Australian Birds in the Collection of the Linnean Society. 901 
This bird also exhibits so general a resemblance to the pre- 
ceding species, that we should at once have referred it to it as a 
variety, were it not that it differs in its geographical situation, as 
well as in some minuter characters. It is a native of Van Die- 
men's Land, where it was met with by Mr. Caley, while the 
other species is found in New South Wales. "That gentleman 
noted also that the irides of the present bird were brown, while 
those of Pod. humeralis were yellow. The chief difference in 
their plumage is as follows: The longitudinal streaks on the 
head of Pod. humeralis are bold and broad, diffusing a strong 
black shade over the head ; those of Pod. Cuvieri are slender 
and more distant from each other, and leave the fuscous-brown 
of the head predominant. The Pod. Cuvieri wants the fulvous 
fascia on the shoulder, and the fascie on the tail are not so 
strongly marked as in Pod. humeralis. The bill also of the Van 
Diemen's Land bird is somewhat shorter than the bill of the 
other. We have seen a few other specimens of Pod. Cuvieri 
which came from the same loc: -as our specimen; as also 
some other birds of the New South Wales species: and those 
leading marks of distinction stated above seemed constant be- 
tween them. At the same time we must observe, that there 
appeared much variation in the different specimens of each of 
these supposed species; and we consequently cannot speak 
with the same certainty respecting the difference of species in 
this group, as in groups less subject to variation. We therefore 
state our doubts on these points, while we follow the general 
` plan which we have prescribed for ourselves in all such doubtful 
cases, of keeping apparent species distinct, until proof is given 
of their being identical. - 
Mr. Caley calls all these birds by the native name of Benit’. 
He observes that they are night birds, and seem stupified when 
found upon the wing by day. 
VOL. XV. 
E ee CNIL apri ids tu ER 
9 D Fam. — 
