1880), but as this is admittedly only a colour-genus, I do not accept it. This bird is included in the Australian avifauna through its occurrence on Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. To treat now of the forms of Cuckoos inhabiting Australia in the order in which they appear in my Handlist : Page 57. Species 404 is there called Cuculus saturatus Hodgson. which name was used to replace Cuculus intermedius Vahl. of the Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. XIX., p. 252. The races of Cuculus canorus Linné are difficult to determine, and as the material at my disposal does not warrant me in still accepting C. saturatus, from a study of the original description, I am reverting to the name proposed by Gould, C. optatus. A name, given by S. Muller, C. canoroides, may be applicable, but in the present uncertain state of the nomenclature of the species, | am using the name certainly available as it was given to the Australian form. Dr. Hartert is now working upon these puzzling birds for his Vogel der palaarktischen Fauna, and when the results of his studies are published I shall be able to make a more positive decision. I am tentatively referring to the Australian form as Cuculus canorus optatus Gould. In the Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. Il., p. 205, 1876, Ramsay notes that Diggles had described a Cuculus brisbanensis which from the description he identified as the young of Cuculus optatus Gould = C. canoroides Miller. The original description by JDiggles I have been unable to trace, and I would be glad if anyone, 10 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I who has met with it would advise me when and where it was published. In my Handlist, Species 405 is called Cuculus inornatus Vigors and Horsfield, following North’s note on this subject in the Ibis (1906). Since then I have pointed out (Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 16, 1911) that Latham’s name of C. pallidus must be resumed. With an extensive series in front of me I am able to recognise an Eastern and Western form, the name of the latter being C. p. occidentalis (Heine) (Mus. Hein., Vol. III., p. 27, 1862). Examination of this series points to two items of interest. From the dates I would con- clude they only make short internal migrations, as I have them from the same district from August to March in the south and from May onwards in the north but have also specimens killed in May and July in the south-west. This is a matter which I would like to see Australian field-ornithologists take up, and by co-operation determine the times and routes of migration. The other item is the plumage of the female. I had assumed, as most other writers have, that the adult female was like the adult male. I have not got a female in fully-adult male plumage, and all my apparently fully-adult breeding females have the upper-surface mottled to a greater or less extent: the head, nape, mantle, and wing-coverts may be described as dark brown, streaked with buffy-red—in one specimen, perhaps the most aged, the head is almost uniform: the under- surface is always indistinctly mottled towards the abdomen. From my series I can only conclude that the female is never absolutely uniform above and below, like the male. This is the species for which Cabanis (Mus. Hein., IV., p. 26, 1862) proposed the genus Heteroscenes, and which Salvadori classed in Cacomantis, and Shelley in the genus Cuculus. I have indicated (Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 16, 1911) the rejection of Cuculus flabelliformis Latham as No. 1.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 11 regards the Australian Cacomantis group, and shown that Sylvia rubricata Latham was founded on the species at one time known by that specific name, and more recently, following North (Ibis, 1906, p. 53), as in my Handlist, by Vieillot’s name of C. rufulus. In his latest work North has reverted to the old nomenclature, but that is certainly untenable. North writes: “Latham’s descriptions of birds, only taken from drawings and without access to specimens, should be discarded, for it would be impossible to tell in many instances for what species they were intended, unless he had indicated to which they were applied in his General Synopsis of Birds.” This sentence deserves notice as it suggests the rejection of almost all the names given by Latham to Austra- lian birds in the Supplement to the Index Orn. I have just jotted down the chief names and find that seventy of the best-known specific names are involved in this tremendous upheaval, and of course no further consideration can be given to such a proposition. It should also be remarked that the birds were fully des- cribed in English in the General Synopsis, and only a short Latin diagnosis based on that description given in the Index Orn. Supplement. From North’s sentence given above this is not made clear, but almost the con- trary suggested. To advocate the elimination of some seventy well-established specific names because there has been confusion concerning some half-dozen of them, seems rash, and I cannot understand the reasoning that produced such a proposition. Examination of my own series proves this bird to be only a partial migrant and apparently local in its movements. I find that the North Queensland birds differ from typical New South Wales birds in being smaller and darker in colour above and deeper below, and name this subspecies : CUCULUS RUBRICATUS ATHERTONI, subsp. n., type no. 9333, Atherton, North Queensland. 12 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I On the other hand South-west Australian birds differ from typical New South Wales birds in being smaller : average wing measurement 138 against average wing measurement 144 mm. ; also in being paler above and below. For these I propose the name— CUCULUS RUBRICATUS ALBANI, subsp. n., type no. 1416, Albany, South-west Australia. These differences are constant, and I have birds killed in every month of the year, but, as in the preceding case, co-operation must be used in order to define the migratory movements that take place. In the Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. XIX., p. 266, 1891, Cuculus pyrrophanus Vieillot (Nouv. Dict. Hist. Nat., Vol. VIII., p. 234, 1817) is included in the synonymy of the preceding species, but a careful criticism shows it to refer to the species represented in East Australia by C. variolosus Vigors and Horsfield. Though it is stated in the original description to have come from Nouvelle Hollande, Pucheran (Rev. Mag. Zool., 1852, p. 560) stated that the birds were collected in Java. I am accepting this statement and retaining the Australian name C. variolosus for the Australian bird, but must use C. pyrrophanus as the species name. North has correctly pointed out that Gould’s C. insperatus was given to a New South Wales specimen of this bird and therefore inapplicable to a New Guinea species as used by Shelley in the Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. North has, however, erred in suppressing Gould’s C. dumetorum upon examination of a few specimens. He showed that Gould’s measurements were all at fault, viz. 5 in. for the wing in one case and 65 in. in the other, though there is only the slightest difference in that measurement between the birds, according to North himself, one-tenth of an inch. It does not seem to be commonly known that as regards Australian birds, Gould apparently simply wrote down measurements approximately, and as far as I can judge, with many of Gould’s specimens before me, without using a measure at all. It is well known I@o all THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 13 that different workers have had different methods of measurement, but I cannot in many instances reconcile Gould’s figures in any manner with Gould’s specimens. Gould’s C. dumetorum (Proc. Zool. Soc. [Lond.], 1845, p. 19) was given to a bird from Port Essington, and can be used for the North-west Australian bird. With many specimens before me it is an easily recog- nisable form. I have not seen any extra-Australian specimens which can be confused with either C. dume- torum or C. variolosus, therefore C. tymbonomus Miller can be neglected as far as Australian forms are concerned. North’s reasons for rejecting C. palliolatus Latham are sound, and it is interesting that Gould (Handb. B. Austr., Vol. I., p. 622, 1865) wrote: ‘“ That this bird (C. osculans) is not identical with the Cuculus palliolatus of Latham, as supposed by M.M. Cabanis, and Heine, is, in my opinion, quite certain: Latham’s description does not agree with it in any particular”... The italics are mine. Apparently this definite state- ment has been simply ignored but never refuted, as it is absolutely true. Gould described his Chalcites osculans from the interior of New South Wales, and comparison of eastern specimens with a nice series from North-western Australia, shows the latter to be easily separable by their smaller size and paler coloration above and below. These I name: OWENAVIS OSCULANS ROGERSI, subsp. n., type no. 8385, Parry’s Creek, North-west Australia. The species of Chrysococcya are not so easily disposed of. Cuculus basalis was described by Horsfield (Trans. Linn. Soc. [Lond], Vol. XIII., p. 179, 1821) from Java. This name has till recently been used for the Australian birds, but with the type, which is almost beyond com- parison, and typical specimens before me, I am able to separate the Australian form, and moreover can indicate two forms as being confined to Australia. For the Hast Australian form, which differs from Chrysococcyx basalis 14 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I basalis in its darker upper-coloration and larger size, I propose the name: CHRYSOCOCCYX BASALIS MELLORI, subsp. n., type no. 9683, Eyre’s Peninsula, South Australia. For the West Australian form, which can be separated from C. b. mellori by its smaller size and duller upper- coloration, and from C. b. basalis by being larger and darker, intermediate between the latter and C. 0. mellori, | introduce the name : CHRYSOCOCCYX BASALIS WYNDHAMI, subsp. n., type no. 8662, Point Torment, North-west Australia. The wing measurements of these three sub-species are: C. b. basalis 90; C. b. mellori 107; C.b. wyndhami, 101 mm. My series leads me to suggest that these birds only make internal migrations. A bird killed on November 4th at Parry’s Creek is washed out, faded and sandy, looking exactly as if it had been living in a desert. On the head a few bronze feathers are showing, one or two on the wings and two new bronze tail-feathers are half- grown. A bird killed a week later has its plumage fully new bronze-coloured, exactly the same colour as in the new feathers in the former bird. Upon exami- nation I found that birds killed in May in the same district were all in worn plumage, but not to the same state as the first-mentioned bird. I can consequently only conclude that these birds go inland from May to November, and that they moult into their spring plumage generally before returning to the coast. North states that this species “‘ is a permanent resident throughout the year in the neighbourhood of Sydney.” It will be thus noted that this bird has probably different habits, as to migration, in different parts of Australia, and consequently there is a wide field for research in this respect. Two points with regard to the nomenclature of this species require remark. No. 1.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 15 Temminck and Laugier in their Pl. Col. dOis., \7e livr., Vol. I., Pl. 102, Fig. 2, 1824, figured a bird which they named Cuculus chalcites, a MS. name of Illiger, with terra-typica L’Oceanie. This bird is undoubtedly the young of this species but it is impossible to definitely apply it to any race. In order to finally dispose of this name I designate as type locality of Cuculus chalcites Temminck and Laugier, Java. The other name is Lamprococcyx modesta Diggles. This is mentioned by Ramsay (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 205, 1876) as known to him only by description and apparently given to the young of L. basalis. I have asked for information regarding Cuculus brisbanensis Diggles, and I suppose this was named at the same time. Chrysococcyx lucidus (Gmelin) is the common Bronze Cuckoo of New Zealand, and has been recorded from the east coast of Australia. . North states that he has seen three specimens from Australia, one collected at Cape York and the other two, both adult females, from the neighbourhood of Sydney. An account of this bird in New Zealand is given in the Emu, Vol. XI., 1911, and a footnote to p. 67 reads: “The expedition which the British Ornithologists’ Union lately despatched to the Charles Louis Mountains, in Dutch New Guinea, will probably confirm this sup- position.—J. McL.” This refers to the wintering of C. lucidus in New Guinea. The B.O.U. Expedition did not meet with this species, and its winter quarters are not yet known. A second footnote reads: “It possibly comes down the north-eastern coast of Australia, before diverging towards New Zealand. The Expedition of the R.A.O.U. observed these Bronze Cuckoos on the Capricorn Islands at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, October, 1910.—Emu, Vol. X., p. 197: Eds.” Through the kindness of Capt. 8. A. White, I have been enabled to examine one of the specimens then 16 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD Vol. I obtained, and there can be no doubt it is a genuine C. lucidus. I have another specimen with only Queens- land as the locality, and these two are the only true C’. lucidus I have seen from localities outside New Zealand. At the present time the wintering of C. lucidus is one of the puzzles of Australasian ornithology. The bird from New Caledonia has been variously named C. lucidus and C. plagosus, by writers using the British Museum material. I have carefully examined this series and cannot agree with either of the above identi- fications. Five specimens, three males and two females, killed in August, September, and November, all agree in their coloration. They resemble C. plagosus in their upper- coloration in having a purplish head, bronze-green upper-coloration—but the head is duller and the bronze- green is duller. The bill is long and thick, quite unlike that of C. plagosus. There is no white in front or above the eye and the ear-coverts are purple. As the throat. is almost unbarred, the bird appears to have a distinct purple cap. The crossbarring of the under-surface is purplish-green and distinct, quite unlike the close bronze barring of C. plagosus. For this species I propose the name of: CHRYSOCOCCYX LAYARDI, sp. N., type in the British Museum. A specimen from the Solomon Islands ( ¢ September) agrees closely, but has the abdomen - barring more prominent. Another specimen from New Britain (¢ June) resembles this species, but has the head darker purple, the purple extending down on to the back, while the throat is crossbarred with purplish-brown and the abdomen has broad purple-bronze crossbars. A specimen killed in New Caledonia ( ¢ 26.4.77) resembles C. lucidus in its upper-coloration, but has a narrower, shorter bill, and the under-surface is indistinctly marked with narrow. bronze bars closely set together, quite unlike any specimen of C. lucidus I have seen. No. 1.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 17 I suppose that this may be the immature plumage of Chrysococcyx layards. Whether Cuculus plagosus should be considered a subspecies of Cuculus lucidus or not, is a question I am _at the moment unable to answer. At present I recognise three subspecies of C. plagosus as inhabiting Australia. At various times C. lucidus has been recorded from Tasmania but Tasmanian specimens I have examined prove to belong to C. plagosus, but differ from the typical New South Wales form in having a much brighter bronze- green upper-coloration showing green on the head, therein approaching C. lucidus ; but still the purple is evident, which is entirely missing in C. lucidus. The bill is moreover the bill of C. plagosus, not of C. lucidus. The barring on the under-surface is also much more close. For this form I propose the name of : CHRYSOCOCCYX PLAGOSUS TASMANICUS, subsp. n., type no. 4633, Tasmania. The West Australian specimens differ from typical C. p. plagosus in almost exactly the opposite manner, being duller above, much less bronze, and less barring underneath. I differentiate these as: CHRYSOCOCCYX PLAGOSUS CARTERI, subsp. n., type no. 1465, Broome Hill, South-west Australia. The migratory movements of the species from the East coast seem to be short, as I have them from most months in the year. Sylvia versicolor Latham (Index Ornith. Suppl., p. Lxr., 1801) has been included in the synonymy of this species, but examination of the type drawing reveals no reason whatever for such attachment and I reject it. The little, and little known Austral-Malayan Bronze Cuckoos are very perplexing and I have to differ in toto with North’s treatment of them. North recognises L. malayanus and in its synonymy includes L. minu- tillus Gould, and notes: ‘‘Captain Shelley includes Gould’s types of Lamprococcyx russatus from Cape York 18 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. L under Gray’s name of L. poecilurus, but the only adult specimen in the Australian Museum collection from that. locality has the forehead and feathers over and behind the eye with distinctly whitish mottlings, and is a typical L. malayanus ... Moreover Lamprococcyx russatus, which Dr. Ramsay records from Cape York to Port: Denison, is, | am sure, only the young bird of LZ. mala- yanus . . . Both specimens under this name in the Reference Collection are from Rockingham Bay, where Lamprococcyx malayanus is the common species.”” North concludes L. malayanus ranges from Port Essington to Port Denison, Queensland. The type of Cuculus malayanus Raffles (Trans. Linn. Soc. [Lond.], Vol. XIII., p. 286, 1821) is not now in existence, but the description reads : “This species has some affinity to the C. lucidus. It is about seven inches in length ; brown above, with a greenish gloss, particularly on the scapulars. The whole under-parts are transversely barred with white and brown undulations. The wings are long, extending to about the middle of the tail ; the coverts edged with ferruginous. The tail consists of ten feathers, of which the upper are greenish-brown, and the lower barred with brown, black and white. The bill is somewhat compressed at the base, and the nostrils are prominent. There is a row of white dots above the eyes. “Native of the Matay Peninsula.” This description is not applicable to the birds Shelley included under this name in the Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., and certainly seems to have been drawn up from a specimen of C. basalis as Salvadori suggested. The upper-coloration as well as the lower-surface barring indicate that species, while the form of the bill is almost. diagnostic of that species. The description of the tail does not mention any russet: but then Raffles was not an ornithologist, as can be seen from his method of describing the tail. C. basalis has a white stripe over the eye, which might appear in some skins like a row of white dots. IN@s ANB] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD hy) The Malayan birds included by Shelley are like C. lucidus Gmelin, but it must be remembered that when Raffles wrote all Bronze Cuckoos were more or less known as C. lucidus. Until very recent times the true C. lucidus Gmelin was not correctly known, so that Raffles’s allusion to C. lucidus is of no value. Shelley’s C. malayanus have the upper-coloration deep green-bronze throughout and the inner webs whitish. By no means could they be identified with Raffles’s C. malayanus and I suggest the acceptance of Salvadori’s action and place this name with a “ ?” in the synonymy of C. basalis Horsfield. In the Handl. Gen. Species Birds B.M., Pt. II., p. 218, 1870, Gray unhesita- tingly included malayanus Raffles in the synonymy of C’. basalis Horsfield, perhaps from examination of the type itself. At any rate, even if it were acceptable for the Malayan birds, it could not be used for Australian ones, as these differ altogether. C. minutillus Gould approaches the Malayan birds described by Shelley in the Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., but differs in having little mottling on the forehead, more green coloration, and in its entirely different pattern of tail-coloration. In addition to the type, I have examined two specimens in my collection from Parry’s Creek, North-west Australia, which agree generally, but have the upper-coloration darker green with the head tinged with purplish, and have much closer barring on the under-surface. Though I have criticised a series of these so-called C. malayanus from various of the East Indian Islands, I have seen none absolutely agreeing with these specimens. C. minu- tillus Gould, must be retained in the Australian List. C. russatus Gould was described from Cape York, and I have examined three of Gould’s specimens from that locality, marked as types, in the British Museum. These cannot be confused with C. minutillus in any way, Inasmuch as they belong to the basalis group, while C. minutillus is referable to the lucidus group. There is 20 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I no russet on the tail of C. minutillus or the so-called C. malayanus, whereas C. russatus has every feather very russet, even more pronounced than in the tail of C. basalis. Shelley’s reference of C. russatus to C. pacilurus Gray, was certainly near the mark, as the Cape York birds agree in the main with that species. They differ however in their lighter upper-coloration and in the under-surface having less barring, and in the presence of the russet on the sides of the neck. All the Cape York birds have this russet on the breast, in some cases extending across as a band, while in the type of C. peci- lurus and other specimens from near the type-locality which I refer to C. pecilurus there is no indication of this russet coloration. At present I am unable to feel myself justified in referring C. russatus subspecifically to C. pecilurus. I am convinced that these Bronze Cuckoos are very local and do not perform long migrations, and here describe a new form from Dawson River, Queensland, which I cannot refer to any known species and have therefore to call it: ‘ CHRYSOCOCCYX BARNARDI, sp. n. General coloration above, pale green with little bronze coloration ; white eyebrow; primaries dark brown ; under-surface white with narrow, green crossbars on the throat and wide bronze bars on the abdomen distant and separate ; inner-wing distantly barred. The outer tail-feathers have the outer web spotted alternately with white and brown, the inner alternately barred with black and white, the. latter broader ; the next pair have the outer web uniform bronze-brown, the inner tipped with white followed by a large black spot, then a rusty bar, and this repeated; the next pair have the same style of coloration, the white spot decreasing ; in the fourth pair the white spot is obsolete and the black diminishing, so that the russet predominates ; the central pair are uniform pale bronze-green. No. 1.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 21 The bill is very long and narrow, the exposed por- tion measuring 16mm. Wing measurement of type 107 mm. Type no. 1464 ¢, Coomooboolaroo, Dawson River, Queensland. This species differs from both the C. plagosus group and the C. basalis group. It approaches the latter in upper-coloration, but is entirely different in the under- surface barring; the throat is crossbarred whereas in C. basalis it is obscurely longitudinally streaked. It differs from the former in its general coloration and especially in its tail coloration. As regards Hudynamys I find that the North-western birds are easily separable from the East coast ones by their smaller size, the average wing measurement of the former being 200 mm., of the latter 220 mm. This form I propose to call: EUDYNAMYS ORIENTALIS SUBCYANOCEPHALUS, subsp. n., type no. 1470, Parry’s Creek, North-west Australia. To conclude, my nomenclature of Australian Cuckoos now reads— Handlist no. Cuculus canorus optatus Gould — - - - 404 » pallidus pallidus Latham - - 405 45 i occidentalis Cabanis - - 405 a rubricatus rubricatus Latham - - 406 ‘ i athertonti Mathews” - - 406 albani Mathews - - 406 pyrrophanus variolosus Vigors and Horsfield 407 ve f dumetorum Gould - 407 i castanewentris Gould - - - 408 Owenavis osculans osculans Gould - - 409 ES Hs rogerst Mathews - - 409 Chrysococcyx basalis mellori Mathews - - 410 . » wyndhami Mathews - 410 be lucidus Gmelin - - - 411 22 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD Chrysococcyx plagosus plagosus Latham - b. tasmanicus Mathews - ie ue carterti Mathews - - minutillus Gould - - - es russatus Gould - - - 5: barnardi Mathews - - - Hudynamys orientalis cyanocephalus Latham 7% i subcyanocephalus Mathews nt a flindersii Vigors and Horsfield [Vol. I 412 412 412 413 414 415 415 415 No. 1.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 23 DATES OF ISSUE OF LEAR’S ILLUSTR. PSITTA- CIDA) AND OF THE VERHANDELINGEN OVER DE NATURLIJKE GESCHIEDENIS. : LAND-EN VOLKENKUNDE. J.—LEar’s ItLustr. PSITTACIDA. I have recently procured this work in the parts as originally issued, and as the order of the Plates in these parts disagrees with the order in which they appear in the bound work, I herewith give them as issued : Part I., dated Nov. Ist, 1830, Platycercus stanleyii Paleornis torquatus. Paleornis columboides. » I, ,, Nov. Ist, 1830, Psittacus badiceps. Psittacula swinderniana. Plyctolophus sulphureus. Platycercus pileatus. » IIL, ,, Jan. Ist, 1831, Platycercus pacificus. Macrocercus hyacinthinus. Paleornis rosaceus. » IV., .,, Feb. Ist, 1831, Platycercus browns: Psittacara patagonica. Plyctolophus rosaceus. Platycercus unicolor. » V., 4, May Ist, 1831, Platycercus barnardi. Platycercus erythropterus. Psittacara nana. » VIL., ,, Aug. Ist, 1831, Platycercus baueri. Nanodes undulatus. Plyctolophus leadbeateri. Psittacula kuhlic. » VIL. ,, Sept. lst, 1831, Lorius domicella. Trichoglossus versicolor. Psittacara leptorhyncha. » VIII., ,, Oct. Ist, 1831, Paleornis nove-hollandie. Paleornis anthopeplus. Trichoglossus rubritorquis. TN TENG 3 no date, Macrocercus aracanga. Psittacula torquata. Plyctolophus galeritus. Psittacula rubrifrons. ‘ Trichoglossus matoni. Platycercus tabuensis. OK 24 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I Part X., no date, Psittacula taranta. Platycercus erythropterus. ae NOT 5 a Macrocercus ararauna. Platycercus stanleyit. Palaeornis cucullatus. avn. lB Ei 55 Platycercus palliceps. Calyptorhynchus baudiniv. Palaeornis melanura. Platycercus pileatus. The wrappers of Nos. IX., X., XI. are different in design to those of the other parts. ‘The title page, which was issued in Part XII., is dated ‘“‘ 1832,” which is the date usually accepted for the whole work. The authorship of the species is usually credited to Vigors, but as no authority for such treatment is evident from the wrappers or the book itself, I prefer to quote them as of Lear. TIl.—VERHANDL. Nat. GrscoH. LAND-EN VOLKENKUNDE. The above is the short, abbreviated title under which this work is commonly cited—the author, 8. Muller. I have procured a copy of this work in the original wrappers. It is often quoted 1839-44, but of course such a citation at the present time is absurd. Some authors, apparently with access to notes regarding the dates of publication, have given individual years, but I have been unable to trace any account giving individual dates for the whole work. My copy shows it to have been issued in ten parts, the first eight each of thirty-two pages, the ninth of twenty-four, and the last of one hundred and ninety-two pages; each part is dated with the year only. I have therefore the following information : Part I., pp. 1- 32,1840 Part VI., pp. 161-192, 1843 » II., pp. 33- 64, 1840 » VIL., pp. 193-224, 1843: , JLIl., pp. 65- 96, 1841 » VWIIL., pp. 225-256, 1845» » 1V., pp. 97-128, 1841 My IX., pp. 257-280, 1845 o2 » V., pp. 129-160, 1842 ns X., pp. 281-472, 1847 2x That this last date is correct is easily proven by internal evidence where reference to 1846 periodicals are given.— See footnotes pp. 328, 397, 404, etc. 3 hie Bes a _ ISSUED IN (CONNEXION WITH ‘THE $= Ser Ss eat oa THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. A SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL DEVOTED PRIMARILY TO THE STUDY OF THE AUSTRALIAN AVIFAUNA, Vout. 1., No. 2. APRIL 2nD, 1912. CONTENTS. PAGE ADDITIONS . . . TO MY REFERENCE LIST r 5 DAD DESCRIPTIONS OF KaGGs ; ; : 3 : 5 BRB ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO MY REFERENCE LIST TO THE Birps or AUSTRALIA. In the Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., pp. 171-455, 1912, I put forward a Reference List wherein I gave, to the best of my ability, the original references and the complete syn- onymy of all the forms I was able to recognise. Through lack of specimens I had to lump localities, though it appeared quite certain many more subspecies would be determinable when material was available. I have now to propose many new forms, through the acquisition of large collections from Melville Island, South Australia, and Northern Territory. The last-mentioned was that made by Dr. Dahl, and from which Petrophassa rufipennis Collett and Psephotus dissimilis Collett were described. Study of this collection* has enabled me to differentiate many new forms from North-west Australia, which previously I had been compelled to include with Northern Territory subspecies, owing to the absence of typical examples. * Kindly sent on loan, by Professor Collett, of Norway. 26 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Voi. I My collector, Mr. J. P. Rogers, who is now collecting on Melville Island, has already forwarded two large col- lections, and, as was expected, the majority of the birds are clearly different subspecies. As far as I can trace no collector has ever yet worked Melville Island, and the only specimen I can trace as having come from that locality is one mentioned by Gould (Birds of Australia, Vol. VI., Pl. 13). The majority of the remaining new forms included in this paper are due to the energy and enterprise of Captain 8S. A. White, of Fulham, South Australia, who is gratuitously giving up much of his time to the making of collections in many unworked parts of South Australia. These collections will be of the greatest help in working on my Birds of Australia, and the skins so freely given have already proved very valuable in that many of the forms described by Gould, from material collected by Captain S. A. White’s father, have been rediscovered and reinstated as valid subspecies. 54. MEGAPODIUS DUPERREYI MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Scrub-Fowl. Differs from M. d. tumulus in its lighter upper coloration. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 11,313. Range, Melville Island. 164. COTURNIX AUSTRALIS MELVILLLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Brown Quail. Differs from C. a. cervina in its smaller size: wing 90 mm. The upper mandible is also more slender. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,724. Range, Melville Island. 168. COTURNIX AUSTRALIS QUEENSLANDICUS, subsp. n. Queensland Brown Quail. Differs from C. a. cervina in being decidedly more reddish on the under-surface. It is larger than C. a. melvillensis : wing 96 mm. Type, Cape York, North Queensland, No. 9,783. Range, Queensland. No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 27 274. TURNIX CASTANOTA MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Chestnut-backed Quail. Differs from 7’. c. castanota in its larger size; the band on the chest is French grey, with the shafts white. The upper surface is more like that part of 7’. c. magnafica, but the chestnut colour much darker. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,722. Range, Melville Island. 278. TURNIX CASTANOTA ALLIGATOR, subsp. n. Allied Chestnut-backed Quail. Differs from the above in its smaller size ; fully described (and figured) in my Birds of Australia as T'urnix castanoia, Vol. L., p. 89, 1910. Type, South Alligator River, Northern Territory, No. 55. Range, West Northern Territory. 39a. PTILINOPUS REGINA MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Rose-crowned-Pigeon. Differs from P. r. ewingii in its paler-coloured head and back, and in having a light grey mantle. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 11,356. Range, Melville Island. 434. MYRISTICIVORA BICOLOR MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Nutmeg-Pigeon. Differs from M. b. spilorrhoa in having the bases of the feathers much more yellow, and a more robust bill. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,704. Range, Melville Island. Egg, white; 46.5 mm. by 34. Date, 6.11.11. 504. GEOPELIA HUMERALIS APSLEYI, subsp. n. Melville Island Barred-shouldered Dove. Differs from G. h. inexpectata in being darker above, with a paler forehead and shorter bill. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 11,368. Range, Melville Island. 28 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 51a. GEOPELIA PLACIDA MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Ground-Dove. Differs from G. p. placida in its larger size and lighter upper-coloration. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 11,374. Range, Melville Island. 594. PHAPS CHALCOPTERA RIORDANI, subsp. n. Melville Island Bronze-winged Pigeon. Differs from P. c. consobrina in having a lighter forehead, darker back and more pinkish under-surface. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 11,376. Range, Melville Island. 664. PETROPHASSA ALBIPENNIS ALISTERI, subsp. n. Allied White-quilled Rock-Pigeon. Differs from P. a. albipennis in being dark uniform brown above, altogether lacking the rufous-brown of typical birds. Type, Napier Broome Bay, North-west Australia, No. 5,632. Range, North-west Australia. Nore.—Gould described P, a. albipennis as “all the upper surface, chest and tail rufous brown.” Birds agreeing with Gould’s description come from about Wyndham, and as Gould said his type came from Western Australia, I designate Wyndham as the type-locality. Birds from the Victoria River in the Northern Territory agree with those from Wyndham. 694. GEOPHAPS SMITHI BLAAUWI, subsp. n. Western Naked-eyed Partridge-Pigeon. Differs from G. s. smithi in its lighter upper-coloration, and in the colour of the naked eye-space being yellow, not scarlet. 7 Type, Napier Broome Bay, North-west Australia, No. 5,634. No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 29 In my Reference List, p. 190, I indicated North- west Australia as the type-locality of G. smithi. Having received birds from the Northern Territory which have the naked eye-space scarlet, I now designate Northern Territory as the type-locality. The type was described as having the eye-space “‘ deep crimson-red.”’ 69B. GEOPHAPS SMITHI CECIL&, subsp. n. Melville Island Naked-eyed Partridge-Pigeon. Differs from G. s. smithi in being lighter above and in having the upper-breast suffused with pink, and the dark stripe below the eye lighter. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 11,381. Range, Melville Island. 844. HKULABEORNIS CASTANEOVENTRIS MELVILLI, subsp. n. Melville Island Rail. Differs from E. c. rogers? in its darker colour on the back, head, and under-parts. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 11,312. ' Range, Melville Island. Eggs white, covered all over with red and lavender spots ; 51.5 to 54 mm. by 36.5. Date, 6.11.11. 1024. PORPHYRIO MELANOTUS WOODWARDI, subsp. n. Allied Blue Bald Coot. Differs from P. m. beliws, in the colour of the throat being less green, the legs being red, and in its much smaller size: wing 271 mm. Type, Mongers Lake, West Australia, No. 10,260. Range, West Australia. The type of P. m. bellus came from Albany, West Australia. p. 197: The correct names should read— No. 107. Podiceps ruficollis novee-hollandie. ,, 108. Podiceps ruficollis cartere. ,, 109. Podiceps ruficollis parry. The oldest name for the species being P. ruficollis Vroeg. In Notes from the Leyden Museum, Vol. XX XIV., p. 66, 30 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD (Vol. I 1911, Dr. Van Oort reports the recognition of a copy of Vroeg’s Catalogue* in the Library of the Royal Zoological Society of Amsterdam, and, pointing out that the same names usually appear in the body of the Catalogue as are used in the Adumbratiuncula, suggests the rejection of the whole on the ground of anonymity. Moreover, he indicates that the names used in the Adumbratiuncula, and which have been exploited by Sherborn and Richmond (Smithsonian Miscell. Collect. (Quarterly Issue), Vol. 47, pp. 332-347, 1905), are preoccupied by the names in the body of the Catalogue. I have had a copy of Vroeg’s Catalogue in my possession for the last eighteen months, and I find that the majority of the names in the body are nude, so that they do not preoccupy the names in the Adumbratiuncula, and they cannot be rejected on the score of anonymity, as Vroeg’s name appears on the title-page. 1324. PTERODROMA MACROPTERA ALBANI, subsp. n. Western Great-winged Petrel. Differs from P. m. gouldi in its smaller wing, about 310 mm. Type, Rabbit Island, South-west Australia, No. 9,031. Range, South-west Australia. 1774. LARUS NOVA-HOLLANDIZ ETHELA, subsp. n. Southern Silver Gull. Differs from L. n. nove-hollandie in its longer wing (312 mm.). Typical birds have a wing 300 mm. Type, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, ae 10,186. Range, South Australia. cue, ¢ tpl iag ee ae ee 209A. CHARADRIUS CUCULLATUS TORBAYI, aiben. n. Allied Hooded Dottrel. Differs from C. c. tregellasi in having the back and scapulars black. Type, Torbay, South-west Australia, No. 10,465. Range, South-west Australia. * Three copies of this work are known, one in the library of the Linnean Society, London, one in the Leyden Museum, and a third in my library at Watford. No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 31 2144. CLADORHYNCHUS LEUCOCEPHALUS ROTTNESTI, subsp. n. Western Banded Stilt. Differs from C. 1. leucocephalus in having the wings black. Type, Rottnest Island, West Australia, No. 4,452. Range, West Australia. Genus—LIMICOLA. Limicola Koch, Syst. baier. Zool., p. 316, 1816. Type (by monotypy), ZL. falcinellus Briinnich. 233A. LIMICOLA FALCINELLUS SIBIRICA. Limicola sibirica Dresser, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1876, p. 674, Siberia. Eastern Broad-billed Sandpiper. Range, North-west Australia. Extralimital. In the Tring Museum is a female specimen of this bird obtained by J. P. Rogers at Broome, North-west Australia, on October 16th, 1903. Investigation as to the name to be used for this bird, commonly called Limicola platyrhyncha Temminck, of which this is the first record for Australia, shows much of interest. Dresser, at the place given, separated the eastern form and noted : “‘ It differs in the summer plumage in having the feathers on the crown and entire upper parts very broadly margined with bright rufous, so as to give this colour extreme prominence,” contrasting with the typical form, in which “the general colouration of the upper parts is black, the margins to the feathers being narrow and white or ochreous white, and the crown is very dark,” also remarking that “‘ the eastern bird has the wing and tarsus rather longer,’ and that “in the winter plumage the eastern one appears to be a trifle paler than the European bird.” Upon making comparisons I find the Eastern form to be so distinct that I cannot understand 32 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I the lumping of the two forms in the Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum, Vol. XXIV. Further research indicates the name to be accepted for the species is not platyrhyncha Temminck, but falcinellus Pontoppidan or Brunnich. In the Naturhist. Dannemark, p. 170, 1763, Pontoppidan has ; ‘‘Scolopax falcinellus. Ryle oder Domschnepfe mit einem flachen und am Ende niedergebeugten Schnabel. S. Lab: XITM.” The figure is very crude and shows simply a Sandpiper- like bird with a curved bill. The few words given by Pontoppidan are diagnostic of this species ; if, however, this description is considered insufficient, then Brunnich must be cited as the authority, as in the Ornith. Boreal, p. 49, 1764, we have the following beautiful description : “ Scolopax || falcinellus, rostro depresso, apicibus decur- vatis, corpore fusco lituris luteis, rectricibus cinereis apice albis, intermediis nigris immaculatis. “Pontopp. atl. dan. I., t. 26, fig. 4, Siaelandis, “Ryle, Domsneppe Descr. Rostro infra nares depresso, planiusculo, apicibus decurvatis, caput, collum, dorsumque fusca lituris luteis, alae cinereae, remiges primores nigri- cantes, tectrices harum apicibus albis, secundariae cinereae, a latere exteriori versus apicem ad rachin usque incisae ; posticae longiores margine ferrugineo; apicibus albis, intermediae nigrae immaculatae ; tectrices caudae supe- riores ex albo nigroque variae. EH. Siaelandia. “Ob rostrum, capite multo longius, eum inter scolo- paces descripsi.” There can be nothing urged against the acceptance of this detailed account of the same bird as Pontoppidan indicated, and the only point is whether the name should be quoted as of Pontoppidan or Brinnich. With regard to the genus name, [ use Lamicola Koch. Iimicula was introduced by Vieillot (Analyse nouv. Ornith., p. 56) some months earlier than Koch’s name. By some writers these two names will be considered too similar, and for these will be available Platyrhamphus Billberg (Syn Scand. Faun., tab. A and p. 172, 1828). No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 33 300a. ANAS SUPERCILIOSA ROGERSI, subsp. n Western Black Duck. Differs from A. s. superciliosa in its larger size: wing 258 mm. Type, Augusta, West Australia, No. 10,377. Range, West Australia, Northern Territory. 3114. CARBO CARBO WESTRALIS, subsp. n. Western Black Cormorant. Differs from C. c. nove-hollandie in its larger size ; wing 362 mm. Type, Swan River, West Australia, No. 10,262. Range, West Australia. 3374. ASTUR FASCIATUS DIDIMUS, subsp. n. Melville Island Goshawk. Differs from A. f. fasciatus in its smaller size: wing 236 mm. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,799. Range, Melville Island and Northern Territory. 3654. FALCO PEREGRINUS SUBMELANOGENYS, subsp. n. Western Black-cheeked Falcon. Differs from F. p. melanogenys in its much more rufous under-surface and larger size. Type, South-west Australia, No. 4,489. Range, West Australia. 3694. FaLco LUNULATUS APSLEYI, subsp. n. Northern Little Falcon. Differs from F. 1. lunulatus in its blue-grey upper- surface and paler under-surface ; and from F’. J. murchi- sonianus in its larger size. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,801. Range, Melville Island. 34 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 371. IsRACIDEA BERIGORA MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Northern Brown Hawk. Differs from I. 6. occidentalis (type-locality, Perth) in its larger size and black cheeks. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,803. Range, Melville Island and Northern Territory. 375A. PANDION HALIAETUS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Northern White-headed Osprey. Differs from P. h. cristatus in its whiter head and smaller size. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,800. Range, Melville Island and Northern Territory. 3814. NINOX BOOBOOK MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Red Boobook Owl. Differs from NV. b. mixta in its very red general-coloration and smaller size. This is the smallest subspecies of N. b. boobook. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,796. Range, Melville Island. 392a. TyTO NOVA-HOLLANDIA MACKAYI, subsp. n. Queensland White-faced Owl. Differs from 7. n. nove-hollandie in having the facial- disc white, with the feathers round the eye chocolate at the base; it is lighter above and lacks the buff on the lower surface. Wing 315 mm. Type, Mackay, Queensland, No. 6,400. Range, Queensland. Are there not two different species of Owls confused under 7’. nove-hollandiw ? Tf so, those with the white facial-disec must stand as 7’. cyclops (Gould), and those with the chestnut face as 7’. nove-hollandie (Stephens). 3928. TYTO NOVH-HOLLANDI@ WHITEI, subsp. n. South White-faced Owl. Differs from 7’. n. mackayi in its darker upper-surface and smaller size : wing 301 mm. Type, Adelaide, South Australia, No. 913. Range, South Australia. No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 35 392c. TyTO NOVH-HOLLANDIA RIORDANI, subsp. n. Victorian White-faced Owl. Differs from all other subspecies of 7’. novee-hollandie in its darker upper-surface and larger-sized wing, 343 mm. Type, Victoria (Warnambool), No. 11,104. Range, Victoria. 3944. TyTO NOVH-HOLLANDL#® MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Chestnut-faced Owl. Differs from 7’. n. perplexa in its smaller size and darker buff below. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,795. Range, Melville Island. 404. TRICHOGLOSSUS RUBRITORQUIS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Northern Red-collared Lorikeet. Differs from 7. r. rubritorquis in having the abdomen bluish instead of olive. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,876. Range, Melville Island. 418A. CALYPTORHYNCHUS FUNEREUS WHITE, subsp. n. Kangaroo Island Black Cockatoo. Differs from C. f. funereus in its smaller size: wing 281 (typical wing 314 mm.). Type, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, No. 10,355. Range, Kangaroo Island. 4214. CALYPTORHYNCHUS BANKSII FITZROYI, subsp. n. Western Great-billed Cockatoo. Differs from C. b. macrorhynchus in its much less massive bill. Type, Fitzroy River, North-west Australia, No. 9,407. Range, North-west Australia. 36 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 426A. CACATOES GALERITA ROSIN, subsp. n. Southern White Cockatoo. Differs from C. g. galerita in its smaller wing (297 mm.) and smaller bill. Type, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, No. 10,170. Range, South Australia. 4284. CACATOES GALERITA MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Northern White Cockatoo. Differs from C. g. fitzroyi in its larger bill and wing. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,887. Range, Melville Island. 431. CACATUA LEADBEATERI ABERRANS Soderberg, Ornith. Monatsber, March, 1912, No. 3, p. 41. = Cacatoes leadbeatert mungi, mihi. 4334. CACATOES SANGUINEA APSLEYI, subsp. n. Melville Island Bare-eyed Cockatoo. Differs from C. s. distincta in its much larger bill and smaller wing. ‘Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,890. Range, Melville Island. 433B. CACATOES SANGUINEA ASHBYI, subsp. n. Southern Blood-stained Cockatoo. Differs from C. s. sanguinea in its smaller bill and wing, and the bare eye-ring much smaller. Type, New South Wales, No. 999. Range, New South Wales. 468A. PLATYCERCUS VENUSTUS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Smutty Parrot. Differs from P. v. venustus in its much blacker rake the feathers of the mantle being black with a very faint edge of greenish-yellow. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,897. Range, Melville Island. No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 37 5244. PODARGUS STRIGOIDES MELVILLENSIS subsp. n. Melville Isiand Frogmouth. Differs from P. s. phalenoides in its much smaller size ; wing 203 mm. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,866. Range, Melville Island. 5384. ALCYONE AZUREA ALISTERI, subsp. n. Western Purple Kingfisher. Differs from A. a. pulchra in its much longer bill and darker blue back. Type, Parry’s Creek, North-west Australia, No. 1,250. Range, North-west Australia. 5404. ALCYONE PUSILLA RAMSAYI. Northern Little Kingfisher. Alcyone ramsayi North, [bis 1912, p. 119. Port Essing- ton, Northern Territory. 5484. DACELO LEACHIT NANA, subsp. n. Dwarf Fawn-breasted Kingfisher. Differs from D. |. cervina in its very much darker under- surface, head and back, also in its smaller size; wing 172 mm.,; bill (from nostril} 50. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,868. Range, Melville Island. 5494. DACELO LEACHII CLIFTONI, subsp. n. Pale Fawn-breasted Kingfisher. Differs from D. /. occidentalis (type from Derby) in its p2ler under-surface, head and back. Type, Carnarvon, West Australia, No. 9,887. Range, Mid. Westralia. 38 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 553A. HALCYON MACLEAYII PUBLA, subsp. n. Melville Island Forest-Kingfisher. Differs from H. m. distinguendus inhaving the back and humerals greenish-blue and in its smaller bill. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,872. Range, Melville Island. Eggs, Clutch 5, white, 22.5 mm. by 20.5. Date, 9.11.11 5604. HALCYON SORDIDUS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Northern Mangrove Kingfisher. Differs from H. s. sordidus in its much paler upper- surface and much smaller bill. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,874. Range, Melville Island. 5914, CHRYSOCOCCYX MINUTILLUS PERPLEXUS, subsp. n. Western Little Bronze Cuchoo. Differs from C. m. minutillus in having the head more purplish-bronze and the back greener, and the bill more slender. Type, Parry’s Creek, North-west Australia. Range, North-west Australia. Nore.—The egg described by me (Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIIL., p. 23, 1911) as that of C. minutillus must belong to this subspecies. It was included in the nest of Gerygone albigularis rogersi and resembles the egg of C. plagosus, but is of a lighter colour and measures 19 mm. by 12 603. The first description of this form was given by Bonaparte, and the first reference should read: Menura alberti Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Av., Vol. I., p. 215, 1850. Richmond River, N.S.W. 6194, PETROCHELIDON NIGRICANS ROGERSI, subsp. n. Northern Tree-Martin. Differs from P. n. nigricans in having the rump dark buff ; wing 104 mm. Type, Northern Territory (Darwin), No. 10,167. Range, Northern Territory. No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 39 6284. MicR@CA FLAVIGASTER MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Lemon-breasted Flycatcher. Differs from M. f. flavigaster in its lighter-coloured yellow below and very much less green on the back. Tyne, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,692. Range, Melville Island. 6524, SMICRORNIS BREVIROSTRIS STIRLINGI, subsp. n. Stirling Tree-Tit. Differs from S. b. occidentalis in having less yellow on the under-surface and the back brownish-green. It is also slightly smaller. Type, Stirling Ranges, South-west Australia, No.10,524. Range, Stirling Ranges, South-west Australia. 653. SMICRORNIS BREVIROSTRIS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Yellow-tinted Tree-Tit. Differs from S. 6. flavescens in its much brighter yellow under-surface. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,699. Range, Melville Island. 6644. GERYGONE MAGNIROSTRIS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Large-billed Fly-eater. Differs from G.m. magnirostris in its darker upper-surface. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,630. Range, Melville Island. Nest.—Placed in a patch of dense mangrove about seven feet from the ground. It is nine inches long by three and one half wide. The hooded entrance is five inches from * the top. The materials used are fine bark, woven together with wool and spiders’ webs, and lined with feathers. The nest was built on to a downward projecting twig, under a leafy branch. Egg.—White, heavily marked on the larger end with reddish-brown; - 15.5 mm. by 11. The nest contained 40 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I one egg of this species and one of Chrysococcyx minutillus Gould, which is smoky-brown, and measures 21 mm. by 14. Breeding-season, November. Notre.—The egg described by me (Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 28, 1911), as that of C. minutillus, is referable to C. m: perplexus (see ante, p- 38). 673A. GERYGONE CHLORONOTA DARWINI, subsp. n. Western Green-backed Fly-eater. Differs from G. c. chloronota in having a very much lighter head and larger wing, 54 mm. Type, Parry’s Creek, North-west Australia, No. 1,740. Range, North-west Australia. 673B. GERYGONE CHLORONOTA APSLEYI, subsp. n. Melville Island Green-backed Fly-eater. Differs from G. c. chloronota in being very much greener on the back, and the head darker brown. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,637. Range, Melville Island. 6784. PACHYCEPHALA SUPERCILIOSA BELCHERI, subsp. n. Western Buff-sided Robin. Differs from P. s. cerviniventris in having the grey band in the throat, and the buff on the sides very much lighter. It is also hghter on the back, and slightly smaller. Type, Napier Broome Bay, North-west Australia, No. 6,225. Range, North-west Australia. | Eggs.—Clutch, two; ground-colour bluish, heavily spotted on the larger end with reddish-brown spots. 19 mm. by 15. North-west Australia. 680A. PACHYCEPHALA LEUCURA GREDA, subsp. n. Melville Island White-tailed Shrike-Robin. Differs from P. 1. alligator in its larger size and lighter upper coloration. ‘Type, Melville Island, Nerthern Territory, No. 11,315. Range, Melville Island. No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 4] 698a. PACHYCEPHALA RUFIVENTRIS COLLETTI, subsp. n. Western Rufous-breasted Thickhead. Differs from P. r. falcata in being paler grey above and very much paler below, and also slightly smaller. Type, Parry’s Creek, North-west Australia. Range, North-west Australia. 7044. PACHYCEPHALA GRISOLA RIORDANI, subsp. n. Melville Island Brown Thickhead. Differs from P. g. simplex in being lighter above and below, and in having a thicker bill. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,669. Range, Melville Island. 7294. RHIPIDURA SETOSA MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Fantail. Differs from typical R. s. iswra (Derby) in being brown not blue-grey above. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,642. Range, Melville Island. Nest.—Composed of pieces of paper-bark and dry grass, neatly woven into a cup-shaped structure. ‘The outside was plastered over with cobweb. It was built in a small wattle-tree about 6 ft. from the ground. Outside dimensions, 21 in. by 24 by 23 deep. Inside, 14 by 14 by 3. The tail was 44 in. long. Eggs.—Clutch two; ground-colour buff, covered with spots, but more round the middle with pale brown and lavender spots; 18.5 mm. by 14. Date, 10.11.11. 7364. MyYIAGRA RUBECULA MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Blue Flycatcher. Differs from M. r. concinna in its much longer bill, 13 mm., and shorter wing. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,638. Range, Melville Island. 42 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I Nest.—Placed in a horizontal fork of a small paper-bark tree, growing in the open; and was about nine feet from the ground ; neatly composed of soft strips of paper bark, well matted together on the outside with cobwebs, and fastened securely to the fork with the same material, and lined with a few fine rootlets. Dimensions outside, 23 in. by 24 by 18 deep ; inside, 13 by 14 by % deep. Eggs.—Clutch, two; roundish oval. Ground-colour, white, with a zone of brown and lavender blots round the larger end; 16.5 mm. by 14. 739B. MyYIAGRA LATIROSTRIS COOPERI, subsp. n. Melville Island Broad-billed Flycatcher. Differs from M. 1. latirostris in its darker coloration and broader bill. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 11,325. Range, Melville Island. 7484. MONARCHA ALECTO MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Shining Flycatcher. Differs from M. a. nitida in having a much wider, heavier bill. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,828. Range, Melville Island. © 7614. CORACINA NOVH-HOLLANDIA DIDIMUS, subsp. n. Melville Island Cuckoo-Shrike. Differs from C. n. subpallida in lacking the black throat and forehead, the throat being dark French grey. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,781. Range, Melville Island. - 7634. CORACINA HYPOLEUCA APSLEYI, subsp. n. . Allied White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike. Differs from C. h. hypoleuca in its smaller size and in having a light grey jugulum, and French-grey feathers on the tibia. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,793. Range, Melville Island. No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 43 7638. CORACINA HYPOLEUCA PARRYI, subsp. n. Western White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike. Differs from C. h. hypoleuca in its lighter upper-coloration. Type, Parry’s Creek, North-west Australia, No. 1,933. Range, North-west Australia. 7694, CORACINA TENUIROSTRIS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Caterpillar-Catcher. Differs from C’. t. obscura in its very much lighter colora- tion and more slender bill. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,785. Range, Melville Island. 8104. PoMATORHINUS TEMPORALIS BAMBA, subsp. n. Melville Island Red-breasted Babbler. Differs from P. t. intermedius in having lighter ear- coverts, rump and wings. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,767. Range, Melville Island. The type of P. t. rubecula is from Wyndham. 8584. CISTICOLA EXILIS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Allied Grass- Warbler. Differs from C. e. lineocapitla in its darker head and back. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 11,329. Range, Melville Island. 8624. MEGALURUS GRAMINEUS HALMATURINUS, subsp. n. Kangaroo Island Grass-Bird. Differs from M. g. dubius in having the dark shafts of the feathers of the head not so pronounced. Type, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, No. 10,255. Range, Kangaroo Island. 8754. ACANTHIZA INORNATA SUBMASTERSI, subsp. n. Stirling Plain-coloured Tit. Differs from A. 7. mastersi in having much paler flanks and much lighter back. Type, Stirling Ranges, South-west Australia, No. 10,519. Range, Stirling Ranges, South-west. Australia. 44 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 886A. ACANTHIZA PUSILLA ARNO, subsp. n. Southern Red-rumped Tit. Differs from A. p. hainiltont in being darker, and in having the rump much darker red. Type, Arno Bay, Eyre’s Peninsula, South Australia, No. 9,630. Range, Eyre’s Peninsula. 892A. ACANTHIZA LINEATA WHITE, subsp. n. Kangaroo Island Striated Tit. Differs from A. J. clelandi in being darker green above, and in having the head darker brown. Type, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, No. 10,247. Range, Kangaroo Island. 9014. ACANTHIZA CHRYSORRHOA ADDENDA, subsp. n. Port Augusta Yellow-rumped Tit. Differs from A. c. perksi (from Mt. Lofty) in being paler above and whiter on the chest. Type, Port Augusta, South Australia, No. 10,252. Range, Port Augusta. 9194. SERICORNIS PARVULA ROSINA. Nest.—Cup-shaped, placed on a big mass of dead bracken, with large fronds of the living plant overhang- ing it. It was placed about two feet from the ground in a deep, damp gully on Mt. Lofty. Composed of dried grasses and covered on the outside with a kind of green moss, and warmly lined with feathers. Outside measure- ment 3} inches deep by 4 wide ; inside, 2 inches deep by 2 wide. Eggs.—Clutch ; three ground-colour very pale buffish- white, with a zone of brown irregular-shaped spots on the larger end, and few of the same colour distributed over the remaining surface ; 22 mm. by 16, No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 45 967. The type-locality of Malurus cruentatus Gould I designate as Derby, North-west Australia, and as a synonym should be noted : Malurus cruentatus bowert Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 1886, ser. 2, Vol. I., p. 1,100, 1887. Derby, North-west Australia. 9674. MALURUS MELANOCEPHALUS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Red-backed Wren. Differs from M. m. crwentatus in its much deeper, darker red back. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,673. Range, Melville Island. 9704. STIPITURUS MALACHURUS TREGELLASI, subsp. n. Victorian Emu Wren. Differs from 8S. m. malachurus in having the blue of the throat distinctly paler ; abdomen whiter, and the red on the forehead does not extend so far back. Type, Victoria (Frankston), No. 11,148. Range, Victoria. 973. STIPITURUS MALACHURUS WESTERNENSIS Campbell, Emu, 1912, Vol. XI., p. 222, replaces S. m. roth schildi, mihi. 9914. ARTAMUS LEUCORHYNCHUS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island White-rumped Wood-Swallow. Differs from A. 1. leucopygialis in its small wing and darker upper-surface. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,780. Range, Melville Island. 46 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 10064. COLLURICINCLA HARMONICA ZAMBA, subsp. n. Kangaroo Island Grey Shrike-Thrush. Differs from C. h. victorie in having a darker rump and head, and it is also dark below. Type, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, No. 10,183. Range, Kangaroo Island. 10114. COoLLURICINCLA BRUNNEA PARRYI, subsp. n. Western Brown Shrike-Thrush. Differs from C. b. brunnea in its very much paler general coloration. Type, Parry’s Creek, North-west Australia, No. 2,502. Range, North-west Australia. 10154. COoLLURICINCLA PARVULA ALLIGATOR, subsp. n. Allied Little Shrike-Thrush. Differs from C. p. parvula in its lighter upper-surface and longer bill. Type, Alligator River, No. 4,218. Range, Western Northern Territory. 10374. CRACTICUS NIGROGULARIS TORMENTI, subsp. n. Western Pied Butcher-Bird. Differs from C. n. picatus in having a stouter and longer bill and longer wing. Type, Napier Broome Bay, North-west Australia, No. 5,599. Range, North-west Australia. 10424. CRACTICUS TORQUATUS COLLETTI, subsp. n. Allied Silver-backed Butcher-Bird. Differs from the type of C. t. argenteus in its altogether smaller size and in having much less white on the tip of the tail; wing 140; culmen 37; tarsus 30 mm. Type, Northern Territory, No. 10,162. Range, Northern Territory. No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 47 1045. For this form I used Cabanis’s name of F. gouldi, as he proposed that name and described a bird from Port Phillip, Victoria. I now find that Bonaparte, in the Consp. Gen. Av., Vol. I., p. 365, 1850, had previously introduced it, ez Cabanis’s MS., for the bird figured by Gould. As neither Bonaparte’s nor Gould’s birds were from definite localities and the descriptions are indefinite, the only course now open is to designate New South Wales as the type-locality of Falcunculus gouldi Bonaparte, and to describe the Victorian form as follows :— HALCUNCULUS FRONTATUS IREDALEI, subsp. n. Green-bellied Shrike-Tit. Reference List No. 1,045, p. 376. Differs from F. f. frontatus in its darker colour and heavier biil. Type, Ringwood, Victoria, No. 1,372. Range, Victoria. 10724. NEOSITTA PILEATA WHITLOCKI, subsp. n. Mountain Black-headed Tree-runner. Differs from N. p. broomz in its lighter-coloured back, but not as pale as milligani. Type, Stirling Ranges, South-west Australia, No. 10,482. Range, Stirling Ranges. 10734. NEOSITTA PILEATA MORTONI. Northern White-winged Tree-runner. Neositta mortoni North, Ibis, 1912, p. 118. Port Essington, Northern Territory. This name appeared after my Reference List came out. 10738. NEOSITTA PILEATA MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island White-winged Tree-runner. Differs from N. p. leucoptera in its shorter, thicker bill. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,703. Range, Melville Island. 48 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 1096a. ZOSTEROPS LUTEA HECLA, subsp. n. Allied Yellow White-Eye. Differs from Z. 1. lutea in its larger size, more golden- yellow underneath, and more yellowish-green above. Type, Hecla Island, North-west Australia, No. 5,658. Range, Hecla Island, Parry Harbour. 11314. PARDALOTUS MELANOCEPHALUS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Orange-rumped Pardalote. Differs from P. m. inexpectatus in having the rump orange, not bright yellow. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,648. Range, Melville Island. 11414. MELITHREPTUS LUNATUS GRADUS, subsp. n. Melville Island White-naped Honey-eater. Differs from M. 1. subalbogularis in its smaller size and less yellowish on the back. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory. Range, Melville Island. 1162a. MyYZOMELA ERYTHROCEPHALA MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Red-headed Honey-eater. Differs from M. e. erythrocephala in its much darker back and wings. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,736. Range, Melville Island. + 11694. MyZzoMELA OBSCURA APSLEYT, subsp. n. Melville Island Dusky Honey-eater. Differs from M. 0. obscura in its darker coloration. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,665. Range, Melville Island. No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. 49 11804. GLICIPHILA MELANOPS BRABA, subsp. n. Southern Tawny-crowned Honey-eater. Differs from G. m. chandlert in having a much paler forehead and in being slightly smaller; paler than G. m. westernensis. Type, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, No. 10,204. Range, Kangaroo Island. 11854. GLICIPHILA FASCIATA BROOMEI, subsp. n. Western White-breasted Honey-eater. Differs from G. f. fasciata in its general paler coloration and larger size. Type, Napier Broome Bay, North-west Australia, No. 5,782. Range, North-west Australia. 11858. GLICIPHILA FASCIATA APSLEYI, subsp. n. Melville Island White-breasted Honey-eater. Differs from G. f. fasciata in having the edges of the primaries yellowish-buff, not grey. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,659. Range, Melville Island. 11914. CERTHIONYX ALBOGULARIS YORKI, subsp. n. Queensland Rufous-breasted Honey-eater. Differs from C. a. albogularis in being much paler above ; the band on the breast lighter ; it is also smaller; wing 64 mm. Type, Cape York, Queensland, No. 9,873. Range, North Queensland. 11924. CERTHIONYX RUFOGULARIS KEATSI, subsp. n. Northern Red-throated Honey-eater. Differs from C. r. rufogularis (type from Derby) in its much paler upper-surface. Type, Northern Territory (West), No. 3,115. Range, adjoining parts of North-west Australia and. Northern Territory. 50 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. [Vol. I 12004. STIGMATOPS INDISTINCTA MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Least Honey-eater. Differs from 8. 7. media in being greenish-brown above and in its smaller size. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,679. Range, Melville Island. 12184. PTILOTIS SONORA COOPERI, subsp. n. Melville Island Singing Honey-eater. Differs from P. s. rogerst in its heavier bill and much darker coloration above and below. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,743. Range, Melville Island. 12294. PTILOTIS LEUCOTIS MUNNA, subsp. n. Southern White-eared Honey-eater. Differs from P. 1. depauperata in being smaller and having a lighter-coloured head. Type, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, No. 10,212. Range, Kangaroo Island. 12534. PTILOTIS FLAVESCENS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Yellow-tinted Honey-eater. Differs from P. f. wyndhamz in its heavier bill and darker upper-surface. It is also darker and larger than P. f. flavescens. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,653. Range, Melville Island. 1265a. PTILOTIS UNICOLOR BRENDA, subsp. n. Melville Island White-gaped Honey-eater. Differs from P. wu. wnicolor in its lighter coloration and larger size. _ Type, Melville Isiand, Northern Territory, No. 10,746. Range, Melville Island. No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. 51 12888. MyZANTHA FLAVIGULA WILSONI. Southern Black-eared Minah. Differs from the type of MW. f. melanotis in having a longer wing, viz. 131 mm. Type, Turner’s Well, South Australia, No. 10,142. Range, South Australia. 12934. MyZANTHA FLAVIGULA MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Yellow Minah. Differs from M. f. lutea in its larger size, and from M. f. alligator in its much darker coloration and smaller S1Ze. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,754. Range, Melville Island. 13124. ENTOMYZON CYANOTIS APSLEYI, subsp. n. Melville Island White-quilled Honey-eater. Differs from F. c. aibipennis in its smaller size. Type, Meiville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,758. Range, Melville Island. 13154. PHILEMON ARGENTICEPS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Silver-crowned Friar-Bird. Differs from P. a. alexis in its very much smaller size generally, and darker upper-surface. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,757. Range, Melville Island. 13234. PHILEMON ORIENTALIS BREDA, subsp. n. Melville Island Little Friar-Bird. Differs from P. 0. sordidus in its darker coloration and larger bill. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 11,552. Range, Melville Island. 52 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. [Vol. I 1357. MUNIA CASTANEOTHORAX APSLEYI, subsp. n. Melville Island Dark-breasted Finch. Differs from M. c.assimilis in its lighter colour generally and darker orange-red rump. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 11,319. Range, Melville Island. 1389. ORIOLUS FLAVOCINCTUS PARRYI, subsp. n. West-rn Yellow Oriole. Differs from O. f. flavocinctus in its much lighter yellow coloration and heavier bill. Type, Parry’s Creek, North-west Australia, No. 3,586. Range, North-west Australia. 14144. CHLAMYDERA NUCHALIS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Bower-Bird. Differs from C. n. owent in its smaller size and darker colour above; wing 175 mm. (Type of C. n. owen, 190 mm.). Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 10,776. Range, Melville Island. 14244. CORVUS CECILZ MARNGLI, subsp. n. Little North-western Crow. Differs from C. c. cecile from Napier Broome Bay in its smaller wing, viz. 312 mm.; it has also a very much shorter bill. Type, Marngle Creek, West Kimberley, West Australia, No. 9,396. Range, West Kimberley, West Australia. Corrections to the ‘‘ Reference List.’’ P. 202, for Genus Petrodroma read Péerodroma, and also for the species Nos. 132 to 136. P. 386 Zosterops shortridgu Grant, Ibis, 1909, p. 663, Albany, South-west Australia—Z. gouldi Bonapate, the type-locality of which is King George’s Sound. No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. 53 DESCRIPTION OF NEW OR HITHERTO UNDESCRIBED EGGS OF SOME AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. The descriptions of the following eggs of some of the new birds lately described by me in the Nov. Zool., 1912, Vol. XVIII., pp. 171 et seq., are believed to be brought forward for the first time. The number following the name of the species is the number in the above Reference List. 1. Dromiceius nove-hollandie woodwardi (2). Clutch, eleven ; ground-colour light green, covered with numerous irregular-shaped nodules of dark green; 129-135 mm. by 82-91. Collected May 21st, 1911, near Wyndham. 2. Megapodius duperreyi assimilis (6). An outer film of dark brown covers the hard, white shell; 85-86 mm. by 53-54. North Barnard Islands, 20.11.91. 3. Leipoa ocellata rosine (8). Eggs covered with an outer film of pink, beneath which is a thicker one of dark brown, and below this the shell is white; 91-92 mm. by 60-61. Victoria. 4. Alectura lathami robinsoni (10). White, covered with a dark film, rough to the touch ; 90-93 mm. by 58-62. Queensland. 5. Coturnix pectoralis preetermissa (13). Ground- colour pale stone ; sparingly blotched with dark brown ; 29-30 mm. by 23-25. These eggs are not so dark-coloured as the eastern ones. Broome Hill, W.A. 6. Coturnix australis rogerst (17). Dull white, without markings. 26.5-28 mm. by 20-21.5. 7. Excalfactoria chinensis victorie (194). Ground- colour dark stone, minutely covered with spots of dull reddish-brown ; 23-24 mm. by 18-19. Victoria. 54 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. [Vol. I 8. Turnix varia subminuta (26). Ground-colour light stone, minutely covered with spots of dark brown and light grey ; 27-28 mm. by 21-22. Queensland. 9. Geopelia humeralis ineapectata (50). Clutch, two ; white ; 28-28.5 mm. by 31.5-32. Derby, W.A., 6.1.11. 10. Chalcophaps chrysochlora rogersi (564). Clutch, two ; creamy colour ; 25.5-26.5 mm. by 20-20.5. Queensland. 11. Phaps chalcoptera consobrina (59). Clutch, two ; whitish ; 30-32 mm. by 23-24. Alexandra, N.T., 21.1.06. 12. Phaps chalcoptera murchisoni (60). Clutch, two ; white ; 34-36.5 mm. by 25-26. West Australia. 13. Tribonyx ventralis whitec (93). Ground-colour greenish-blue, sparingly mottled with reddish-brown and light grey ; 43-47 mm. by 29-32. New South Wales. 14. Fulica atra tasmanica (104). Ground-colour stone, minutely spotted with blackish spots; 49 mm. by 33. Victoria. 15. Podiceps fluviatilis cartere (108). Ground-colour light green (mostly nest-stained brown); 36-38 mm. ~ by 25-26. Clutch, three. Broome Hill, W.A., 19.10.08. 16. Sterna bergit gwendolene (1594). Ground-colour stone, heavily blotched with dark reddish-brown, 60-61 mm. by 40-41. Houtman’s Abrolhos. 17. Sterna striata incerta (161). Ground-colour stone, blotched with dark brown and light grey; 47-48 mm. by 33-34. Tasmania. 18. Sterna fuscata serrata (163). Ground-colour stone, spotted with rich chestnut, more especially on the larger end, and small markings of grey ; 53-55 mm. by 35-36. Lord Howe Island, Nov. ’87. 19. Sterna nereis horni (165). Ground-colour light stone, sparingly marked with dark reddish-brown; 35 mm. by 25-26. West Australia, 20. Sterna sinensis placens (166). Ground-colour light stone, blotched with dark reddish-brown and lavender ; 33 mm. by 26. Queensland. No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. 55 21. Larus nove-hollandie nove-hollandie (174). Ground-colour greenish-buff, blotched with dark brown and lavender ; 57-58 mm. by 37-38. New South Wales. 22. Larus nove-hollandie gunni (177). Ground-colour buff-brown, blotched with dark reddish-brown and grey ; 54 mm. by 37-39. Clutch, two. Brunni Island, Tasmania, Tol OS 23. Catharacta antarctica linnbergi (181). Ground- colour stone, blotched, especially on the larger end, with brown; 76 mm. by 52. 24. Irediparra gallinacea rothschildi (240). Ground- colour shining brown, marked all over with long, black, irregular lines; 27-28 mm. by 21-22. 25. Burhinus magnirostris rufescens (244). Ground- colour stone, blotched with dark brown, more especially on the larger end; 53 mm. by 39. Clutch, two. Wyndham, W.A., 19.10.08. 26. Burhinus magnirostris ramsayi (245). Ground- colour buff, blotched (sometimes very heavily) with dark brown and light grey ; 53-54 mm. by 41-42. Dawson R.., 20.9.89. 27. Burhinus magnirostris broomei (246). Somewhat similar to the above, but with the blotches more in the shape of streaks; 53 mm. by 41. Broome Hill, W.A., 20.10.07. 28. Choriotis australis derbyi (249). Ground-colour reddish-brown, with blotches of darker brown all over ; 75 mm. by 55. Pardoo, W.A., 21.8.10. 29. Mathewsia rubicunda argentea (251). White, mi- nutely pitted ; 84-91 mm. by 60-62. 30. Ibis molucca alligator (253). Dull white, the inside being green; 64-68 mm. by 43-35. Clutch, three. Port Darwin, N.T.,17.4.02. 31. Notophoyx pacifica alecandre (272). Bluish-green ; 54-55.5 mm. by 39. North-west Australia. 32. Butorides rogersi (282). Bluish-green; 59 mm. by 31. West Australia. 56 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. [Vol. I 33. Ardeiralla flavicollis oliver (286). White ; 45 mm. by 35. Queensland. 34. Astur fasciatus mackayi (338). Whitish, sparingly covered with reddish-brown spots; 49 mm. by 40. Queensland. 35. Baza subcristata queenslandica (364). Whitish, green inside; 44-45 by 35-36. Queensland. 36. Cerchneis cenchroides unicolor (374). Ground-colour stone, marked all over with blotches and spots of dull — red ; 38 mm. by 30-31. Pardoo, W.A., 1.9.10. 37. Tyto alba alecandre (391). White ; 42-43 mm. by 32-33 Clutch, three. Alexandra, N.T. May, ’05. 38. Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus neglectus (406). Whitish (nest-stained) ; 27 mm. by 21. Queensland. 39. Cacatoes galerita queenslandica (429). Whitish (nest- stained) ; 48-52 mm. by 33-36. Queensland. 40. Podargus strigoides victoriw (520). White ; 46-47 mm. by 32. Clutch, two. Nov. 09. 41. Podargus strigoides dendyi (526). White; 37-40 mm. by 27-28. Clutch, two. Derby, W.A., 5.12.10. 42. Dacelo gigas tregellasi (544). White; 41-42 mm. by 33-34. Auburn, Victoria, 14.10.10. 43. Merops ornatus shortridgei (564) White; 21-22 mm. by 18-19. Strelly R.W.A., 22.9.07. 44. Caprimulgus macrurus yorki (568). Ground-colour creamy-buff, with indistinct blotches of pale grey; 31 mm. by 21. Clutch, two. Cairns, Oct. ’08. 45. Micreca fascinans victorie (623). Ground-colour light blue, blotched with reddish-brown and light grey ; 19 mm. by 15. Ringwood. 20.11.07. 46. Micreca fascinans subpallida (626). Ground-colour light bluish-white, with a zone of reddish and lavender blotches on the larger end; 17 mm. by 14. Derby, W.A., 11.12.10. 47. Petroica multicolor frontalis (631). Ground-colour light creamy-buff, spotted all over, but more at the larger end, with brown and lavender ; 19-20 mm. by 15. You- yangs. Victoria, 6.7.’06. INOW 2 | THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 57 48. Petroica phenicea albicans (634). Ground-colour light buff, spotted with brown and lavender; 19 mm. by 15. Tasmania. 49. Petroica rodinogaster inexpectata (636). Ground- colour light buff, spotted on the larger end with brown and light grey ; 19 mm. by 15. 50. Petroica cucullata vigorsi (644). Bluish to bluish- brown ; 20-2lmm.by 16. Frankston, Victoria, 30.11.07. 51. Petroica cucullata westralensis (645). Ground-colour buffy-brown, with an indistinct zone round the larger end, 22mm. by 18. Broome Hill. 52. Smicrornis brevirostris viridescens (651). Ground- colour salmon-pink, with a zone of reddish spots round the larger end; 16-17 mm. by 11-12. Ringwood, Vic- toria, 2.10.09. 524. Gerygone magnirostris cairnsensis (665). White, with an indistinct zone of reddish-black dots on the larger end; 21 mm. by 14. Cairns, Oct., 1911. 53. Pachycephala gutturalis young: (690). Ground- colour brown, with a zone of dark brownish spots at the larger end; 23 mm. by 18. Ringwood, 23.11.07. 54. Pachycephala australis viridior (708). Ground- colour greenish, marked all over, but more on the larger end, with reddish-brown spots; 20-22 mm. by 16-17. Croydon, 10.11.08. 55. Rhipidura flabellifera victorie (715). Ground- colour creamy, marked at the larger end with brown blotches ; 16 mm. by 13. Wonga Park, 10.10.10. 56. Rhipidura rufifrons inexpectata (725). Ground- colour whitish-brown, zoned with dark brown spots; 19 mm. by 13. Olinda, 26.12.10. 57. Myiagra rubecula ringwoodi (735). Ground-colour whitish, zoned round the middle with brown and lavender spots; 18 mm. by 14. Ringwood, 27.11.09. 58. Coracina nove-hollandice subpallida (761). Ground- colour greenish brown, spotted (more on the larger end) 5S THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. [Vol. I with reddish and light grey spots; 31-32 mm. by 22. Derby, W.A., 11.12.10. 59. Coracina nove-hollandie connectens (762). Some- what similar to the above, but with fewer and larger spots ; 32 mm. by 24. Queensland, 17.7.09. 60. Lalage tricolor indistincta (771). Ground-colour bluish-green, heavily blotched with reddish; 21 mm. by 15. Derby, W.A., 27.11.10: 61. Orthonyx temminckii chandleri (776). White; 28 mm. by 20. Richmond River, N.S.W., May, 04. 62. Cinclosoma punctatum neglectum (779). Ground- colour whitish, spotted all over with dark brown and lavender spots; 34-35 mm. by 24. Ringwood, Victoria, 8.10.10. 63. Psophodes olivaceus scrymgeourt (800). Ground- colour blue, sparingly spotted with black and lavender ; 28 mm. by 20. Olinda, 9.10.09. 64. Psophodes olivaceus sublateralis (801). Ground- colour bluish-white, marked with irregular spots of black and lavender ; 28-30 mm. by 20. Richmond R., N.S.W., Aug. to Oct., 1901. 65. Pomatorhinus temporalis tregellasi (806). Dark ground-colour, covered all over with hair-like markings of dark brown; 29-30 mm. by 19-20. Frankston, Vic- toria, 4.10.08. 66. Pomatorhinus temporalis nigrescens (809). Similar to the above; 27 mm. by 19. Derby, W.A., 11.12.10. 67. Pomatorhinus superciliosus ashbyi (814). Similar to the above ; 23 mm. by 17. Broome Hill, W.A. 68. Cincloramphus mathewsi horsfieldi (833). Ground- colour whitish, marked all over, but more at the larger end, with reddish; 22 mm. by 16. Alexandra, N.T., 19.1.06. 69. Turdus lunulatus dendyi (838). Ground-colour buff, marked all over with reddish-brown markings ; 34 mm. by 23. Black Rock, Victoria, 30.8.08. No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. 59 70. Epthianura albifrons tasmanica (841). White, with reddish-brown spots on the larger end; 19 mm. by 14. Tasmania, 24.7.10. Tasmania. 71. Epthianura albifrons westralensis (842). White, marked on the larger end with red spots ; 18 mm. by 13. Broome Hill, W.A. 72. Acrocephalus australis mellori (853). Ground-colour buff-white, spotted with large spots of reddish-brown and light brown; 20 mm. by 14-16. Caulfield, Victoria, 17.11.10. 73. Megalurus gramineus wilsoni (862). Ground-colour whitish, spotted all over with reddish-brown; 19 mm. by 14. Caulfield, 11.11.09. 74. Megalurus gramineus dubius (863). Whitish, covered with spots of reddish-brown and lavender; 19 mm. by 14. South Australia. 75. Chthonicola sagittata inexpectata (871). Ground- colour salmon to brown, with the larger end dark brown ; 20 mm. by 15. Blackburn, Victoria, 7.7.10. 76. Acanthiza lineata chandleri (891). White, with a zone of reddish spots on the larger end ; 17-18 mm. by 13. Blackburn, 19.8.09. Victoria. 77. Acanthiza chrysorrhoa sandlandi (899). White, 17-18 mm. by 13. Auburn, 30.9.10. 78. Acanthiza chrysorrhoa leachi (900). White; 19-20 mm. by 14. Tasmania, 15.9.02. 79. Acanthiza reguloides connectens (907). Whitish, with reddish spots, especially on the larger end ; 17 mm. by 14. Ringwood, 8.10.10. 80. Sericornis lathami intermedia (917). White, with a dark bluish larger end, which colour merges into white at the point; 24 mm. by 17. Richmond R., N.8.W., 29.8.01. 81. Sericornis parvula harterti (919). Whitish, with a dark zone at the larger end; 21 mm. by 15-16. Dande- nong, 24.10.07. 60 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. [Vol I 82. Malurus cyaneus henriette (939). White, covered with red spots, more especially on the larger end, 17 mm. by 13. Wonga Park, 28.11.09. 83. Malurus cyaneus leggei (940). White, with brown spots and blotches; 17 mm. by 13. Adelaide. 84. Malurus melanocephalus pyrrhonotus (966). White, with reddish-brown spots on the larger end ; 15 mm. by 12. Cairns, Oct., ’08. 85. Artamus melanops tregellasi (999). Whitish, with reddish-brown and lavender spots forming a zone on the larger end ; 22-24mm.by 17. West Australia, 5.12.10. 86. Artamus minor derbyi (1,004). Whitish, with a zone of brown and light grey spots at the larger end; 18 mm. by 14-15. West Kimberley, W.A., 17.12.10. 87. Colluricincla harmonica victoric (1,006). White, with spots of brown and lavender all over ; 30.5-31.5 mm. by 21-22. Wonga Park, Victoria, 7.10.07. 88. Colluricincla harmonica oblita (1,007). White, with dark brown and grey spots, more at the larger end; 32 mm. by 22. Queensland. 89. Grallina cyanoleuca neglecta (1,022). Whitish, with a zone on the larger end of reddish-brown spots ; 27-28 mm. by 20. Derby, W.A., 28.11.10. 90. Cracticus tibicen terreeregine (1,024). White to blue, marked with spots or streaks of red or brown; 38 mm. by 28-29, 91. Cracticus tibicen intermissus (1,025). Similar to the above and about the same measurements. Ringwood, Victoria, 16.10.10. 92. Cracticus hypoleucus intermedius (1,029). Ground- colour bluish, marked all over with brown streaks and blotches ; 46 mm. by 27. New South Wales. 93. Cracticus nigrogularis inkermani (1,034). Ground- colour brown, covered with darker spots ; 33 mm. by 24. Dawson River. 94. Cracticus torquatus olindus (1,039). Ground-colour brown, covered with reddish-brown spots, and forming a No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. 61 zone at the larger end; 30 mm. by 23. Wonga Park, 10.9.09. 95. Cracticus torquatus ethele (1,039a). Ground-colour buff-brown, marked with reddish spots, more at the larger end; 31 mm. by 22. 96. Oreoica cristata pallescens (1,051). White, with black spots ; 27 mm. by 20. Tanami, N.T., 26.3.10. 97. Oreoica cristata westralensis (1,053). Bluish-white with black spots ; 27-28 mm. by 22. Broome Hill, W.A., 1910. 98. Aphelocephala leucopsis missa (1,055). Whitish, covered with brown spots, and forming a zone at the larger end; 19mm. by 14. Pine Plains, Victoria, 20.9.07. 99. Sphenostoma cristatum pallidum (1,062). Ground- colour blue, with black spots on the larger end; 26 mm. by 18. Cooper’s Creek. 100. Neositia chrysoptera lathame (1,066). Ground- colour bluish-white, with dark brown and lavender spots ; 18 mm. by 13. Victoria. 101. Zosterops lateralis cornwalli (1,106). Ground- colour blue ; 15-16 mm. by 12-13. Queensland, 11.9.09. 102. Diceum hirundinaceum yorki (1,110). Ground- colour buffish-white ; 17 mm. by 11. 103. Pardalotus striatus substriatus (1,116). White ; 20 mm. by 15. Ringwood, 1.1.10. 104. Pardalotus melanocephalus winexpectatus (1,131). White; 17 mm. by 14. Wyndham, W.A., 6.9.08. 105. Gliciphala melanops chandleri (1,180). Ground- colour pinkish-buff, with a zone of reddish-brown spots on the larger end; 21 mm. by 15. South Australia. 106. Gliciphila fasciata inkermani (1,186). White, spotted with red, but more on the larger end; 21 mm. by 14. Dawson River. 107. Meliphaga phrygia tregellastc (1,196). Ground- colour salmon-pink, with reddish spots, more on the larger end; 25 mm. by 18. Blackburn, 5.12.08. 62 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. [Vol I 108. Ptilotis fusca dawsoni (1,207). Ground-colour salmon, with reddish-brown spots, more at the larger end; 18 mm. by 14. 8.9.09. Queensland. 109. Ptilotis fusca dingi (1,208). Ground-colour buff, sparingly spotted with reddish-brown; 20 mm. by 15. Blacktown, Victoria, 28.10.06. 110. Ptilotis lewinit mab (1,211). White, with dark brown spots on the larger end; 24 mm. by 18. Dawson River. 111. Ptilotis chrysops beaconsfieldi (1,224). White, with a heavy zone of reddish and lavender spots on the larger end, and a few reddish ones all over; 22 mm. by 15. Olinda, 10.12.09. 112. Ptilotis leucotis depawperata (1,230). Ground- colour buffish-pink, with reddish-brown markings, more at the larger end; 23 mm. by 15. Blackburn, 25.8.07. 113. Ptilotes melanops meltons (1,234). Ground-colour buff, with brown markings at the larger end; 20 mm. by 17. Victoria. 114. Ptilotis penicillata mellori (1,258). Whitish, with reddish spots, more on the larger end; 22 mm. by 16. Blackburn, 23.10.07. 115. Mehiornis pyrrhoptera indistincta (1,270). Ground- colour salmon-pink, with a zone of reddish spots at the larger end; 18 mm. by 14. Victoria. 116. Manorina melanophrys yarra (1,283). Ground- colour buffish-pink, with a few large spots of reddish-brown at the larger end; 24 mm. by 16. Victoria. 117. Myzantha melanocephala whitet (1,285). White, covered all over, but more on the larger end, with reddish-brown spots ; 28 mm. by 20. Frankston, Victoria, 18.9.09. 118. Myzantha melanocephala leachi (1,286). White, with a zone of reddish-brown spots at the larger end, and others distributed over the surface; 26 mm. by 19. Tasmania, — ee ee ee se No. 2.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. 63 119. Anthochera carunculata tregellasi (1,296). Ground- colour salmon-pink, with large spots of reddish-brown and lavender; 30 mm. by 21. Croydon, 28.1.08. 120. Anthochera carunculata woodwardi (1,297). Ground- colour pinkish-white, with a zone of reddish-brown lavender spots on the larger end; 35 mm. by 24. Broome Hill, W.A., 20.10.10. 121. Anellobia chrysoptera intermedia (1,300). Ground- colour pinkish, with few spots of reddish-brown and grey ; 30 mm. by 23. Frankston, Victoria, 25.10.08. 122. Acanthagenys rufogularis cygnus (1,304). Ground- colour buff, with a zone of reddish-brown and light grey on the larger end; 26 mm. by 18. Victoria. 123. Philemon corniculatus ellioti (1,318). White, with a few blackish-red spots on the larger end ; 34 mm. by 22. 124. Philemon orientalis occidentalis (1,322). Ground- colour salmon-pink, covered all over with spots of a darker shade ; 27 mm. by 21. Derby, W.A., 12.12.10. 125. Anthus australis bistriatus (1,326). Ground-colour slate, covered all over with marks and spots of brown ; 22 mm. by 17. Tasmania, 19.11.10. 126. Anthis australis adelaidensis (1,327). Somewhat like the above, but the markings are darker ; 22-23 mm. by 17. Hallett’s Cove, 27.11.05. 127. Anthus australis bilbali (1,328). Not so heavily marked as the above, but the same measurements. Broome Hill, 1910. 128. Zoneginthus castanotis mungi (1,347). Whitish- blue; 15mm. by 12. North-west Australia. 129. Mgintha temporalis tregellasi (1,365). White; 17 mm. by 13. Wonga Park, 2.10.10. 130. Oriolus sagittatus subaffinis (1,386). Ground- colour buff, with yellowish-brown and lavender spots, more at the larger end; 31 mm. by 23. Queensland. 131. Oriolus flavocinctus kingt (1,390). Ground-colour buff, with reddish-black and lavender spots; 33 mm. by 24. Cairns, Nov., 1911. 64 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. [Vol. I 132. Sphecotheres flaviventris audoni (1,395). Ground- colour bluish-green, with reddish markings, more on the larger end; 34mm. by 23. Cairns, Oct., ’08. 133. Dicrurus bracteatus baileyi (1,399). Nest loosely composed of fine rootlets, the eggs visible from beneath. Outside measurements 7 in. by 34; inside 3} by 13. Eggs.—Clutch, three; ground-colour whitish, with irregular-shaped spots of reddish and lavender, sparsely distributed over the surface, but more on the larger end ; 30 mm. by 20. Northern Territory. Breeding-season October. 134. Lamprocorax metallicus sapphire (1,401). Ground- colour greenish, with small reddish spots on the larger end; 28 mm. by 20. Queensland. 135. Chlamydera nuchalis oweni (1,414). Ground- colour bluish-green, marked all over with brown streaks of irregular design. (These eggs vary, see Nov. Zool., 1910, Vol. XVII., Pl. X., figs. 15-16, for two others.) 43 mm. by 29. Port Keats, Northern Territory. 136. Strepera versicolor vieilloti (1,440). Ground-colour pinkish-brown, with large blotches of brown, others of lavender; 41-42 mm. by 30. Ringwood, Victoria, DEO: 137. Corcorax melanoramphos subniger (1,447). White, with large spots of yellowish-brown, and dark grey; 36 mm. by 28. Bayswater, 19.11.10. fn ; Ie oe pune ain e | AUSTRAL’ AVIAN RECORD | A SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL DEVOTED PRIMARILY ' 10 THE STUDY OF THE AUSTRALIAN AVIFAUNA a VOL. L. No. 3. an : ISSUBD IN CONNEXION WITH THE a AusTRAL Avian Musrsum, WatrorD, Herts, ENGLAND EDITOR GREGORY M. MATHEWS ‘Se Price 1/6 Net WITHERBY & CO; 326 Hich Horsorn Lonpon, W.C. Tune 28th, 1912. PLATE 1. AustraL AvIAN ReEcorp, VoL. I. CASUARIUS CASUARIUS JOHNSONTI. THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. A SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL DEVOTED PRIMARILY TO THE STUDY OF THE AUSTRALIAN AVIFAUNA. Wor, ies) Now 3: JUNE 28th, 1912. CONTENTS. PAGE NorTeEs ON THE COLORATION OF THE HEAD AND NECK OF THE AUSTRALIAN CASSOWARY Nee iGO DiceLes’s NEw SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN Birps.. 68 ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO MY REFERENCE List To THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA ms Se NT is: EDITORIAL NOTICE. It has been pointed out that owing to the previous Parts of this Journal having contained unsigned articles, there may hereafter arise doubt as to the authorship of the same, and that it would be best to put on record the fact that the author was the Editor, otherwise myself, G. M. Mathews, who is, therefore, entirely responsible for the matter contained in the previous Parts. I have decided to accept papers from other workers regarding Australasian ornithology, and henceforth all the articles will be signed by the writers thereof. 66 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I NOTE ON THE COLORATION OF THE HEAD AND NECK OF THE AUSTRALIAN CASSOWARY. (PLATE 1.) WueEN I published the account of this bird in the first Part of the Birds of Australia, | was dependent upon skins and living specimens purporting to have originally come from Australia. Receipt of authentic wild-killed skins shows the coloration to have been different from that of these supposed Australian living birds. I am giving this note, and want information as to the correctness of my judgment as to the colours in the living bird. I however note that Meston (Proc. Roy. Soc. Queens., Vol. X., p. 62, 1894) has written: ‘“ The taxi- dermist has, so far, failed to reproduce the beautiful scarlet and orange colour, and marvellous opalescent shades of light and dark blue on the head and neck . . . The two long wattles on the throat are found on both male and female. Some are destitute of this appendage.” Rothschild, in his Monograph of the Cassowaries (Trans. Zool. Soe. (Lond.), Vol. XV., 1900) gave coloured repre- sentations of the heads of many of the species, and the figure there given from living specimens (Plate X XV.) does not agree with the present birds. From an examination of those figures C’. c. intensus would seem to be the nearest, the most noticeable difference being in the colour of the appendages ; while C. ¢. violicollis seems the next most like. However, in the Bull. Brit. Orn. Club., Vol. XXIX., pp. 50-52, 1912, Rothschild has rearranged his ideas, and has there made C. intensus a subspecies of C. bicar- unculatus while retaining C. violicollis and C. johnsoni as subspecies of C. casuarius. I cannot at this time judge of the correct disposition of C. johnsonii, and therefore simply put on record the coloration of the head and neck as far as can be gathered from examination of the dried skin. | The front and sides of the neck, as well as the whole of the sides of the head and nape, appear to have been No. 3.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 67 pale blue ; the whole of the back of the neck pale orange- yellow y the lobe extending down the lower-neck deep purple ; while the appendages have been bright lake ; between the gape and the ear has been a triangular spot of the same colour, which is connected with the appen- dages by a raised rib of skin of the same colour. It will be noted that this description differs in that this red preoral patch has not hitherto been noticed ; the colora- tion of the lobe on the lower-neck has been generally said to be half deep orange and half purple. In my specimens it is uniform deep purple; the coloration of the fore-neck has been given as bright purplish blue, and the nape as pale greenish-blue. I cannot see that there has been much difference in coloration between the fore-neck, sides of neck, and nape in the specimens before me. I would like Australian ornithologists to interest themselves in this matter, and examine specimens, undoubtedly Australian, and get this question of coloration settled. If the coloration of the naked skin varies in adult specimens, it means that our present treatment of this group is incorrect. Gregory M. MaTHEws. 68 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I DIGGLES’S NEW SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. In the first number of this Journal, while reviewing the Australian Cuckoos, I wrote (p. 9): ‘‘ In the Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 205, 1876, Ramsay notes that Diggles had described a Cuculus brisbanensis which from the description he identified as the young of Cuculus optatus Gould = C. canoroides Muller. The original description by Diggles I have been unable to trace, and I would be glad if anyone, who has met with it, would advise me when and where it was published.” On p. 15 I noted: ‘‘The other name is Lamprococcyx modesta Diggles. This is mentioned by Ramsay (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. II., p. 205, 1876) as known to him only by description, and apparently given to the young of L. basalis. I have asked for information regarding Cuculus brisbanensis Diggles, and I suppose this was named at the same time.” It is very gratifying to have to record that my inquiries have resulted in much of interest ; firstly, through the generosity of Dr. Thorp I am in possession of a reprint of the paper above referred to, wherein the Cuckoos are named and described by -Diggles ; and secondly, through the interest and help ot Mr. Charles Hedley I have to ask for further information. I will deal with the pamphlet first. On the cover is printed : ‘““SOME NEW AND RARE SPECIES OF BIRDS. “Read before the Queensland Philosophical Society, by ‘“Mr. S. Diceixs, on 3rd August, 1876.” Four pages are included, the pagination reading 9, 10, 11, 12, conclusively showing it to be a reprint. On p. 1] is given :— ‘““T have now the pleasure of informing you that an undoubtedly new species of Poéphila has been sent to- our friend the Secretary of this Society, by Mr. Gulliver, from Normanton. The new finch bears a very near No. 3.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 69 resemblance to our P. cincta, a plentiful species near Brisbane. It is a bird about the same size, but differs in having the upper tail-coverts brownish-black, whereas in P. cincta they are white. The name I propose for it will indicate this peculiarity—P. atropygialis, or black- rumped Poéphila. The drawings will sufficiently show the difference without further description. “Another discovery among the birds sent by Mr. Gulliver is a new Acanthiza; and I have the pleasure of stating that, though new, it is also found in this neigh- bourhood. The family is a numerous one; but, strange to say, this species is not, to my knowledge, described. It differs from any other species I know. The rather uniform greyish-brown, tinged with green on the upper surface, the brown tail with dark centre and white tips on the inner web, make its relationship to its congeners ; but it is well separated from all others by having a well _ defined white throat, followed by a yellow chest and abdomen, which induces me to give it the descriptive name of Acanthiza flavigasta.”’ Then on p. 12 the Cuckoos are thus described :— “The larger species, which must at present stand under the name o! Cuculus Brishanensis, until contra- dicted by better authority, is thus described in my note- book. Unlike all the members of our moderately-sized - species, this one has the whole of the under-surface fasciated—in this respect partaking of the character of the Bronze Cuckoo, which are mostly adorned with bands beneath. It is very much smaller than C. cano- roides, say four inches shorter, and of a reddish-brown tint above, and richly banded with darker. Descrip- tion: Head, back, and upper portion of the wings brownish-black, each feather marked and edged with bands of reddish-brown. Primaries brownish-grey, edged and rather broadly tipped with dull reddish-buff. Secondaries and tertiaries greyish-brown, broadly zig- zagged with buff. Beneath the shoulder and for more than an inch of the edge of the wing, white. Tail brown, all the feathers, including the central pair, with serrated 70 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I markings of buff, which assume a reddish cast beyond the margin. The outermost and shortest are lightest in colour, and most regularly barred with greyish-brown. Throat and all the under surface white, lightest on th> vent, and crossed by about twenty-eight bars of blackish- grey. Base of under mandible yellowish, the remainder of the bill black. Feet yellow, claws black. Shot about May last, by my son, at Norman’s Creek. Length, about 9 inches; wing 5 inches; tail, about 4 inches; bill, $ inch; tarsus 3 inch. “NEw Lamprococcyx.—this species differs from every other I am acquainted with, being entirely without bars on the under surface. Head and wings dull bronzy- green, each feather slightly edged with reddish-buff. Tail similar above, but the basal parts of the lateral feathers dull brick-red. Inner webs banded and spotted like the rest of the family. Throat and chest, light grey. Abdomen, buffy-white ; under tail-coverts, white. Bill and feet black, except the base of the lower mandible, which is yellow. Length 6 inches; wing, 32; tail, 23; bill, 3; tarsus, 8. This species, for the present, must be called ZL. modesta, until proved to be (which is quite possible) the young of some known species, such as L. Basilis, which it resembles in the form and size of bill. Shot with a boy’s catapult, at Norman’s Creek, near Captain Heath’s. It was in company with a male and female, and several young Maluri, doubtless the foster parents, and a portion of their brood or community.” The preceding descriptions enable the recognition of the species here named by Diggles and mainly confirm the identifications made by Ramsay. Poéphila atro- pygialis was later fuller described by Castelnau and Ramsay, and in my Reference List (p. 433) I accepted their introduction as the earliest known to me. The exact date of publication of Diggles’s paper is unknown to me, and it is quite possible that Castelnau and Ramsay’s description actually appeared prior to Diggles’s, but until the actual dates are known it is best to allow priority to Diggles. No. 3.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 71 Acanthiza flavigasta Diggles, as Ramsay suggested, refers to Gerygone albogularis, and as the type-locality is Normanton, unless series should indicate differences, Diggles’s name must be used for the form I named Gerygone albogularis queenslandica—Reference List No. 658. Cuculus brisbanensis Diggles, is not however based onthe young of Cuculus optatus Gould, as Ramsay thought, but upon the young of Cuculus rubricatus, and as the type-locality is Brisbane it must be quoted in the synonymy of the typical subspecies—Reference List, No. 577. Lamprococcyx modesta, as Diggles and Ramsay both indicated, is based upon the young of the basalis group. As the north-eastern form seems to be separable, Diggles’s name can be preserved for that. The alterations and synonyms will be noted in their places in the following paper. So much for this paper of Diggles. Upon mentioning to my friend Mr. Chas. Hedley, at present in England, that I had had trouble in tracing these Diggles’s bird-names, he referred me to the Inter- national Catalogue of Scientific Literature, Queensland volume, published in 1899, which contained a Biblio- graphy of Scientific Papers upon Queensland. This reference has indicated the fact that the preceding paper is only one out of four by Diggles published in the Proceedings of the Queensland Philosophical Society, in the years 1873-6. The titles of the other three and the new species there described by Diggles appear to be :— 1. ““Some Australian Birds,’ by 8S. Diggles, Proc. Queensl. Philos. Soc., 1873, Paper 1, 2 pp. In this paper Diggles has described two new species, Milvus striatus and EHulabeornis griseoventris. Ramsay has suggested (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. IL., p. 205, 1876) that these are both extra-Australian species, perhaps from the Aru Islands. He absolutely identified the former with Henicopernis longicauda Garnot; if the 72 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I latter be the Aru Island Hulabeornis, Diggles’s name will displace EH. sharpet Rothschild and Hartert. 2. “Short Notices of Two Birds new to the Australian Fauna,” by 8. Diggles, Proc. Queens. Philos. Soc., 1874. I gather that the first was a supposed new species of Nectarinia which was not specifically named by Diggles ; while the second is called Ptilonopus chrysogaster, new species. I have no note of any reference to this in recent literature. 3. “ Description of Four New Australian Birds, with habits of Menura alberti,’ by S. Diggles, Proc. Queensl. Philos. Soc., 1874, Paper 2, pp. 5-7. In this paper are described Alcyone bella, Alcyone assimilis, Ardetta cockeriili, and Ardetta nigra. I have not previously noted any reference to these in recent literature. It will thus be seen that though four of Diggles’s names have been satisfactorily traced, there still remain seven names to be accounted for. Two have been noted by Ramsay as being apparently extra-Australian, but the remaining five I know nothing of, save the information here given; and I have to again ask for help in locating these names. It has been a great pleasure to record such an un- expected and speedy response to my previous inquiry, and I am hoping that this note will bring forward as oratifying results. Grecory M. MATHEws. No. 3.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 73 ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO MY REFERENCE LIST TO THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 198. HXCALFACTORIA CHINENSIS COLLETTI, subsp. n. Northern Chestnut-bellied Quail. Differs from FH. c. australis in its smaller wing, viz., 65-67 mm., typical wing 70-77 mm., and much lighter upper surface. Type, Glencoe, Northern Territory, No. 11,965. Range, Northern Territory. 874. PORZANA FLUMINEA WHITEI, subsp. n. Southern Spotted Crake. Differs from P. f. fuminea in being much lighter grey on the under surface. Type, Eyre’s Peninsula, South Australia, No. 12,029. Range, South Australia. 88a. PoRZANA PUSILLA FITZROYI, subsp. n. Western Little Crake. Differs from P. p. palustris in being lighter above and below, and having a longer wing and larger bill. Type, Derby, North-west Australia, No. 11,956. Range, North-west. Australia. 904. PORZANA CINEREA PARRYI, subsp. n. Western White-browed Crake. Differs from P. ¢. leucophrys in its much darker head, back, thighs, and under tail-coverts. Type, Parry’s Creek, North-west Australia, No. 205. Range, North-west Australia. 2404. IREDIPARRA GALLINACEA MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Northern Jacana. Differs from J. g. rothschildi in having the yellow and black bands on the under surface much less pronounced. It has also a heavier bill. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 11,736. Range, Melville Island. 74 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I Nest: The eggs were placed on the floating roots of a water-lily, with some rotting vegetation (old leaves, etc.). There was no trace of a nest. The patch of roots measures 10 inches by 10. The eggs were only half an inch above the water-line, and their lower sides were quite wet. Hggs: Clutch four, ground-colour brownish-buff, marked all over with lines of blackish-brown, 31 mm. by 21. Jan. 12th, 1912. 287A. ARDEIRALLA FLAVICOLLIS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Bittern. Differs from A. f. disneyi in being lighter above and blue-grey below. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 11,773. Range, Melville Island. Nest: Built in a three-pronged fork of a Paper-bark tree, that had fallen into the creek and was still growing. The nest was a platform of Paper-bark twigs, with the centre covered with finer twigs. The eggs were placed in a slight depression. Height from the water, about 2 feet. The nest was partly hidden by leafy branches. The platform measured 14 inches by 10 and was 6 inches thick in the centre. Eggs : Clutch three ; white ; 42 mm, by 34. Jan. Ist., 1912. 3154. CARBO MELANOLEUCUS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Northern Little Cormorant. Differs from C. m. melanoleucus in having a thicker, heavier bill. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 11,765. Range, North-west Australia, Northern Territory. 3164. PLOTUS NOVH-HOLLANDIZ DERBYI, subsp. n. Western Darter. Differs from P. n. nove-hollandie in its larger wing- measurement, viz. 364 mm. Type, Derby, North-west Australia, No. 780. Range, North-west Australia. No. 3.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD oI OU 382. Line 1, read p. 84 for 31. 3874. NINOX STRENUA VICTORIAE, subsp. n. Southern Powerful Owl. Differs from N. s. strenua in being darker and larger. Type, Victoria, No. 12,115. Range, Victoria. 399A. TYTO LONGIMEMBRIS GEORGIAE, subsp. n. Northern Grass-Owl. Differs from 7. c. walleri in being much darker above and in having the white spots much larger; it is also larger in size. Type, Northern Territory, No. 12,114. Range, Northern Territory. 577. Add as synonym— Cuculus brisbanensis Diggles, Proc. Queensl. Philos. Soc. 1876, p. 12. Norman’s Creek, Brisbane. 585A. CHRYSOCOCCYX BASALIS MODESTUS. Northern Narrow-billed Cuckoo. Lamprococcyx modesta Diggles, Proc. Queensl. Philos. Soc. 1876, p. 12. Norman’s Creek, Brisbane. Reference List No. 585 (pars). Range, South Queensland, New South Wales. 6214. PETROCHELIDON ARIEL CONIGRAVI, subsp. n. Western Fairy-Martin. Differs from P. a. ariel in having a much paler head and back. Type, Wyndham, North-west Australia, No. 11,981. Range, North-west Australia. P. 304. Receipt of Tasmanian specimens of the bird known as Petroica phanicea shows their subspecific dis- tinctness, and that they must bear Quoy and Gaimard’s name of chrysoptera, which moreover must be used as the species-name : therefore add— 76 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 6334. PETROICA CHRYSOPTERA CHRYSOPTERA. Tasmanian Flame-breasted Robin. Muscicapa chrysoptera Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. de (itAstrobin, Zoole Vole) ioe ml iene metic sano ()) Hobart, Tasmania. Reference List No. 634 (pars). Range, Tasmania. and read— 633. PETROICA CHRYSOPTERA PH@NICEA. 634. PETROICA CHRYSOPTERA ALBICANS. 658. Read—GERYGONE ALBOGULARIS FLAVIGASTA. Acanthiza flavigasta Diggles, Proc. Queens]. Philos. Soc. 1876, p. 11. Normanton, Queensland. This name has priority over G. a. queenslandica Mathews, EST2: 6634. GERYGONE CULICIVORA JACKSONI. Reddish-crowned Fly-eater. Pseudogerygone jacksoni Campbell, Emu, Vol. XI, p. 247, 1912. _Mogil Mogil District, New South Wales. Reference List No. 663 (pars). Range, New South Wales (North-west). 6944. PACHYCEPHALA GUTTURALIS CONSOBRINA, subsp. n. Buchanan Island Black-tailed Thickhead. Differs from P. g. violete in its smaller wing and thinner bill; and from P. g. melanura in its larger size. Type, Buchanan Island, Northern Territory, No. 11,859. Range, Buchanan Island. 6948. PACHYCEPHALA GUTTURALIS VIOLETH, subsp. n. Northern Black-tailed Thickhead. Differs from P. g. melanura (type from Derby) in its much heavier bill; darker green on the back; more | No. 3.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 77 orange-coloured nuchal band; darker primaries and much larger size. Type, West Northern Territory, No. 11,020. Range, Northern Territory. 7054. PACHYCEPHALA LANIOIDES BUCHANANI, subsp. n. Allied White-bellied Thickhead. Differs from P. l. lanioides in having the black band on the breast much narrower ; and a decidedly smaller bill and wing. Type, Buchanan Island, Northern Territory No. 11,858. Range, Buchanan Island. 746. Line 3, read Vol. VII. for Vol. VIII. 8554. ACROCEPHALUS AUSTRALIS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Northern Reed-Wren. Differs from A. a. carter in its much thicker, heavier bill, and larger size generally. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 11,728. Range, Melville Island. 8584. CISTICOLA EXILIS PARRYI, subsp. n. Western Grass-Warbler. Differs from C. e. ineocapilla in having a much lighter coloured head and shorter bill. Type, Parry’s Creek, North-west Australia, No. 2,147. Range, North-west Australia. (C. e. lineocapilla can be called Northern Grass-Warbler.) 858B. CISTICOLA EXILIS TORMENTI, subsp. n. Pale Grass-Warbler. Differs from C. e. lineocapilla in its altogether paler coloration ; paler even than C. e. miata. Type, Point Torment, North-west Australia, No. 8,713. Range, Derby, North-west Australia. 78 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. 1 886B. ACANTHIZA PUSILLA CONSOBRINA, subsp. n. Pale Red-rumped Tit. Differs from A. p. hemiltont in its much paler upper surface and smaller bill, viz. 11 mm. Type, Leigh’s Creek, Central Australia, No. 11,631. Range, Central Australia. 895n. ACANTHIZA UROPYGIALIS CONDORA, subsp. n. Pale Chestnut-rumped Tit. Differs from A. wu. augusta in its much paler upper surface and rump. Type, Leigh’s Creek, Central Australia, No. 11,632. Range, Central Australia. 910A. ACANTHIZA IREDALEI HEDLEVYI, subsp. n. Alhed Thin-billed Tit. Differs from A. 7%. morgant in having a much lighter rump and darker upper surface. Type, Meningie, South Australia, No. 8,036. Range, South-east of South Australia. A. i. morgant was described from the interior of South Australia. P. 353. When working up the genus Sericornis for my Reference List, | found that under the names Sericornis frontalis, osculans, maculatus and levigaster, different species were confusedly intermingled, and with good series I attempted to unravel the tangle. The nomen- clature there given needs correction, as I find that Saxicola longirostris Quoy and Gaimard, refers to a member of this genus. Consequently on p. 354 the following altera- tions are necessary :— No. 3.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 79 Add— 9184. SHRICORNIS LONGIROSTRIS LONGIROSTRIS. Victorian Scrub-Wren. Saxicola longirostris Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. BaleNstrol.: Zool, Vol 1s, p. 200) (REX) fig. 4, 1830. Western Port, Victoria. Reference List No. 918 (pars.). Range, Victoria. and read— 918. SERICORNIS LONGIROSTRIS PARVULA. 919. SERICORNIS LONGIROSTRIS HARTERTI. 9194. SERICORNIS LONGIROSTRIS ROSIN. 920. SERICORNIS LONGIROSTRIS MINIMA. 921. SERICORNIS LONGIROSTRIS LAIVIGASTER. 9214. SERICORNIS LONGIROSTRIS HERBERTONI. 930. SERICORNIS MACULATA ASHBY ; add as synonym— Sericornis halmaturina Campbell, Emu, Vol. XI., p. 246, 1912; Kangaroo Island. 9774. SPHENURA BROADBENTI WHITEI, subsp. n. Southern Rufous Bristle- Bird. Differs from S. 6. broadbenti in being distinctly lighter above and below. Type, South Australia, No. 12,241. Range, South Australia. 1,185B. GLICIPHILA FASCIATA APSLEYI. Nest: Built in a Paper-bark sapling, leaning over Jessie Creek, suspended from the end of a limb, at a height of 3 feet from the water. The materials used were broad and fine strips of Paper-bark, lightly fastened together with cobwebs; the lining was very soft pieces of the same 80 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I material. On the outside were a few leaves woven into the sides. Dimensions outside 44 by 2? by 8 inches deep. Inside 24 by 2 by 4 inches deep. Eggs : Clutch two, ground-colour white, coloured with reddish spots all over, but more on the larger end, 20 mm. by 14. Jan. 12th, 1912. It contained the egg of Cuculus pyrrophanus dumetorum, which has the ground-colour pale stone, with a ring round the larger end of brownish and lavender spots ; 18.5 by 13.5. 1,229a. PTILOTIS LEUCOTIS TORRINGTON], subsp. n. Yellow-bellied White-eared Honey-eater. Differs from P. 1. leucotis in its very yellow abdomen. Type, Torrington, New South Wales (near the Queens- land border), No. 11,674. Range, North New South Wales (Queensland ?). 1,2298. PTILOTIS LEUCOTIS MELANODERA. Victorian White-eared Honey-eater. Philedon melanodera Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. de culANet role Zool. «Vole ey on el OL ase Sarton leuels ie Western Port, Victoria. Reference List No. 1,230 (pars.). Range, Victoria. 1,336. Read—MiIraFRA JAVANICA HALLI. Mirafra horsfieldi halli Bianchi, Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. St. Petersb., Ser. 5, Vol. XXV., 1906, p. 81, 1907. Roebuck Bay Plains, North-west Australia. This name has priority over M. milligani Mathews, 1908. Ihave to thank Dr. C. W. Richmond for pointing out this interesting alteration. 1,377. For original reference read— Pephila atropygialis Diggles, Proc. Queensl. Philos. Soc. 1876, p. 11. Normanton, Queensland. Grecory M. MatTHEws. fs Mi bss il Palen oat Be Sid yh he ae ae ‘ Ree neh THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. A SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL DEVOTED PRIMARILY TO THE STUDY OF THE AUSTRALIAN AVIFAUNA. Vou. I., No. 4. CONTENTS. PAGE ADDITIONS . . . TO MY REFERENCE LIST .. ce ASH ON THE GENERIC NAME OF THE BARN-OWL .. .. 104 ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO MY REFERENCE LIST TO THE Brrps oF AUSTRALIA. HerewitH I indicate new subspecies of Australian birds, and as a preface to so doing would comment upon a recent criticism of that Reference List. In the Ibis, 1912, p. 546, appear the sentences, “It is evident that Mr. Mathews takes quite a different view from his fellow-workers of what is sufficient variation to necessitate the recognition of a subspecies... It is quite impossible to go into controversy with... but we are quite certain that there must be a mistake somewhere ... his proposal... is not likely to be 82 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I accepted by his fellow-workers in Australia, although it may meet the approval of some of the more ardent members of the new school.” Of course, it is quite impossible to go into controversy with anyone totally unacquainted with the subject they criticise, and as the article is uninitialed I presume the Editors of the Ibis are responsible; so I must fall back upon the contributors to that journal for examples of the work of ‘“‘ fellow-workers,’ as the American ornithologists might be cited as members of the “ new school.” The first name in that same number is W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, and I would consider that writer would not claim to belong to the “‘ new school,” more especially as he is the champion cited in the above criticism, on account of his revision of the Australian Crows. In a recent number of the Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club., Vol. XXIX., pp. 26-7, Ogilvie-Grant introduced some new species, four of which are given the following characters: ‘‘(1) The upper-parts uniform deep black instead of dull brownish-black ; (2) Larger, and with the throat and breast paler; (3) larger, and with a shorter and stouter bill; (4) by its much longer bill, and by having the concealed edges of the dense feathers of the rump grey, instead of pure white.” IT agree with Mr. Qgilvie-Grant that the above characters are sufficient cause for differentiation—but I consider them of subspecific value only, not specific. Otherwise I fail to see where I disagree as to the amount of variation necessary for the nomination of a new form. The views of my fellow-workers in Australia may be crystallized by example in the same definite manner. In Bulletin No. 3 of the Royal Austral. Ornith. Union, 21.5.12, A. J. Campbell describes three new birds. No one acquainted with this worker would suggest his adherence to the ‘“‘new school,” yet his differential characters are: (1) Smaller, possessing the same lustrous deep blue-black plumage as the larger; (2) ‘“ General No. 4.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 83 coloration is more yellow” while the dark mark across the face is brownish instead of dull black ; (3) similar, except for size being smaller.” I cannot see any difference between these diagnostic characters and the ones I have given, though, as I note above, I consider my forms to be of subspecific value only, and moreover the material I handled convinced me of the necessity of naming these forms. I would also record that I hold a very conservative view as to what constitutes specific difference, and that a very large number of my subspecific forms would be granted specific rank by many good fellow-workers. I have here to thank Mr. Witmer Stone for sending me over a list of the Gouldian type-birds and their localities. This necessitates re-naming about half the birds described in the following pages :— 19. EXCALFACTORIA CHINENSIS CAIRNS, subsp. n. Northern Chestnut-bellied Quail. Differs from H. c. australis in beg much darker above, and in having the belly darker chestnut. Type, Cairns, Queensland, No. 11,796. Range, North Queensland. 194. EXCALFACTORIA CHINENSIS AUSTRALIS Gould. Type from South Australia. 42. The earliest reference is Carpophaga assimilis Gould, in Jardine’s Contr. Ornith., 1850, p. (160) 106. Cape York. Nore.—Through the delay in publication of the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, the diagnoses published in Jardine’s Contributions to Ornithology have precedence. Seven are published and six of these do not cause alterations save in the reference; the seventh necessitates a re-arrangement which will be duly noted in its place, Nos. 1133 and 1134, q 84 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 524. GEOPELIA PLACIDA HEDLEYI, subsp. n. Cape York Ground-Dove. Differs from G. p. tranquilla in its darker coloration and smaller size. Type, Cape York, North Queensland, No. 12,251, Range, Cape York. 138. Add as synonym-— Procellaria pardela Oken, Lehrb. fiir Naturg.. Vol. TIL, Zool., p. 533, 1816. Cape Seas. 144. PELECANOIDES URINATRIX BELCHERI, subsp. n. Australian Diving Petrel. Differs from P. uw. urinatrix in being smaller, and in having the under surface of the wings whiter and the grey of the breast not joined in a band. The nostrils are also larger. : Type, Australian seas, No. 13,938. Range, Australian seas (breeding in the islands). 233A. LIMICOLA FALCINELLUS SIBIRICA. I have received this bird from Melville Island: so its Australian range is now North-west Australia and Northern Territory. When recording this bird for the first time for Australia (ante, p. 31), I gave the history of the specific name, and would point out that the second paragraph on p. 32 contains a slight error. The date of the Naturhist. Dannemark quotation should be 1765 not 1763. The correct quotation of the earlier date should read : Scolopax faleinellus Pontoppidan, Danske Atlas, Vol. I., p. 402, 1763. The natural history portion there con- tained was reprinted under the title I gave, two vears later, And, unfortunately, I gave the later quotation No. 4.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 85 with the earlier date. It would be noticed that there was an error, as I gave Brunnich’s description, and he quoted a different plate number and reference to the one I included. 238. ROSTRATULA AUSTRALIS FITZROYI, subsp. n. Western Painted Snipe. Differs from R. a. australis in its larger size, and in having the spottings on the wing much lighter. Type, Fitzroy River, North-west Australia, No. 11,994. Range, North-west Australia, Northern Territory. 2474. ESACUS MAGNIROSTRIS MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Allied Long-billed Stone-Plover. Differs from H. m. neglectus in being darker above, and in having the lesser wing-coverts almost black. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 13,452. Range, Northern Territory. 2744. DEMIGRETTA SACRA BUCHANANTI, subsp. n. Northern White Reef Heron. Differs from D. s. greyi in its much longer tarsus and smaller wing. Type, Buchanan’s Island, Northern Territory, No. 13,292. Range, Northern Territory. 2914. ANSERANAS SEMIPALMATA HAMILTONI, subsp. n. Western Pied Goose. Differs from A. s. semipalmata in its larger-sized wing, and in having the knob on the head larger. Type, North-west Australia, No. 697. Range, North-west Australia, Northern Territory. 86 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. 1 2964. DENDROCYGNA JAVANICA PERONI, subsp. n. Western Whistling Duck. Differs from D. 4. gouldi in its much darker under- surface. i Type, North-west Australia, No. 12,199. Range, North-west Australia (Fitzroy River). 2974. DENDROCYGNA EYTONI MUNNA, subsp. n. Eastern Plumed Whistling Duck. Differs from D. e. eytont in having a longer wing and shorter bill; the lower-breast is also much paler. Type, Queensland, No. 3,797. Range, Queensland and New South Wales. 2984. TADORNA RADJAH FLINDERSI, subsp. n. Eastern White-headed Sheld-duck. Differs from 7’. r. rufitergum in its smaller wing, viz. 270 mm. ; the wing of rufitergum measures 285 mm. Type, Cooktown, Queensland, No. 5,804. Range, Queensland. 3014. NETTION CASTANEUM ROGERSI, subsp. n. Western Teal. The adult male differs from the adult female of N. c. castaneum in being considerably lighter on the head and back ; and in having the centre of the feathers of the under-surface not so dark. Type, North-west Australia, No. 735. Range, North-west Australia ; Northern Territory. 3064. MALACORHYNCHUS MEMBRANACEUS ASSIMILIS, subsp. n. Western Pink-eared Duck. Differs from M. m. membranaceus in its smaller wing- measurement and lighter coloration generally. — Type, Fitzroy River, North-west Australia, No. 12,203. Range, North-west Australia. No. 4.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 87 307A. STICTONETTA N2ZVOSA LESUEURI, subsp. n. Eastern Freckied Duck. Differs from S. n. neevosa in being much darker above » with the feathers not so marked with white. Type, New South Wales, No. 749. Range, New South Wales; South Australia. 3084. NyROCA NYROCA DAMPIERI, subsp. n. Western White-eyed Duck. Differs from N. n. australis in its smaller size and lighter coloration. Type, Fitzroy River, North-west Australia, No. 12,193. Range, North-west Australia. 3094. OXYURA AUSTRALIS VICTORIA, subsp. n. Eastern Blue-billed Duck. Differs from O. a. australis in its larger size and the markings on the back not so pronounced. Type, Victoria, No. 12,196. Range, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia. 3104. BrizIuRA LOBATA WESTRALIS, subsp. n. Western Murk-Duck. Differs from B. J. lobata in its darker coloration, and in general having the lobe on the under mandible larger. Type, West Australia, No. 13,939. «1 Range, West Australia. Qa) S 4 iy Ae 4 nw. 312. Read—CarBo ATER SULCIROSTRIS, 3124. CARBO ATER ATER Lesson, Traité d’Orn., p. 604, 1831; Pucheran, Revue Zool., 1850, p. 627; Sharks Bay, West Australia. Western Little Black Cormorant. Range, West Australia. 88 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I When Pucheran reviewed Lesson’s types he compared. the bird to C. chalconotus Gray, and in the monograph of these birds in the Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. the name was questionably placed in the synonymy of that species from Sharks Bay; it could scarcely be that bird, as C. chalconotus was an endemic New Zealand form. The description, of course, applies perfectly to this species. 3134. CARBO GOULDI TUNNEYI, subsp. n. Western White-breasted Cormorant. Differs from C’. g. gould: in its larger size ; wing 284. Type, South-west Australia, No. 4,457. Range, South-west Australia. 3144. CARBO VARIUS PERTHI, subsp. n. Western Pied Cormorant. Differs from C. v. hypoleucos in its smaller wing and stronger bill. Type, Perth, West Australia, No. 771. Range, West Australia. 323A. PHaITHON RUBRICAUDA WESTRALIS, subsp. n. Australian Red-tailed Tropic-Bird. Differs from P. r. rubricauda in its much larger wing. . Type, West Australia, No. 4,460. Yow ava Abie ture » Ore ieeiy oad, May 4, IRI Range, West Australia. 353A. HALIASTUR SPHENURUS TERRITORI, subsp. n. Northern Whistling Eagle. Difiers from H. s. sphenurus in being darker generally, it is also smaller. Type, Northern Territory, No. 12,135. Range, North-west Australia, Northern Territory. No. 4.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 89 542. The earliest reference is Halcyon (Syma %) flavirostris Gould, in Jardine’s Contr. Ornith., 1850, p. 105; Cape York. _See Note after No. 42 (ante). 547. DACELO LEACHII KEMPI, subsp. n. Northern Blue-winged Kingfisher. Differs from D. 1. leachii in being smaller in size and darker in colour. Type, Cape York, No. 13,227. Range, Cape York, North Queensland. 562. The earliest reference is Tanysiptera sylvia Gould, in Jardine’s Contr. Ornith., 1850, p. 105; Cape York. See Note after No. 42 (ante). 6314. PETROICA MULTICOLOR SAMUELI, subsp. n. Kangaroo Island Scarlet-breasted Robin. Differs from P. m. leggit in having the breast a much deeper scarlet and the head and back much darker. Type, Kangaroo Island, No. 12,350. Range, Kangaroo Island. 633. PETROICA CHRYSOPTERA ADDENDA, subsp. n. Flame-breasted Robin. Differs from P. ¢. phenicea (from South Australia) in its larger size and lighter upper surface. Type, New South Wales, No. 7,927. Range, New South Wales. 6684. GERYGONE LAZVIGASTER BROOMEI, subsp. n. Broome Bay Fly-eater. Differs from G. 1. levigaster in being less reddish-brown above, and in wanting the buff on lower suface. Type, Napier, Broome Bay, North-west Australia, No. 6,530. Range, North-west Australia (coast). 90 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 702. Add as synonym— Timixos meruloides Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, Vol. XI., p. 195, 1842; Tasmania. 716. Add as synonym— Rhipidura nassata “Ill.” Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Av., Vol. I., p. 322, 1835, n.n; Tasmania. 7194. RHIPIDURA FLABLLLIFERA BUCHANANI, subsp. n. Melville Island Pheasant Fantail. Differs from R. f. subphasiana in its larger size and lighter coloration. Type, Buchanan Island, Northern Territory, No. 12,468. Range, Buchanan Island. 7294. RHIPIDURA SETORA ISURA. 7298. RHIPIDURA SETORA TORMENTI, subsp. n. Western Fantail. Differs from R&. s. isura (from Port Essington) in being lighter above, and in having a longer bill and longer tail. Type, Point Torment, North-west Australia, No. 8,678. Range, North-west Australia. 731A. RHIPIDURA TRICOLOR UTINGU, subsp. n. Northern Black-and-White Fantail. Differs from R. ¢. picata in its smaller size, wing 89 mm. Type, Cape York, No. 12,870. Range, North Queensland. 736. MYIAGRA RUBECULA BROOMEI, subsp. n. Western Blue Flycatcher. Differs from M. r. concinna (from Port Essington) in being darker above and larger in the wing. Type, Napier, Broome Bay, North-west Australia, No. 6,235. Range, North-west Australia. No. 4.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 91 7364. MyIAGRA RUBECULA CONCINNA. 739. MYIAGRA LATIROSTRIS TORMENTI, subsp. n. Western Broad-billed Flycatcher. Differs from M. 1. latirostris (from Port Essington) in being lighter above, and having a narrower bill. Type, Point Torment, North-west Australia, No. 8,701. Range, North-west Australia. 7394. MyYIAGRA LATIROSTRIS LATIROSTRIS. 748. MONARCHA ALICTO TORMENTI, subsp. n. Western Shining Flycatcher. Differs from M. a. nitida (from Port Essington) in having a much narrower bill and in being smaller. Type, Point Torment, North-west Australia, No. 8,691, Range, North-west Australia. 7484. MOoONARCHA ALECTO NITIDA. 7494. MOoONARCHA ALECTO ALECTO Temminck Drymophila alecto Temminck and Laugier, Plan. Col. d’Ois., Vol. IV., pl. 430, 70 livr., 1827 ; Celebes. New Guinea Shining Flycatcher. Range, Cape York, North Queensland (fide Campbell, Hmu, Vol. XIT., p. 20, 1912). 752. The earliest reference is Monarcha leucotis Gould, in Jardine’s Contr. Ornith., 1850, p. 105*; Cape York. See Note after No. 42 (ante). 758. Delete from synonymy— Colluricincla concinna Hutton, 92 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. 1 765. Add as svynonym— Colluricincla concinna Hutton, Cat. Birds New Zeal., p. 15, 1871; New Zealand. 793. The earliest reference is— Drymodes superciliaris Gould, in Jardine’s Contr. Ornith., 1850, p. 105 ; Cape York. See after No. 42 (ante). 8014. PSOPHODES OLIVACEUS MAGNIROSTRIS, subsp. n. Large-billed Coachwhip Bird. Differs from Psophodes o. olivaceus in its much larger bill ; the tip of the tail-feathers is white ; wing 103 mm., culmen 23. Type, Rockhampton, Queensland, No. 10,980. Range, Queensland. 852. ACROCEPHALUS AUSTRALIS INEXPECTATUS, subsp. n. Southern Reed-Warbler. Differs from A. a. australis (from South Australia) in its darker colour above and below. Type, New South Wales, No. 4,614. Range, New South Wales. 853. ACROCEPHALUS AUSTRALIS AUSTRALIS. 8654. MEGALURUS ALISTERI MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Melville Island Grass-Bird. Differs from M. a. alistert in being darker above and in having a shorter wing. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 13,641. Range, Melville Island. No. 4.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 93 889. ACANTHIZA LINEATA GOULBURNI, subsp. n. Ap Striated Tit. Differs from A. J. lineata (from South Australia) in being distinctly less green above and almost white below. Type, New South Wales, No. 7,639. Range, New South Wales. 892. ACANTHIZA LINEATA LINEATA. 936. Add as synonym— Motacilla superba Shaw, Nat. Misc., Vol. I., pl. 10, Nov., 1789; Tasmania. 9364. MALURUS CYANEUS SAMUELI, subsp. n. Flinders Island Blue Wren. Differs from M. c. cyaneus in having the throat and breast much darker blackish-blue ; it is also smaller. Type, Flinders Island, No. 12,348. Range, Flinders Island. 936B. MALURUS CYANEUS FLETCHER, subsp. n. North Tasmanian Blue Wren. Differs from MW. c. australis in its shorter tail; the blue on the throat is darker and the blue band on the back is lighter. Type, North Tasmania (Ringarooma), No. 2,262. Range, North Tasmania. T designate the type-locality of M. longicaudus Gould, M. superba Shaw, and M. gouldi Sharpe as south of Tasmania, where the type of I. cyanea Gm. came from, as these three all have the longer tails. 94 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. L 9954. ARTAMUS PERSONATUS MUNNA, subsp. n. Masked Wood-Swallow. Differs from A. p. personatus (from South-west Aus- tralia) in having the black of the forehead much more pronounced and in having a thicker bill. Type, New South Wales, No. 7,300. 10118. COLLURICINCLA BRUNNEA ROEBUCKI, subsp. n. Little Brown Shrike-Thrush. Differs from C. b. parryi in its general earth-brown coloration and smaller size (wing 118 mm.). Type, Roebuck Bay, North-west Australia, No. 10,998. Range, Mid-Westralia. 10124. COLLURICINCLA RUFIVENTRIS MURCHISONI, subsp. n. Murchison Buff-bellied Shrike-Thrush. Differs from C. 7. rufiventris in having a brown back, not slate-blue; the throat is brown and the belly has no white. Type, East Murchison, Westralia, No. 3,896. Range, Mid-Westralia (Kast Murchison). 1015B. CoLLURICINCLA PARVULA CONIGRAVI, subsp. n. Western Little Shrike-Thrush. Differs from C. p. alligator in its larger size and lighter under-surface. Type, Admiralty Gulf, North-west Australia, No. 13,048. Range, North-west Australia. - 10324. CRACTICUS QUOYI JARDINI, subsp. n. Cape York Black Butcher-Bird. Differs from C. g. rufescens De Vis (black phase) in its absolutely larger size, and from C. q. spaldingi in its No. 4.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 95 noticeably smaller bill; which is even less than in New Guinea examples of C. q. quoyi. Type, Cape York, No. 9,785. Range, North Queensland (Cape York). 1043. CRACTICUS MENTALIS KEMPI, subsp. n. Cape York Black-backed Butcher-Bird. Differs from C. m. mentalis in its smaller size throughout. Type, Cape York, No. 13,154. Range, Queensland (Cape York). In the Emu, Vol. X., p. 339, 1911, Campbell recorded the New Guinea C. mentalis Salvadori and d’Albertis as a Cape York breeding bird? I have now received a series of birds from that locality, and upon comparison with a series from the type-locality I find that the Cape York bird is smaller in every dimension. An immature specimen from Nicura (the type-locality) which is just commencing to take on the adult-plumage, has a wing equalling that of the largest Australian specimen, while its bill is much heavier. The back of the neck in the Australian bird has less white, and the white on. the tail-feathers is less extensive. The bill in the New Guinea bird is longer and heavier, and the tarsi are also longer and stouter. Measurements of largest Australian specimen :— Depth. Wing. Tarsus. Culmen (exp.) 36 14 145.5 28 mm. Juvenile 36 16 146 Silteecss (Nicura) Adults 41-42.5 16 151-153 Sse (Nicura) 1073. NEOSITTA PILEATA BROOMEI, subsp. n. Western White-winged Treerunner. 96 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I Differs from N. p. leucoptera (from Port Essington) in having the centre of the feathers of the back very much darker, and the rump whiter. Type, Napier, Broome Bay, North-west Australia, No. 5,741. Range, North-west Australia. 1,0734. NEOSITTA PILEATA LEUCOPTERA. 1,109. Add as synonym— Pypra gularis Lewin, Birds of New Holland, pl. viz, 1808; New South Wales. 1,1214. PARDALOTUS PUNCTATUS MILLITARIS, subsp. n. Northern Spotted Pardalote. Differs from P. p. punctatus in being darker above, lighter below, and in having a much heavier bill, shorter wing, and a more yellowish vent. Type, Cairns, No. 13,837. Range, Cairns, North Queensland. 1.1294. PARDALOTUS MELANOCEPHALUS BARRONI, subsp. n. Northern Black-headed Pardalote. Differs from P. m. melanocephalus in having the rump orange-yellow, not buff; it is also lighter on the hack. Type, Cairns, Queensland, No. 13,245. Range, North Queensland. 1,130. PARDALOTUS MELANOCEPHALUS TORMENTI, subsp. n. Yellow-rumped Pardalote. Differs from P. m. uropygialis (from Port Essington) in being lighter on the back and in having a bright yellow rump. Type, Point Torment, North-west Australia, No. 8,471. Range, North-west Australia (coast). No. 4.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 97 11,1314. PARDALOTUS MELANOCEPHALUS UROPYGIALIS. 1,133. CINNYRIS FRENATA MACGILLIVRAYI, subsp. n. Cape York Sun-Bird. Differs from C. f. australis Gould (=C. f. oliver Mathews in its shorter bill and greener or lemon-yellow lower-breast and abdomen; and from C. f. frenata Muller (typical specimens procured by Brit. Orn. Exp., New Guinea) in its longer bill and larger size. Type, North Queensland (Cape York), No. 9,810. Range, North Queensland (Cape York). 1,134. CINNYRIS FRENATA AUSTRALIS. Cairns Sun-Bird. Nectarinia australis Gould, in Jardine’s Contr. Ornith., 1850, p. (160) 106 ; Port Molle, Queensland. Synonym—Cinnyris frenata oliver Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 391, 1912; Cairns, North Queensland. Range, North Queensland (Cairns). In Jardine’s Contr. Ornith., N. australis is described, and Gould notes: “ Differs from NV. frenata in its larger size, in its straighter bill, and in the stripe of yellow over the eye being almost obsolete. It is the bird spoken of in Mr. McGillivray’s paper as N. pectoralis, which name cannot be retained, as it had been previously applied to another member of the genus. McGillivray’s letter is quoted and we read, ‘At Port Moile I shot ... Here the captain’s servant shot a small WNec- tarinia pectoralis, respecting which I gave you a note of its having been found by Captain Ince and myself to the northward.’ ” I have concluded it would be therefore best to accept Port Molle as the type-locality of the bird described by Gould, as Nectarinia australis is the sixth bird - delineated, and after the fifth is a note: ‘“‘ The species 98 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD Volt described above are all from the continent of Australia, and were chiefly obtained on Cape York Peninsula,” thus apparently excluding this bird. 1,140. MELITHREPTUS LUNATUS YORKI, subsp. n. Northern White-throated Honey-eater. Differs from M. 1. albogularis (from Port Essington) in being more greenish-yellow above, and in having a wider white nuchal band on the back of the head. Type, Cape York, Queensland, No. 13,201. Range, Cape York. 1,1414. MELITHREPTUS LUNATUS ALBOGULARIS. 1,165. MyZOMELA NIGRA ASHBYI, subsp. n. Black Honey-eater. Differs from M. n. nigra (from West Australia) in its larger size and lighter upper coloration. Type, Mount Barker, South Australia, No. 3,025. Range, South Australia to Queensland. 1,166. MyzoMELA NIGRA NIGRA. 1,190. Add as synonym— Lacustroica alfredi Campbell, Emu, Vol. IX., p. 166, 19160. Nude name. 1,198. STIGMATOPS INDISTINCTA OUIDA, subsp. n. Queensland Least Honey-eater. Differs from S. 7. ocwlaris in its smaller size and darker throat. Type, Cairns, No. 13,840. Range, Cairns, North Queensland. 1,206. Add as synonym—.. , Ptilotis minuta Pelzeln, stern. hee Novara, Birds, p. 56, 1865; Sydney, New South Wales. No. 4.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 99 1,223. Add as synonym— Ptilotis sub-chrysops Campbell, Bull. R.A.O.U., No. 3., 1912. Bellenden Ker, Queensland. 12244. PTILOTIS CHRYSOPS SAMUELI, subsp. n. Dark Yellow-faced Honey-eater. Differs from P. c. beaconsfieldi in its much darker coloration above and below. Type, Ranges fifty miles north of Adelaide, South Australia, No. 13,094. Range, South Australia. 1,2294. PTILOTIS LEUCOTIS THOMASI. Nom. nov. for P. 1. munna Mathews, Austral Avian Ree., Vol. I., No. 2, p. 50, 1912; not P. ornatus munna Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 4106, 1912. 1,236A. PTILOTIS CRATITIA CARPENTARIENSIS. Gulf Honey-eater. Ptilotis carpentariensis Campbell, Bull. R.A.O.U.. No. 3, 1912; Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland. 1,236. Pomoris CRATITIA SAMUELI, subsp. n. Wattle-cheeked Honey-eater. Differs from P. ¢. cratitia (from Kangaroo Island) in its smaller size and generally duller coloration. Type, Eyre’s Peninsula, South Australia, No. 9,657. Range, South Australia. 1,2494. PTILOTIS CHRYSOTIS GRAINGERI, subsp. n. Allied Yellow-fronted Honey-eater. Differs from P. c. ethele in its more slender bill, and in having less yellow on the throat; and the black feathers above the ear-patch narrow. Type, Mount Grainger, South Australia, No. 11,671. Range, adjoining parts of New South Wales and South Australia. 100 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD (Vol. I 1,268. The earliest reference is— Puilotis fiigera Gould, Suppl. Birds Austr. pl. 42, March, 15, 1851; Cape York, Queensland. The Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1850, p. 278, was not published until late in 1852!! 1,275. Read—MELIORNIS NOVA-HOLLANDIA CANESCENS. Sylvia canescens Latham, Index Ornith., Vol. IZ., p. 553, 1790 ; Tasmania. This name displaces WM. n. diemenensis Mathews. In the British Museum is preserved the manuscript diagnosis of birds drawn up by Mr. Anderson, and ex- amination shows that this name must be used as above. Latham gave a detailed description “ from the papers of Mr. Anderson,” but altered somewhat that gentleman’s diagnosis, which reads: ‘“‘'The length six inches and a half. The Bill straight, subulated, a little compressed and as long as the head. The head Black; a little of the forehead, a streak above and before the eyes white. The back mixt with a little white. The wings brownish with the outer margin of the quill feathers (except a few of the inner ones) of a bright yellow, hence a large yellow spot on the wings. The tail shorter than the body, with half the outer margin of the feathers next their base yellowish and the point of the two outer ones marked with a white spot on the inner edge. The body white below with the breast and vent feathers streaked longitudinally with black. The feet black.” 1,294. MYZANTHA FLAVIGULA CASUARINA, subsp. n. Pale Minah. Differs from M. f. alligator in its much paler upper surface, lighter ear-coverts, and in haying a white rump. Type, Mount Casuarina, North-west Australia, No. 12,944. Range, Mount Casuarina. No. 4. ] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 101 1,295. Add as synonyms— Mimus carunculatus Buller, Essay, New. Zeal. Ornith., p. 10, 1865; New Zealand. Anthochera bullert Finsch, Journ. fiir Ornith., 1867, p. 307; New Zealand. 1,298. Add as synonym— Creadion pedunculatus Voigt’s ed. Cuvier’s Thierreich, Vol. I., p. 497, 1831; Tasmania. 1,500A. ANELLOBIA CHRYSOPTERA HALMATURINA, subsp. n. Kangaroo Island Red-wattle Bird. Differs from A. c. intermedia in its much darker colour generally, and form A. c. lasmania in its smaller size. Type, Kangaroo Island, No. 12,794. Range, Kangaroo Island, South Australia. 13114. HENTOMYZON CYANOTIS HEDLEYI, subsp. n. Little Blue-faced Honey-eater. Differs from I. c. harterti in its smaller size and thinner bill. Type, Cape York, Queensland, No. 13,214. Range, Cape York. 1,3144. PHILEMON ARGENTICEPS KEMPI, subsp. n. Little silvery-crowned Friar-Bird. Differs from P. a. argenticeps in its generally smaller size. Type, Cape York, Queensland, No. 13,208. Range, Cape York. 1,314. PHILEMON ARGENTICEPS BROOME, subsp. n. Western Silvery-crowned Friar-Bird. Differs from P. a. argenticeps (from Port Essington) in its larger size and longer bill. Type, Napier, Broome Bay, North-west Australia, No. 5,618. Range, North-west Australia, 102 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 1,3154. PHITLEMON ARGENTICEPS ARGENTICEPS. 1,3164. PHILEMON BUCEROIDES YORKI, subsp. n. Northern Helmeted Friar-Bird. Differs from P. b. buceroides (from Cairns) in being much lighter above and below, and in having a deeper bill. Type, Cape York, Queensland, No. 12,897. Range, Cape York. 1,3168. PHILEMON BUCEROIDES GORDONI, subsp. n. Melville Island Helmeted Friar-Bird. Differs from P. b. buceroides in its much smaller size generally ; the bill is very small, and the knob on the top of the culmen not much raised. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 13,602. Range, Melville Island. 1,3394. MIRAFRA JAVANICA MELVILLENSIS, subsp. n. Northern Bush-Uark. Differs from M. 7. nigrescens in being much lighter on the back, the feathers having rufous edges; the under surface being more like that part of woodwardi but not so red. Type, Melville Island, Northern Territory, No. 13,605. Range, Melville Island. 1,3424. ZONHGINTHUS BELLUS SAMUELI, subsp. n. Kangaroo Island Fire-tailed Finch. Differs from Z. b. bellus in its very much lighter colour and in wanting the black patch on the belly. Type, Kangaroo Island, No. 12,354. Range, Kangaroo Island. No. 4.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 103 1,4024. PTILONORHYNCHUS VIOLACEUS MINOR. lesser Satin Bower-Bird. Ptilonorhynchus minor Campbell, Bull. R.A.O.U., No. 3, 1912; Herberton. Range, Queensland (North). 1,415. The earliest reference is— Chlamydera cerviniventris Gould, in Jardine’s Contr. Ornith., 1850, p. (160) 106; Cape York. P. 302 before genus Microeca put family Muscicapide 55 Be) " Orthonyx Pe Timeliide 5p ew) Turdus Pa Turdidce “5 i Acrocephalus Ms Sylovudee 5, 306 ¥ Artamus a Artamidee », 369 Colluricincla c. Prionopidee 5 is Cracticus ie Lanvide s9 OUT zs A phelocephala Rs Paridee 5 WUD i. Neositta - Sittidce » ool cs Climacteris a Certhiidce »» 084 i Zosterops i Zosteropidee 5 086 = Dicaeum of Dicweidee ,», 3090 i Cinnyris - Nectariniidee OO a Melithreptus ie Meliphagide 1,433. Add as synonym— Gracula chalybea Voigt’s ed. Cuvier’s Thierreich, Vol. I., p. 435, 1831; New South Wales. DESCRIPTION OF EGGS. 6334. Petrowca chrysoptera chrysoptera. Clutch three, ground-colour bluish-white, spotted more at the larger end with brown and lavender ; 19 mm. by 15. Tasmania, DBI. 1,103. Zosterops lateralis tasmanica. Clutch three, ground-colour light blue; 17.5 to 18.5 mm. by 13. Tasmania, 3.12.11. 104 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [ Vol. I ON THE GENERIC NAME OF THE BARN-OWL. In the Nov. Zool., Vol. XVII., p. 500, 1910, I recorded the fact that Aluco was invalidated for use in this connection. I accepted Tyto Billberg, 1828, noting that Tyta had been introduced by the same author eight years earlier, and indicated Hybris, 1840, as being apparently next in chronological order should some authors desire to reject T'yto. A recent American author accepted the challenge and used Hybris. This note is to record a better substitute for those who do not follow the Inter- national Code.. Mr. C. Davies Sherborn, while engaged upon his invaluable work the Index Animalium, noted the introduction of the genus Flammea, and with his usual generosity brought it to my notice, and has allowed me this opportunity of making it publicly known, for which my thanks are here tendered. In the Fauna de la Moselle by Fournel, published in 1836, the Owls are divided; and on p. 101 the genus Flammea is diagnosed—the type, by monotypy, being Flammea vulgaris Fournel = Strix flammea Auct. == Strix alba Scopoli. Consequently, those who would reject Tyto Billberg, 1828, may use Flammea Fournel, 1836, for the Barn- Owls, this name having priority over Hybris Nitzsch, 1840. Gregory M. MarHews. ‘ s r 2 y ea \ ISSUED IN” CONNEXION WITH ‘THE USTRAL AVIAN Museum, Warvorn, Ponee ENGLAND: THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. A SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL DEVOTED PRIMARILY TO THE STUDY OF THE AUSTRALIAN AVIFAUNA. Vou. I., No. 5. DECEMBER 24TH, 1912. CONTENTS. ae PAGE New Grneric NAMES FOR AUSTRALIAN BIRDS.. 54 NOK ADDITIONS . . . TO MY REFERENCE LIST .. ee lelis THE GEOGRAPHIC RELATIONSHIPS OF THE BIRDS OF Lorp Howe, NorroLK AND THE KERMADEC ISLANDS .. 121 On THE GENERIC NAMES ANTIGONE AND Matuewsti4.. 122 New Susspecies oF NEw ZEALAND BIRDS... 5 oe A New Birp ror AUSTRALIA a ae ee aul A CHANGED NAME .. si Me a he sel 2s New Birps .. ie Be a Aye ee .. 126 SUBSTITUTE-NAMES .. ui es hes ane dig LY ADDITIONAL NOTES .. Ds sd i Oy ey Lag NEW GENERIC NAMES FOR AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. By Gregory M. MatHews. SomE time ago I advocated the lumping of birds under a generic name, and was warned that my action would meet with little success as it had been tried and found wanting by the American Ornithologists’ Union. My own studies in the Procellariformes and Lariformes for my Birds of Australia soon convinced me of the inability to follow up genus-lumping in any consistent manner. Hitherto no regular system has been accepted in genus-lumping, but birds have been lumped together without much reason; in some cases colour has been accorded generic rank and structural differences ignored ; in others supposed structural features have been utilised, colour-values being overlooked. Seebohm in the Geographical Distribution of the Charadriidz, 1887, wrote in the preface: “‘ The diagnosis . [of a genus] must apply to every species in the genus 106 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. T and must be inapplicable to any species outside the genus. . . Modern genera must be genetic, they must indicate affinity ; but genera founded upon the shape of the bill or the number of the toes often associate birds together whose similarity is only one of analogy, where like causes have produced like effects, in very distinct genealogical lines.” This is idealistic, and until we are able to form genetic genera, we have to make use of less perfect divisions. There can be no doubt that genera ignoring colour-values are liable to include analogous elements, and also that genera based on colour alone cannot be framed so that any consistency in their constitution can be assured. The only way cut of the difficulty, considering our present imperfect knowledge of the ontogeny and phylogeny of the lesser avian groups, is that followed by American ornithologists, viz. the recognition of many small, compact. easily defined groups usually compassed by colour, and the recognition of these as being of generic value. I have therefore decided to follow such writers as Berlepsch, Hellmayr, Ridgway, Oberholser, etc., who consistently use small compact genera, and my decision necessitated the examination of my collection with this point in view. It would also appear that this method will appeal to Australian ornithologists, as instance A. J. Campbell, Emu, Vol. III., pp. 168-171, 1904, and more recently the comment in the same journal, Vol. XIT., p. 51, 1812, regarding North’s genus Trichodere. I am _ therefore proposing new generic names for species which seem to merit such distinction, and intend to utilise these in my Birds of Australia. Those who prefer to lump can follow my Reference List, where I accepted genera with as wide limits as could consistently be employed. T would here note that as generic names I have intro- duced in many cases names composed of personal names -of the ornithologists who have worked in Australia. No. 5.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 107 I draw attention to this, as there once appeared in the Emu a grumble regarding North’s action in a similar case. Itseems a most appropriate method of nomination, and the ease with which such names become familiar and almost beautiful is evidenced by the fact that Botany has made household words of such names as Fuchsia, Dahlia, Gardenia, Banksia, etc. The characters given hereafter are simply diagnostic, and do not depend on colour, though in most cases colour has been taken into consideration. 1.* PERONISTA, gen. nov. Differs from Dromiceius in its proportionately longer bill and much shorter tarsus. Type, Dromaius peront Rothschild. 123. REINHOLDIA, gen. n. Differs from Pufinus in its proportionately longer bill and much shorter tail, the letter being less than one- third the length of the wing and not twice the length of the exposed culmen. Type, Puffinus reinholdi Mathews. 541]. MICRALCYONE, gen. nov. Differs from Alcyone in its smaller size, longer slenderer bill and weaker feet, with shorter wings. Type, Alcyone pusilla halli Mathews. 556. SAUROPATIS Cabanis und Heine, Mus. Hein., Vol. IT., p. 152, 1860 Type, Halcyon sanctus, Vigors and Horsfield ; and CyanaLcyon Bonaparte, Consp., Vol. Aniso, p. 9, 1854. Type (by sub desig.), Halcyon pyrrhopygia Gould ; must be utilised in place of Halcyon the type of which by original designation is H. senegalensis (Linné). * The number in front of the genus-name refers to the number of the species im my Reference List, 108 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD T Volt Examination of the type of Halcyon shows that the Australian Kingfishers have little affinity with the African ones, and so that Australian ornithologists can see the differences I have had the accompanying cuts prepared. HALCYON SENEGALENSIS. SSAUROPATIS SANCTUS. No. 5.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 109 Whereas the African birds have the culmen curved and depressed towards the tip, the Australian ones have the culmen tending in an upward direction, the under mandible thereby becoming differently formed; in the former the first primary is much shorter then the second, whereas in Sauropatis it is very nearly the same length, and in Cyanalcyon it is absolutely the longest. There can be little doubt that we are here dealing with distinct forms, and that the African name cannot be correctly utilised for the Australian birds. As a matter of fact the latter would be better placed in Todiramphus than in Halcyon by genus lumpers. 603. HARRIWHITEA, gen. nov. Differs from Menura in the different form of the tail, lacking the long curved outer rectrix. Type, Menura albertt Bonaparte. 628. KEMPIA, gen. nov. Differs from Microeca in its broader bill, shorter wing and shorter toes; the third primary is the longest, the fourth shorter, though longer than the fifth, the second longer than the seventh ; the first primary proportionately longer than in that genus. In the genus Microeca the third and fourth primaries are subequal, the fifth very slightly shorter. Type, Microeca flawigaster Gould. 6334. LITTLERA, gen. nov. Differs from Petroica in its weaker bill and feet, though having a longer wing with a proportionately shorter first primary. Type, Muscicapa chrysoptera Quoy et Gaimard. 637. BELCHERA, gen. nov. Differs from Hrythrodryas in its shorter broader bill, with weaker legs and feet; the wing has the fourth primary longest and the first primary proportionately 110 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I shorter than in the genus named, whicn has also the fifth primary longest. The tail is almost square. ' Type, Petroica rosea Gould. 638. WHITEORNIS, gen. nov. Differs from Peéroica in its much shorter weaker bill and weaker legs and feet. Type, Muscicapa, goodenovit Vigors and Horsfield. - 664. ETHELORNIS, gen. nov. Differs from Pseudogerygone in its much stouter wider bill, while the first primary is proportionately much longer than in that genus. Type, Gerygone magnirosiris Gould. 666. WILSONAVIS, gen. nov. Differs from Pseudogerygone in its very short slender bill and very short weak feet. Type, Psilopus fusca Gould. App. 10. RoyIGERYGONE, gen. nov. Differs from Pseudogerygone in its much longer slen- derer bill and stouter legs and feet, with the first primary proportionately longer. This genus shows an approach to Hapolorhynchus Reichenow. Type, Gerygone mathewsae Mathews. 684. TREGELLASIA, gen. nov. Differs from Pacilodryas in its shorter wider bill, weaker legs and feet and different wing formula. Type, Hopsaltria capito Gould. 699. GILBERTORNIS, gen. nov. Differs from Pachycephala in its stouter bill and longer tail which is square, not forked, and in its proportionately much longer and broader first primary of the wing. Type, Pachycephala rufogularis Gould. No. 5.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 111 701. MATTINGLEYA, gen. nov. Differs from Pachycephala in its longer thinner bill, though much shorter wing and tail and weaker feet, with the first primary longer proportionately. Type, Pachycephala peninsule Hartert. 705. ALISTERORNIS, gen. nov. Differs from Pachycephala in its larger bill and in having the first and second primary longer than in that genus. Type, Pachycephala lanioides buchanani Mathews. 713. QUOYORNIS, gen. nov. Differs from Hopsaltria in its stronger bill, legs and feet and its shorter and more rounded wings with the first primary proportionately longer, and the fourth, fifth and sixth longest and sub-equal, the second equalling the seventh. Type, Muscicapa georgiana, Quoy et Gaimard. 724: HOWEAVIS, gen. nov. Differs from Rhipidura in its much longer stouter bill and stouter feet with a proportionately longer first primary. Type, Muscicapa rufifrons Latham. 752. CARTERORNIS, gen. nov. Differs from Pirezorhynchus in its weaker bill and feet and in its different wing-formula : the third, fourth, fifth and sixth primaries are sub-equal and longest, the seventh longer than the second which is about twice the length of the first, the eighth sub-equal with second ; from Symposiachrus in its longer narrower bill and. different wing-formula. Type, Monarcha leucotis Gould. 777. MACRORTHONYX, gen. nov. Differs from Orthonyx in its more powerful bill and stronger legs and feet, with longer wings and tail; in 112 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I the wing the first primary is proportionately longer and the second shorter than in Orthonyx; the fourth, fifth and sixth primaries longest and subequal. Type, Orthonyx spaldingi Ramsay. 784. SAMUELA, gen. nov. Differs from Cinclosoma in its weaker bill, legs and feet and in its differently shaped tail and wing; the tail is comparatively short and rounded, not long and fan- shaped ; the wing has the second primary almost equal to the succeeding three which are longest and subequal and longer than the sixth; in Cinclosoma the second primary is noticeably shorter than the third and also shorter than the sixth while the first primary is pro- portionately longer in that genus. Type, Cinclosoma cinnamomeum Gould. 812. MorGANORNIS, gen. nov. Differs from Pomatostomus in its proportionately longer bill though shorter wing and weaker feet ; in the wing the first and second primaries are proportionately shorter than in that genus. Type, Pomatorhinus swperciliosus Vigors and Hors- field. 865. DULCIORNIS, gen. nov. Differs from Megalurus in its shorter bill and weaker feet while the wings and tail are also shorter; from Poodytes in its stronger stouter bill and stronger feet with longer wings and comparatively shorter tail ; the wing has the first primary comparatively longer than in Poodytes. Type, Megalurus alisieri Mathews. 888. MILLIGANIA, gen. nov. Differs from Acanthiza in its stouter bill and longer thinner legs and feet. Type, Acanthiza robustirostris Milligan. No. 5.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 113 977. MACCOYORNIS, gen. nov. | Differs from Sphenura in its more powerful bill and stronger feet and legs and in the longer wing and tail. Type, Sphenura broadbenti McCoy. 949. HALLORNIS, gen. nov. Differs from Malurus in its weaker bill and feet, its longer more wedge-shaped tail, and in lacking the erectile ear-coverts. Type, Malurus cyanotus Gould. 954. LEGGEORNIS, gen. nov. Differs from Malurus in its heavier bill and longer wedge-shaped tail though possessing erectile ear-coverts. Type, Malurus lamberti Vigors and Horsfield. 964. Rosrna, gen. nov. Differs from Malurws in its much longer stouter bill with curved-over tip; much stronger feet and the first primary longer, the second proportionately shorter. Type, Malurus coronatus Gould, 965. RYANIA, gen. nov. Differs from Malurus in its shorter wing and tail and in lacking the erectile ear-coverts. Type, Muscicapa melanocephala Latham. 995. CAMPBELLORNIS, gen, nov. Differs from Artamus in its longer, more curved and much narrower bill and its comparatively longer tail though shorter wing. Type, Ocypterus personatus Gould. 114 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 997. AUSTRARTAMUS, gen. nov. _ Differs from Artamus in its narrow and weaker bill, and weaker feet and much shorter wing ; from Campbeliornis in its shorter broader bill and shorter tail. Type, Artamus melanops Gould. 1002. PSEUDARTAMUS, gen. nov. Differs from Austrartamus in its much shorter broader bill and weaker feet. Type, Loxvia cyanoptera Latham (=Turdus sordidus Latham). 1093. MIcRARTAMUS, gen. nov. Differs from Pseudartamus in its still weaker bill, though broad and weaker feet and shorter wings and tail. — Type, Artamus minor Vieillot. 1020. BowyERIA, gen. nov. Differs from Pinarclestes in its stouter heavier bill, and stronger feet with longer wings and tail, and from Colluricincla in its much shorter wings and tail though as stout in the bill and feet. Type, Collyriocincla bower Ramsay. 1031. MELLORIA, gen. nov. Differs from Cracticus in its stouter longer bill and longer wing and tail and stouter feet. Type, Cracticus quoyi tunneyt Hartert (—C. spaldingt Masters). 1076. NROSITTELLA, gen. nov. Differs from Neositia in its shorter stouter bill and weaker legs and feet, and shorter wing with comparatively . longer first primary. Type, Sitella striata Gould. No. 5.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 115 1079. WHITLOCKA, gen. nov. Differs from Climacteris in its shorter stouter bill and stronger feet and comparatively much longer first primary ; from Neoclima in its broader heavier bill and longer first primary though shorter wing. Type, Climacteris melanura Gould. 1,086. NEOCLIMA, gen. nov. Differs from Climacterts in its shorter, more slender, less curved bill and stronger feet, the longer wing with comparatively longer first primary. Type, Climacteris picumnus 'Temminck. 1,112. PAaRDALOTINUS, gen. nov. Differs from Pardalotus in its stronger bill and much stouter legs and feet, and with the first primary of the wing longest ; in Pardalotus the second and third primaries are longest and subequal, the first longer than the fourth. Type, Pipra striata Gmelin. 1,132. NESOPARDALOTUS, gen. nov. Differs from Pardalotus in its shorter, heavier bill, and in the wing-formula, the first four primaries being longest and subequal. Type, Pardalotus quadragintus Gould. 1,187. RAMSAYORNIS, gen. nov. Differs from Glciphila in its shorter but comparatvely stouter bill, with weaker legs and feet; the wing is shorter and the tail comparatively much shorter, | while the first and second primaries are proportionately shorter. Type, Gliciphila subfasciata Ramsay. 116 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 1,204. MICROPTILOTIS, gen. nov. Differs from Ptilotis in its absolutely longer though more slender bill, while ne wing is shorter and the legs and feet weaker. Type, Péilotis gracilis Gould. 1,295. COLEIA, gen. nov. Differs from Anthochera in its longer bill and short rounded wattles, and from Dyottornis in its shorter wing — and tail and different shaped wattles, though the bill is as powerful. Type, Merops carunculatus Latham. Nore. —Anthochera was introduced by Vigors and Horsfield in the Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. XV., p. 320, 1826, and three species were attached, A. carunculata, A. mellivora, and A. phrygia. In a footnote they added A. lewinti and noted that Merops nove-zealandic may be referred to this group. No type was designated, and A. carun- culata Latham has been generally accepted as type. But A. carunculata Vigors and Horsfield was not M. carunculatus Latham as they sup- posed, but Corvus paradoxus Daudin, which they included in the synonymy. Their A. lewinwi, only added in the footnote, is the true M. carunculatus Latham. Consequently, the acceptance of A. carun- culata (nee Latham) as type would involve the use of Anthochera for Corvus paradoxus Daudin. But Vigors and Horsfield carefully diagnosed their genus, and this diagnosis, upon which the genus must stand, forbids such action. The words “‘ Cauda elongata, rotundata, vix gradata’’ are not applicable to Daudin’s species, but are quite correct when A. mellivora (the second species) is examined. I there- fore designate this as type of Anthochera Vigors and Horsfield, and have generically named the other species as above. Thus Anthochera Vigors and Horsfield, 1826, will replace Anellobia Cabanis, 1851, and Dyottornis will replace Anthochera Auct., not Vigors and Horsfield. 1,298. DyoTrornis, gen. nov. Differs from Anthochera Vigors and Horsfield, Type A. mellivora (= Merops chrysopterus Latham), in its longer bill, much stronger feet, longer wing and very long fan-shaped tail, and the presence of long pendulous wattles. Type, Corvus paradoxus Daudin. No. 5.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 117 1,316. NEOPHILEMON, gen. nov. Differs from Philemon in the presence of a high swollen protuberance on the basal half of the keel of the upper mandible, and in its comparatively shorter tail; from Tropidorhynchus it differs in the nature of the pro- tuberance, and in the feathering on the top of the head, and in lacking the pointed, scaly breast-feathers and in its more powerful bill and longer first primary of the wing. Type, Philedon buceroides Swainson. 1,319. MICROPHILEMON, gen. nov. Differs from Philemon in its shorter weaker bill and weaker legs and feet, and shorter wings and tail.. Type, Buphaga orientalis Latham (= Tropidorhynchus citreogularis Gould. 1,413. RoGERSORNIS, gen. nov. Differs from Chlamydera in its stronger bill and stronger legs and feet, with longer wings and tail and propor- tionately longer first primary, while the third and fourth primaries are longest and subequal, in Chlamydera the third is longest. Type, Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis Jardine and Selby. 89. PORZANOIDEA, gen. nov. Differs from Porzana in its wing-formula and_ the possession of a long hallux, in which respects it resembles Lapornia, than which it has a much shorter wing, longer bill and stonger feet; in the wing the first primary is shorter than the sixth, while the secondaries are very long. Type, Gallinula immaculata Swainson. 118 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO MY REFERENCE LIST. By Grecory M. MatTHEews. 2994. 'TADORNA TADORNOIDES WESTRALIS, subsp. n. West Australia Sheld-drake. Differs from 7. ¢. tadornoides in being much less conspicuously marked and in its smaller size. Type, South-west Australia. Range, South-west Australia. 4504. APROSMICTUS ERYTHROPTERUS YORKI. Little Crimson-winged Parrot. Differs from A. e. erythropterus in its smaller size and from A. e. coccinospterus in being lighter coloured on the back. Type, Cape York, No. 13,790. Range, North Queensland. 5554. HALCYON PYRRHOPYGIUS UTINGI, subsp. n. Allied Red-backed Kingfisher. Differs from H. p. obscurus in having the wings more sky-blue, the head less green and the black nuchal stripe more pronounced. Type, Cape York, No. 14,682: Range, Cape York, North Queensland. 615. CHERAMCCA LEUCOSTERNUM STONEI, subsp. n. Black-and-White Swallow. Differs from C. c. leucosternwm in being much darker in the head and mantle. Type, New South Wales, No. 1,549. Range, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. No. 5.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 119 663. GERYGONE CULICIVORA BERNEYI, subsp. n. Queensland Fly-eater. Differs from G. c. exsul in having a more pronounced buffish rump and a much smaller amount of white at the tip of the tail. Type, Queensland, No. 14,514. Range, Queensiand. 8704. CHTHONICOLA SAGITTATA QUEENSLANDICA subsp. n. Queensland Field-Wren. Differs from C. s. sagittata in the almost entire absence of buff in the flanks, and in having a much smaller amount of white tipping to the tail-feathers. Type, Queensland, No. 14,567. Range, Queensland. 948. MALURUS SPLENDENS RIORDANI, subsp. n. Northern Banded Wren. Differs from M.s. splendens in its much deeper colour, and in having a very much slimmer bill. Type, Yalgoo, Mid-Westralia, No. 5,250. Range, Interior of Mid-Westralia. 10394. CRACTICUS TORQUATUS COLEI, subsp. n. Mallee Butcher-Bird. | Differs from C. t. olindus in its lighter back and wing- coverts, and from C. t. torquatus in its smaller bill. Type, Mallee, Victoria, No. 14,457. Range, Mallee, Victoria. 1044, FALCUNCULUS FRONTATUS LUMHOLTZI, subsp. n. Queensland Shrike-Tit. Differs from F. f. frontatus in having a much shorter erest, more white in front of, and below the eye, and a much paler coloured tail with larger white tips. Type, Queensland, No. 14,613. Range, Queensland. 120 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 13254. ANTHUS AUSTRALIS QUEENSLANDICA, subsp. n. Northern Pipit. Differs from A. a. australis in being darker above, with less white in the 2nd and 3rd tail-feathers. The shaft of the 2nd tail-feather is black, not brown. Type, North Queensland, No. 14,623. Range, Queensland. 13834. NEOCHMIA PHAITON FITZROYI, subsp. n. Western Crimson Finch. Differs from NV. p. pheton in having the belly and the red on the throat lighter, in having a brown instead of a black head and in having a grey rump. From JN. p. eredaler it differs in having the belly and the red on the throat darker and in having a much darker head. — Type, Fitzroy River, North-west Australia, No. 9,234. Range, North-west Australia. App. 3. Ninoa boobook royana, subsp. n. Norfolk Island Boobook. Differs from NV. b. boobook in its smaller size and the under surface covered with small spots. Type, Norfolk Island. Range, Norfolk Island. 3854. NINOX CONNIVENS ADDENDA, subsp. n. South-western Winking Owl. Differs from NV. ¢. connivens in its larger size. Type, South-west Australia. Range, South-west Australia. OAM THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 121 THE GEOGRAPHIC RELATIONSHIPS OF THE BIRDS OF LORD HOWE, NORFOLK AND THE KERMADEC ISLANDS. THROUGH the courtesy of the author, Mr. W. R. B. Oliver, I have received a reprint of an article in the Trans. New Zeal. Inst., Vol. XLIV., 1911, pp. 214-221, 1912, bearing the above title. The paper had been read before the Auckland Institute on the 28th November, 1911, so that the writer was unable to take into con- sideration the new facts indicated in my Birds of Australia, Vol. I., p. 255, 1911 (October 31st), where I stated my acceptance of Hull’s Phillipian Subregion and its attachment to Australia with the proviso: “I propose to discuss fully the relationship of these groups in another place, and more clearly show the exact alliances of the Phillipian Subregion than is here advisable.” Oliver writes (p. 216): “The existence of two brevipinnate rails belonging to genera found elsewhere only in New Zealand is sufficient proof of a former land connection with that country. . . As the two flightless rails mentioned above are closely allied to New Zealand forms, it is probable that the land bridge was severed in the north before the connection with New Zealand was broken. Lord Howe Island would, therefore, properly belong to the New Zealand biological region. Australia can have no claim whatever to include Lord Howe Island within its regional limits.” As noted above I intend later to fully discuss this subject, but would here record that Lord Howe Island harbours no bird whose alliances are nearer New Zealand than New Caledonia and Australia. Hedley (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 1889, p. 402) wrote: “A close relationship exists between the animals and plants of New Caledonia and New Zealand. That it has never been recognised by New Zealand writers, is simply owing to New Caledonian literature and material being in- accessible to them.” Oliver carefully noted the New 122 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. £ Caledonian relationships as recorded in literature, but decided, “The two flightless rails turn the balance in favour of New Zealand.” The fact that one of the two flightless rails is generically allied to Tricholimnas, a New Caledonian flightless close relation of the Australian Eulabeornis, and has nothing in common with its supposed allies Gallirallus (—Ocydromus) and Cabalus, while the other has no close relationship with the New Zealand Mantellornis (—Notornis) but is a true Porphyrio—and might. have more easily arrived at Lord Howe Island from New Caledonia than from New Zealand—annuls that conclusion. Grecory M. Matuews. ON THE GENERIC NAMES ANTIGONE AND MATHEWSIA. By Proressor L. Brasin. In that part of Wytsman’s Genera Avium, Family Gruide, which is shortly to be published, I have retained the generic name Antigone Reichenbach, 1852, for Cranes of the Grus antigone group; theretore I must say why I do not follow Iredale, who rejects this name, and has introduced instead the new one Mathewsia (Bull. B.0.C., Vol. XX VII., p. 47, 1911). Iredale rejects Antigone Reichenbach because pre- viously, in 1847, Gray would have utilised the same name for a molluse (P.Z.S. 1847, p. 184). To my mind, Gray’s use of the word cannot be taken into consideration. In effect, Gray did not propose Antigone as a new name for a mollusc, he only included “Antigone”? Schu- macher, 1817, in the synonymy of Chione. There is evidently here an orthographical error—perhaps a simple mistake of transcription made by Gray, or an error of the press; Schumacher has never used Antigone for Venus cancellata, as Gray says, but Antigona. That is quite different. In Schumacher’s work, the word Anti- gone which is used at the same time as Antigona, is only the French translation of the Latin word. The logical No. 5.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 123 conclusion, which I adopt, is that Antigone was really non-existent when Reichenbach proposed it for Grus torquata, and consequently for the allied species among which is, in particular, the Australian Crane, Antigone rubicunda (— A. australasiana), the type of the genus Mathewsia Iredale. Notrt.—Mr. Mathews has generously handed me Mr. Brasil’s note for comment. I would point out that the principle I followed has been generally accepted by working scientists in most branches of science, and to cite an instance in Ornithology I would quote the case of Praticola Kaup, which though apparently a misprint might be an emendation for Pratincola Koch. Whichever it was it has been wnanimously accepted as pre-occupying Praticola Swainson, and the invalidity of the latter name has never been questioned. Further, American ornithologists reject Athene on account of a prior Athena, and I could easily multiply such instances. However, my studies in conchology convinced me, as they did most other students in the same science, that it is quite impossible to guess whether a misspelling by Gray was due to bad proof-reading or intention: if the latter be admitted, then my action must be endorsed ; as we have no means of now finding out with regard to the former, we must simply accept Gray’s written word, mistakes and all included. This has been agreed to by working conchologists in the case of Phytia. It is quite open to argument that Gray deliberately intended his spelling of Antigone to be an emendation of Schumacher’s name : in any case, if the opinions of the Nomenclatural Com- mission be accepted, the correct transliteration of Antigona would be Antigone, and Gray’s action in thus altering it would be endorsed. There is also the argu- ment that Schumacher in the first instance misspelt Antigona for Antigone, as is evident by his French equivalent. All these points were carefully considered before Mathewsia was proposed, and I have no doubt that my action will be later accepted by all working ornithologists.—Tom IREDALE. 124 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I NEW SUBSPECIES OF NEW ZEALAND BIRDS. By Rosin Kempe. BOWDLERIA PUNCTATA VEALE, subsp. n. Differs from B. p. punctata in its brown (not fulvous) upper coloration, its chestnut-coloured crown, the ground- colour of its under-parts being grey (not ochraceous), its flanks brown (not fulvous), the shafts of its tail-feathers being black (not brown), and its uniformly smaller size. Wing 59 mm. Type, Umawera, Hokianga, North Island. In my possession. This is the bird commonly known as B. punctata, which name, in the form B. ». punctata, must be used for the bird now known as £6. fulva Gray. Synallaxis punctata was described by Quoy et Gaimard (Voy. de “VAstrol,’’? Zool., Vol. I., p. 255, 1830) from Tasman Bay, South Island. This is undoubtedly the bird later described by Gray (Ibis, 1862) as S. fulvus, of which the type-locality was unknown, and I therefore designate as the type-locality of S. fulvus Gray: Tasman Bay, South Island. PROSTHEMADERA NOVA-SEELANDIZ PHBE, subsp. n. Differs from P. n. nove-seelandie in its darker colora- tion throughout ; the metallic colour of the head a deeper green, the back darker, the metallic blue of the breast a deeper shade, and the abdomen-coloration much darker, almost black. Wing 150 mm. Type, Umawera, Hokianga, North Island. In my possession. PROSTHEMADERA NOVAI-SEELANDI® KWINI, subsp. n. Differs from P. n. nove-seelandie in its smaller size, deeper blue coloration on the head and smaller, less con- spicuous white throat-frills. Wing 142 mm. Type, Auckland Islands. Nos o:)|)) ANE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 125 A NEW BIRD FOR AUSTRALIA. In my Reference List (Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 223, 1912) I separated the Snipe occurring on the north-west coast of Australia as No. 237 Gallinago australis oweni, on account of its much smaller size, giving it the ver- nacular name of Little Australian Snipe. It was obvious that the two were separable and now while engaged upon the Wading Birds for my Birds of Australia I find that they belong to two distinct species, the Little Australian Snipe being a form of Gallinago megala. Its exact relationship will be shown in my work, and figures given whereby the birds can be recognised by Australian workers. This is an interesting addition to the Aus- tralian Avifauna, being a representative of an additional species. G. M. MatHews. A CHANGED NAME. Dr. C. W. RicumMonp has drawn my attention to the fact that in the Journ. d’Hist. Nat., Vol. II., No. 20., p. 297, Pl. 39, 1792, Louis Bosc described Coturnix ypstlophorus from an unknown locality, and suggested its usage for the bird known as “ Synoicus australis Latham, 1801.” Upon investigation there can be no doubt regarding its applicability, and as it has nine years priority it must be adopted as the species-name. I designate Tasmania as the type-locality, as it most probably was brought back by Marion, who called at Fredrik Hendry Bay in 1772. No French traveller called at New South Wales before 1792. The names to be used will therefore be :— 14. Coturnix ypsilophorus australis. 15. Coturnix ypsilophorus ypsilophorus. 16. Coturnix ypsilophorus cervina. 16a. Coturnix ypsilophorus melvillensis. 168. Coturnix ypsilophorus queenslandicus. 17. Coturnix ypsilophorus rogersi. 18. Coturmix ypsilophorus mungi. G. M. Maturws. 126 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I NEW BIRDS. In the last number of this Journal (p. 91), I included :-— No. 7494. MoNnaArCHA ALECTO ALECTO Temminck : Dry- mophila alecto Temminck and Laugier, Plan. Col. d’Ois., Vol. IV., Pl. 430, 70 livr., 1827, Celebes. New Guinea Shining Flycatcher. Range, Cape York, North Queensland (fide Campbell, Emu, Vol. XII., p. 20, 1912). Campbell’s identification was probably made on the Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. IV., as quoted, but the volume was written as long ago as 1879. I have now received specimens from Cape York, and upon com- parison with Celebes birds they prove abundantly distinct, as was expected; the Cape York birds differ from typical birds in having a narrower bill, while the wing is longer. Though Campbell’s record was the first. of P. alecto from Australia, specimens had been obtained by most collectors at Cape York, viz. Macgillivray as long ago as 1849, Coppinger in 1881, and Meek more recently. All these however had been called P. nitidus, and are all in the British Museum, being received since the date of publication of the Catalogue of Birds. Macgillivray’s specimen was from the Gould collection and was marked “? sp. nov.” I propose to call the Cape York bird :— 7494. MoONARCHA ALECTO CAMPBELLI, subsp. n. Cape York Shining Flycatcher. Type, Cape York, No. 14278. Range, Cape York, North Queensland. 9554. MaAtLuRUS LAMBERTI MORGANI, White. Differs from M. 1. assimilis in having much darker chestnut scapulars. Type, from Lake Gairdner, South Australia. G. M. Matruews. No 5.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 127 SUBSTITUTE-NAMES. In the preceding cases I have followed the International Rules of Zoological Nomenclature, from which those at present accepted by the American Ornithologists’ Union somewhat differ. For the benefit of those who would prefer the latter, I propose the following names :— Northipsitia, nom. nov., for Spathopterus North ; not Spathoptera (Lath.), Serv. Ann. Soc. Ent., France, Vol. IV., p. 50, 1835. Y psilophorus, nom. nov., for Synoicus Gould, 1837 ; not Synoicum Phipps, Voy. North Pole, App., p- 199. 1774. Hemiptilotis, nom. nov., for T'richodere North, Ibis, 1912, p. 120 ; not T'richoderes Gmelin, Mag. de Zool., 1848, p. 35. Tredaleornis, nom. nov., for Heteromyias Sharpe, 1879 ; not Heteromyia Say, Amer. Entom., Vol. IT., Pl. 35, 1825. G. M. Maturws. ADDITIONAL NOTES. I (G. M. MatHews) have shown that some species commonly accredited to Gould, were first described by other authors who used Gould’s manuscript-names. Such are : PRION ARIEL Schlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Vol. VI., Procell., p. 18, 1863, Bass Strait. Gould, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Vol. XIII, p.266, 1844, being a nude name, and his description did not appear till Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. Il., p. 473 1865. EM vue sean Figihe ct eM aR ES ww tu ld 128 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I MENURA ALBERTI Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Av., Vol. L., p- 215, 1850, Richmond River, N.S.W. xould, Proce. Linn. Soc. (Lond.) 1850, p. 67, being a nude name, and ihe description did not appear till Birds Austr. Suppl., Pl. 19, 1851. It might also be noted that some nude names were proposed by Gould and never taken up. Such are : OREOCINCLA NOVAI-HOLLANDIAZ Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., Pt. IV., App., p. 3, 1838. ' FaLco RUFIVENTER Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1837, p. 97, 1838. Re-named Fatco Frontatus Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., Pt. III., Pl. 42, 1838. .. MILVUs NoV&-HOLLANDI& Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1837, p. 99, 1838. Re-named Minvus isurus Gould, Synops. Birds, Austr., Pt. III., Pl. 47, 1838. . Mitvus atTERRm™us Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1837, p. 99, 1838. Re-named Minvus arrinis Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., Pt. III., Pl. 47, 1838. ~ ATHENE LEUCOPSIS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1837, p. 99, 1838. Probably Strix cycutops Gould, Proc. Zool. Soe. (Lond.) 1836, p. 140, 1837. These last four have not previously been noted in synonymy. SU ch ie be x Thee te | Error GREGORY M.. THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD. A SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL DEVOTED PRIMARILY |. TO THE STUDY OF THE AUSTRALIAN AVIFAUNA. Vor. I., Nos. 6 & 7. FEBRUARY 287TH, 1913. A LIST OF THE SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS DESCRIBED BY JOHN GOULD, WITH THE LOCATION OF THE TYPE- SPECIMENS. By WitTMER STONE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH GREGORY M. MatHews. THe details of the sale of Gould’s Collection of Australian birds to Dr. Wilson of Philadelphia are. set forth in the late Dr. Bowdler Sharpe’s Analytical Index to the Works of John Gould, London, 1893. The purchaser is there referred to as “John Wilson,” but his correct name was Thomas B. Wilson.* | ' Dr. Wilson was a patron, and for a time president, of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and his entire ornithological collection, numbering some twenty thousand specimens, was presented to that institution, where it is still preserved. The negotiations for the Gould purchase were carried on by one of his brothers, then resident in England, probably Mr. Edward Wilson, and were completed by August, 1847. The, specimens, apparently all skins, were sent to Verreaux Brothers, in Paris, to be mounted, * For biographical notice, see Cassinia, 1910, p. 1. oe tnd PO ee er eae ee a Ta a Nak A po an ae ~—, , 130 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I and were shipped by them to Philadelphia, where they had arrived by June, 1849—doubtless sooner. There were 1858 specimens in all, and fortunately only a few have been lost. Verreaux prepared a manuscript-catalogue of the collection based, as some memoranda show, on an original catalogue of Gould’s, which was apparently never sent over to America. The information contained in this catalogue is transcribed on the bottoms of the stands, and consists of the number, name, sex and locality of each specimen, with the addition of the legend: ‘“‘ Type, xould, Bds. of Australia ’’— every bird being so marked regardless of whether it was the type of the species or not. The localities are usually very general, and are abbre- viated, most of the specimens being marked “ N. 8. Wales,”’ ““V.D. Iand,”’ “ W. Australia,’ “N. Australia,” or “S$. Australia.”” Some, however, bear more exact data, as for instance, ‘‘ Port Essington,’ “ K. G. Sound,” ** Pp. Lincoln,” “ Moreton Bay,” “‘ Bass Straits,’ “‘ Torres Strait,” “‘ Houtman’s Abrolhos,” and ‘“‘ Kangaroo Island.” It is easy to see how a slight error in copying from the original catalogue would make “N. Australia’ into ““W. Australia,’ etc. Furthermore, as the data of the catalogue are arranged in columns and quotation marks are used extensively, another source of error in locality is provided. That a few errors have resulted from these causes is evident, as indicated beyond. When I assumed charge of the ornithological collections of the Philadelphia Academy some twenty-five years ago, one of my first interests was to have the type- specimens unmounted and placed in metal cabinets where they have since been preserved, while all of the stands containing the Verreaux labels have been saved and marked to correspond with the specimens. In correspondence with Mr. Gregory M. Mathews, he kindly offered to publish a list of the types in the Austral Avian Record, and corrected the references to many of the species contained in a rough draft that I had Nos. 6 & 7.| THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 131 submitted to him, which as he has shown elsewhere should date from the “Synopsis ”’ instead of from certain numbers of the Proceedings of the Zoological Society, which were not issued until long after the dates they bear. Mr. Mathews also added a number of species described from material not in the collection purchased by Dr. Wilson. This enlarged list has again been revised by both of us, and the Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum has been consulted for data on types preserved in that institution. In the case of each species, one specimen has been selected as the type and so marked, and usually this selection has been easily made, as the individual bird described by Gould was readily identifiable by locality, sex, measurements, etc. In other cases where no indi- vidual bird was mentioned in the original description, the selection has been arbitrary, and is final. While most of Gould’s Australian types are in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy, it should be borne in mind that some species were described from material that was never in his possession ; a few other types were never sent over, better specimens, apparently, having been substituted ; while types of species described after the date of the Wilson purchase in 1847, are usually to be found in the British Museum, which secured Gould’s later Australian material. In the following list the species have been arranged by Gregory M. Mathews in the order of his Reference List, with the numbers of the list preceding each name. The first specimen number of the type is that of the Ornithological Catalogue of the Philadelphia Academy, while that in parentheses refers to the Verreaux Cata- logue. Where the type-locality given in the original description differs in any way from that on the specimen, it is given in parentheses after the reference. [In some cases the locality is given as “‘ New South Wales=Queensland.” The latter state was part of New South Wales up to 1859. Victoria was also part of New South Wales up to 1850.] 132 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 4, CASUARIUS AUSTRALIS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1857, p. 270 (North Queensland). The Type specimen, according to Gould, was lost. 5. Mrcapopius tumuuus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. ‘Lond.) 1842, p. 20 (Coburg Peninsula). 12770 (833), G, Port Essington=Type. 7. Lereoa ocEeLtiaTA Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1840, p. 126, 1841. 13615 (836), g, “South Australia’? = West Aus- ° tralia—Type. The type-locality is Swan River, West Australia, but all three of the specimens in the Gould collection are marked ‘8. Australia,” which, as explained above, has been due to an error in transcribing the data. 12. CoTURNIX PECTORALIS Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., Pt: If, Pl. 29, 1837. 12307 (1085), G, South Australia. This specimen agrees well with the description, but the type-locality given by Gould is New South Wales. 14. SyNoicus sorpIpus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.} 1847, p. 33. 12327 (1073), South Australia—=Type. 15. SYNOICUS DIEMENENSIS Gould, Proce. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1847, p. 33. 12326 (1074), g. Tasmania=Type. 16. SyNoIcUS CERVINUS Gould, Handb. Birds. Austr., Vol. I., p. 195, 1865 (Port Essington). Type in the British Museum (Cat. Birds, Vol. XXIL., 1893, p. 248). 19. EXCALFACTORIA AUSTRALIS Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I1., p. 197, 1865. Three specimens of this bird are in the Gould Collec- tion, all labelled EH. chinensis. 12336 (1079), J,South Australia, may be regarded as the Type. i Nos.6 & 7.| THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 133 20. HEMIPODIUS MELANOTUS Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., Pt. I, Pl. 30, 1837. The only locality mentioned is “‘ Van Diemen’s Land,” and the Type specimen was stated to be in King’s College London. Since lost. In the Handb., Vol. I., p. 182, Gould says that he described the species from a specimen received from Moreton Bay! Two specimens are in the Gould Collection both from North Australia. 22. HEMIPODIUS MELANOGASTER Gould, Synops. Birds Austy;, Pt. E.; Pl.31, 1837. Gould reters to specimens in the Zoological Society Collection, and in King’s ‘College, London. Three are in the Gould Collection, of which 12425 (1199), New South Wales, agrees closely with the description. 24. HEMIPODIUS SCINTILLANS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc (Lond.) 1845, p. 62 (Houtman’s Abrolhos). 12437 (1187), 4, West Australia=Type. 7. Hemreopius castTanotus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soe (Lond.) 1839, p. 145, 1840 (N.W. Coast). 12426 (1189), g, Port Essington=Type. bo 30. HEMIPODIUS PYRRHOTHORAX Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1840, p. 150, 1841. 11429 (1181), 2°, New South Wate 32. Hemreoprus VELOX Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1840, p. 150, 1841. 12431 (1183), g, New South Wales—Type. PEpIONOMUS TORQUATUS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1840, p. 114, 1841 (Plains of Interior South Australia). “No. 1200 Gould Collection, ¢, South Australia.” 36. was probably the Type, lois cannot now be found. PEDIONOMUS micRoURUS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soe. (Lond.) 1842, p. 26 (Interior South Australia). 134 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I This was based on a young individual of the last. Although none are labelled microurus it is possible that 12417 (1201) from South Australia is the Type. 38. Prminopus swartnsontt Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Liond.) 1842, p. 18 (River Clarence and Moreton Bay). 13058 (45), 9, New South Wales=—Type. 39. Prininopus EWING Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1842, p. 19 (Port Essington). 13074 (46), ¢, North Australia=Type. 40. LAMPROTRERON PORPHYROSTICTUS Gould, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. 4, Vol. XIII., p. 187, 1874 (Cape York). Type in the British Museum (Cat. Birds, Vol. XX1I., p. 115). 42. CARPOPHAGA ASSImILIS Gould, in Jardine’s Contr. Ornith., 1850, p. (160), 106 (Cape York). Type in the British Museum (Cat. Birds, Vol. XXI., p. 169). 51. Geopetia pLactipA Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1844, p. 55. 13437 (60), 3, Port Essington=Type. 52. GROPELIA TRANQUILLA Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1844, p. 56 (Liverpool Plains and Banks of Namoi). 13430 (56), 3, New South Wales=Type. 57. CHALCOPHAPS LONGIROSTRIS Gould, Birds Austr., Vol. I., Introd., p. lxix., 1848. 13579 (37), &, Port Essington= Type. 64. CotumBa (PERISTERA) HISTRIONTCA Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1840, p. 114, 1841. 13534 (13), J, New South Wales—Type. Nos. 6 & 7.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 135 66. PETROPHASSA ALBIPENNIS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc, (Lond.) 1840, p. 173, 1841. 13566 (46), g, West Australia=Wyndham=Type. 70. LOPHOPHAPS FERRUGINEA Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. II., p. 137, 1865 (Sharks Bay and Dirk Hartog’s Island). Type in the British Museum (Cat. Birds, Vol. XXI., p. 534). 72. GEOPHAPS PLUMIFERA Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1842, p. 19 (North-west Coast). 13563 (41), g, Interior of Australia agrees with the description, but the Type was said to be in the Collection of B. Bynoe, Esq. 74, LOPHOPHAPS LEUCOGASTER Gould, Birds Austr. Suppl., Pl. 69, 1867 (South Australia). Type in the possession of Mrs. Craufuird, since lost. 83. EULABEORNIS CASTANEOVENTRIS Gould, Proc. Zool, Soc. (Lond.) 1844, p. 56. 6183 (1493), ¢, Gulf of Carpentaria—Type. 87. PoRZANA FLUMINEA Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1842, p. 139, 1843. | 6259 (1526), g, New South Wales=Type. 88. PoRZANA PALUSTRIS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1842, p. 139, 1843. 6238 (1528), ¢, Tasmania=Type. 90. PorzANA LEUCOPHRYS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1847, p. 33. 6243 (1522), 4, Port Essington=Type. 92, GALLINULA VENTRALIS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1836, p. 85, 1837 (Swan River). Type collected by Lt. Breton and Capt. Brete and presented to the Zoological Society. 136 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 95. GALLINULA RUFICRISSA Gould, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. IV., Vol. IV., p. 110, 1869 (Cape River, Queensland). Type lost. 96, GALLINULA TENEBROSA Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1846, p. 20 (South Australia). A specimen in the British Museum from Gould, collected in South Australia (Cat. Birds, Vol. XXIII., p. 168) is probably the Type. 102. PoRPHYRIO BELLUS Gould, Proce. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1840, p. 176, 1841. 6401 (1488), J, West Australia=Type. 103. Funica AUSTRALIS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1845, p. 2. 6335 (1502), 3, West Australia=Type. 107. Popitcers euLARIS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lona.) 1836, p. 145, 1837. 4594 (1333), ¢, New South Wales=Type. 110. Popickrs NESTOR Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1836, p. 145, 1837. 4575, ¢, Tasmania-=Type. 1144. APTENODYTES UNDINA Gould, Proc. Zool. Soe. (Lond.) 1844, p. 57. 1340 (4491), 3, Tasmania=Type. 117. 'THALASSIDROMA NEREIS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Liond.) 1840, p. 178, 1841. 5135 (1174), 9, Bass Strait=Type. 119, 'THALASSIDROMA MELANOGASTER Gould, Ann. Mag, Nat. Hist., Vol. XI, p. 367, 1844. 5146 (1176), 3, no locality. South Indian Ocean probably =Type. 120. THALASSIDROMA LEUCOGASTER Gould, Ann. Mag: Nat. Hist., Vol. XIII., p. 367, 1844 (36° 8. x 6° 47’ E.). 5144 (1169), 3, no locality =Type. Nos. 6&7.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 137 122. PUFFINUS ASSIMILIS Gould, Synops. Birds Austr, Pt. IV., App., p. 7, 1838 (N.S. Wales). 5160 (1418), East Coast—Norfolk Island=Type. 124, Purrinus sPpHENURUS Gould, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Vol. XIIT., p. 365, 1844 (Houtman’s Abrolhos, West Australia). 5171 (1414) g, West Australia—Type. 125. PUFFINUS CARNEIPES Gould, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Vol. XIIT., p. 365, 1844. 5177 (1416) 9 West Australia=Type. 127. PUFFINUS BREVICAUDUS Gould, Birds Austr., Vol. VIL., Pl. 56, 1847 (Green Island, Bass Strait). 5168 (1409), 4, Bass Strait—Type. 129. PROCELLARIA CONSPICILLATA Gould, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Vol. XIII., p. 362, 1844 (Atlantic and Pacific). 5111 (1666), ¢, Australian seas=Type. 134. PROCELLARIA MOLLIS Gould. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Vol. XIII, p. 363, 1844 (S. Atlantic). 5085 (1678) g, Atlantic Ocean=Type. 135. PROCELLARIA SOLANDRI Gould, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Vol. XIII., p. 363, 1844 (Bass Strait). Type in British Museum (Cat. Birds, Vol. XXV., p. 411). 136. PROCELLARIA LEUCOPTERA Gould, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Vol. XIII., p. 364, 1844 (Australia). 5087 (1680), ¢, Port Stephens==Type. 140. PRION MAGNTROSTRIS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1862, p. 125 (locality unknown) [=New Zealand]. Type in the British Museum (Cat. Birds, Vol. XXV., p. 433). 138 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. I 147. DiomepDEA cauTa Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1840, p. 177 (Bass Strait). 4518 (1638), 9, Tasmania—Type. 148. DIOMEDEA cCULMINATA Gould, Proce. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1843, p. 107, 1841. (S. Indian and Pacific Oceans [Bass Strait]). 4515 (1640), 3, Australian Seas=Type. 154. HYDROCHELIDON ¥FLUVIATILIS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soe. (Lond.) 1842, p. 140, 1843. 5004 (1782), g, New South Wales—Type. 155. STERNA MACROTARSA Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., Pt. I1., Pl. 37, 1837 “ Tasmania ’’— Victoria. Type in Collection King’s College, since lost. 156. SYLOCHELIDON STRENUUS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1846, p. 21 (South Coasts). 5037 (1691), 3, Port Stephens=Type. 157. STERNA GRACILIS Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1845, p. 76. 4924 (1779), ¢, Houtman’s Abrolhos=Type. 158. THALASSEUS TORRESIIZ Gould, Proce. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1842, p.140, 1843 (Port Essington). Type lost. 159. STERNA POLIOCERCA Gould, Synops. Birds Austr., Pt. If., Pl. 37, 1837 (Tasmania). Type in Collection King’s College, since lost. 5064 (1786), 2 Tasmania is typical. STERNA MELANORHYNCHA Gould, Birds i 799. Add as synonym— Dasyornis abeille: Lesson, Echo du Monde Savant, llth year, No. 4, July 7th, 1844, col. 80; New South Wales. - §868a. EREMIORNIS CARTERI ROGERSI, subsp. n. Northern Desert-Bird. Differs from H. c. carteri in being much more reddish above. Type, Hall’s Creek, Kimberley Gold Fields (North- west Australia), No. 3817. Range, North-west Kimberley. + 9634. MALURUS PULCHERRIMUS STIRLINGI, subsp. n. South-western Blue-breasted Wren. Differs from M. p. pulcherrimus in having the chestnut scapulars and the head much darker, and the ear-coverts lighter; the flanks also are browner. Type of WM. pulcherrimus is from the Wongan Hills. Type, Stirling Ranges, No. 10503. Range, South-west Australia. ~ 11494. MELETHREPTUS ATRICAPILLUS MINNIE, subsp. n. Queensland Brown-headed Honey-eater. | Differs from M. a. atricapillus in having a brown nuchal collar. Type, Central Queensland. Range, Queensland. 1) _» 11504. MELETHREPTUS ATRICAPILLUS MALLEE, subsp. n. Mallee Brown-headed Honey-eater. Differs from MW. a. submagnirostris in its smaller size. Lype, Mallee, Victoria, No. 10136. Range, Malee. No.8.| THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 193 12304. PTMOTIS LEUCOTIS MALLEE, subsp. n. Mallee White-eared Honey-eater. Differs from P. 1. melanodera (Q. et G.) in having a smaller white ear-patch, heavier bill, and darker upper- surface. Type, Mallee, Victoria, No. 10140. Range, Mallee. No. 1236. Prmoris CRATITIA ZARDA, nom. Nov., replaces Ptilotis cratitia samueli Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., p. 99, 1912; not P. chrysops samueli id., ib., ante (No. 1224). 13314. ANTHUS AUSTRALIS ROGERSI, subsp. n. Melville Island Pipit. Differs from A. a. tribulationis, and every other Austra- lian subspecies, in being very dark; the feathers on the upper-surface and on the breast being very dark blackish-brown. Type, Melville Island, No. 15789. Range, Melville Island, Northern Territory. 1347A. ZONMGINTHUS CASTANOTIS ROEBUCKI, subsp. n. Dark Chestnut-eared Finch. Differs from Z. c. mungi in being darker above and in having the chestnut ear-patch much darker. Type, Roebuck Bay, North-west Australia (coast), No. 11044. | Range, North-west Australia (coast). Z. c. wayensis is a pale, inland form. 1356. Add as synonym—_ Webongia albiventer Lesson, Echo du Monde Savant, 12th year, No. 13, February 2nd, 1845, col. 295; Queensland. so | 194 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD {Vol. I ADDENDA. 954. GALLINULA MOLUCCANA YORKI, subsp. n. Pale Rufous-tailed Moorhen. Differs from G. m. rufierissa, as figured by Gould from the Cape River, in being lighter above, lighter under tail- coverts, and in having the abdomen light grey and not buff. Type, Cape York, North Queensland, No. 15966. Range, Cape York. 304. SPATULA CLYPEATA INDIANA, subsp. n. Eastern Shoveler. Differs from S. c. clypeata Linné in having a shorter, broader bill; the white on the breast much more extensive. It is also slightly larger. Type, India. Range, Siberia, through the Malay Archipelago. 376A. NINOX BOOBOOK MACGILLIVRAYI, subsp, n. Cape York Boobook Owl. Differs from N. b. boobook, in its smaller size and lighter coloration throughout. Total length 320 mm. ; culmen 16; wing 218; tail 123; tarsus 4(). Type, Cape York, North Queensland, No. 13881. Range, Cape York. No. 8.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 195 NEW GENERA. By Grecory M. MAtHEws. 27. AUSTROTURNIX, gen. nov. Differs from Turnix Bonnaterre in having a much thicker, deeper bill. Type, Turnix castanotus Gould. Austroturnix melanogaster. a castanota castanota. » » melvellensis. 9 ,, alligator. > » magnifica. Ms olivit. i. pyrrothorax pyrrothorax. 29 35 bern ey. & velox velox. » ,, leucogaster. 3p » vinotincta. 95 » preturata. 69. 'TERRAPHAPS, gen. nov. Differs from Geophaps in having the bare space round the eye much more extensive ; deeper and heavier bill, and stouter feet. Type, Geophaps smithii Jardine and Selby. 271. Myona, gen. nov. Differs from Notophoyx in having the bill a little more than half the length of the tarsus. Type, Notophoyx pacifica (Latham). 273. ‘TONOPHOYX, gen. nov. Differs from Notophoyx in having a very long crest. Type, Notophoyx flavirostris (Sharpe). 282. 'TOBURIDES, gen. nov. Differs from Butorides in having a longer bill in pro- portion to its tarsus. Type, Butorides rogerst Mathews. » 7 Fis erin 196 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD ~~ [Vol. I 4164. ZANDA, gen. nov. Differs from Calyplorhynchus in its very flat, narrow bill and different wing-formuli—3rd, 4th, and 5th longest and subequal, Ist shorter than 5th. Type, Calyptorhynchus baudina tenwrostris Mathews. © 985. MyTIsa, gen. nov. ) ws) Differs from Diaphorillas in having a larger and more slender bull. Type, Diaphorillas howe: Mathews. 1169. Mertomyza, gen. nov. Differs from Cissomela in having the 2nd _ primary much shorter than the 3rd. Type, Myzomela obscura Gould. 1379. NEOP@PHILA, gen. nov. Differs from Neochmia in having the tail-feathers more pointed. Type, Pephila belcheri Mathews. 1438. NEOSTREPERA, gen. nov. Differs from Strepera in lacking the very ciseme: hook at the end of the maxilla. Type, Strepera arguta Gould. I take this opportunity of describing the eggs of 1085. Climacteris rufa orientalis Mathews. Clutch, two; ground-colour pale stone, covered all over but more at the larger end, with reddish-brown and lavender spots of irregular shape ; 24 by 19mm. Gawler Ranges, South Australia. Collected by Captain 8. A. White on September 6th, 1912. ' 912, p. 197. We congratulate Mr. Mathews on the successful issue of this instalment of his arduous oe and on the continued excellence of the text and plates. 1912, p. 673. These parts of Mr. fete work include the majority of the Australian Procellariiformes or Petrels; and, apart from the excellence of the plates and the life-histories of the birds, where they are known, are of great importance to all who are interested in the correct identification of the members of this adimittedly difficult group. : Inthe first place, the Author has been fortamate See to rediscover at the British Museum the original manuscript of Dr. Solander. The value of this discovery can hardly be over-estimated. Mr. Mathews now gives us exact copies of all these diagnoses and this enables us to make up our minds on many doubtful points and to check the work of later authors. But this is not the only boon that he has conferred ‘on workers at the group. He proceeds to review the authorities on Pathe Order from the earliest monograph by Latham to the latest by ~ Dr. Godman, and to show the connection of Latham’s descriptions with the Banksian drawings and J. R. Forster's work, which is the more necessary as the former does not seem to have had access to. Solander’s notes. mAUK. a 191, p. 504, The work is one revisionary as regards questions of nomenclature and the status of forms belonging to the Australian avifauna. 2 1912, p. 124. The first volume warrants the liberal praise bestowed upon Part I., as regards the character of both the text and plates. 1912, p. 550. The high ea set in Volume c is maintained in the parts before us, both plates and letterpress being beautifully executed, while the history, synonymy and relationship ° the various species are treated at length. ‘Taken all together these parts of Mr. Mathews’ work constitute one of the most important contributions to our knowledge of the Procellariiformes that has yet appeared. 1°13, p. 124. Parts 3 and 4 of the Second Volume of Mr. Mathews’ great work are before us, and testify to the energy with which the _ publication is being carried on. In style these parts are similar to those that have preceded them, and they are ehully up to the high standard mM Hat characterised the Firet me, aN Me S obi resis VOLUMES I. ‘and . NOW. COMPLETE, The Pvcnss is ey limited to 300 Numbered ce & BIRDS| AUSTRALIA, GREGORY M. MATHEWS — ‘MEMBER OF THE AUSTRALIAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ — UNION AND THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION... A complete work, compiled from all published sources and from the author's own ie observations, together with those of a large number of field-naturalists in: all Sparts: Sanaa of Australia. , eb WITH HAND-COLOURED PLATES Drawn by H. GRONVOLD, J. G. KEULEMANS, G: E. LODGE, and other We ents A well-known Artists. Tae Oe b 2 Tener ieee a chen ROYAL QUARTO (13493), PRINTED ON RAG PAPER* | ISSUED IN TWO-GUINEA PARTS : AT LEAST FOUR OF WHICH APPEAR EACH YEAR. Prospectus and pes Plate on application. Volume I. (Five Parts) Unbound, £10 10 0 Values Il. (Four Parts! Unbound &8 8 0 Volumes I. and II. ANG a Bound Full Best Morocco each 1210 O | Volumes J. and Ii. ee a Bound Half Best. Morocco each 11 7 0 ee “Lonpon: WITHERBY & CO., 326, HIGH HOLBORN, W.C. _ OPINIONS OF TWO LEADING ORNITHOLOGICAL JOURN IBIS. AOL, p. 176. We have now core us, the first part of tee new work on Australian Birds, which is the more welcome as that — Gould has been long out of date, and we shall now be able” to fe was scattered. ba nis hi HE , PVH ANN PAU CUR ntatt aA ; Bi f if i) py Ale) yan He): At i MNO ht EAU BN cea pee cna a An ‘ he AN A) ) mest: iN} 17 Heh Na Ne Hie ADP (Ray aN mes | Hut me) wit eae by WSs a teU ia u Atal) BHAA HAVA WAGE a bi shies Oe a Meu ees Naan mie racket: He hint a Bae oa stat MS Wee Min eticcea ri aaa ssc An