( 16 ) 



Page oT : Species 405. Cuculas paUiJus Latliam, [ml. Orn. Sujj/>L p. Ix (ISOl) 

 replaces C. iyiornatus Vig. & Horsf. 



Dr. Hartert, in tlie Sov. /.ool. xii. p. :^1T, I'JUo, first cast doubt upon the 

 traditional identification of Latham's Pale Pigeon with tiie Cuckoo. From an 

 examination of the Watling drawings, from which Latham drew up his descriptions, 

 Shan'c (///.</. Coll. B. M. vol. ii. p. 145, liiOti) tentatively referred the tyi)e drawing 

 of Latham's Pale Pigeon to Loj//wlaimus untareticus Shaw. Such an extraordinary 

 identification led me to examine tlie Watling drawings, whicli are preserved in the 

 British Museum, and I find the drawing to be unmistakably of the Cuckoo, aud 

 hence Latham's name must be reinstated. The points of inaccuracy raised by 

 Dr. Hartert are visible on the drawing, but it is quite a good representation of the 

 Cuckoo, and however Sharpe wrote his note comparing it with L. aiUarcticus 

 I cannot understand, save tliat it was purely a lapsus calami. 



Page 57 : Species 406. Cacomantis rubrkattis Latham, liid. Oni. Stijipl. p. Iv 

 (1801) 

 replaces C. rufuliis Vieill. 

 „ „ Species 407. Caeotiumtis variolosus Horsfield, Trans. Liim. Soc. I.oiirl. 

 vol. XV. p. 300 (181'6) 

 rei)laces C.Jiabellifonnis nee Latham. 



The nomenclature of these Cuckoos has been the subject of some discussion. 

 North, in the Iljis,\i. 53, 1900, has, from an examination of the descrijitioiis, reversed 

 the traditional identifications, preferring rufulus Viellot, JS'oiic. Diet. iPJJist. Sat. 

 vol. viii. p. '.I'ii, 1817, for the species previously known a,s _/fabelli/'ormis Latham, 

 and using JlahelUJormis Latham for the species known as variolosus Horsfield. 

 Sharj)e, in the Hist. Coll. B. M. ii. p. 121, I'JOO, recognised the Watling drawing 

 upon which y/'('f//('W//o/v«/.s was founded as apjilicable to that species as commonly 

 understood, though he pointed out many inaccuracies. This figure was reproduced 

 in the General Synopsis, and it is obviously not applicable to any Australian 

 Cuckoo : the black band ou its throat prevents its adoption for any species, 

 and I therefore reject Jiabelliformis as indeterminable, and probably extra- 

 Australian. When examining the Watling drawings I recognised that some of 

 them, such as this, are obviously not representations of Australian birds, however 

 untrustworthy they might be. I do not consider any of the drawings untrust- 

 worthy, as the great majority are recognisable at sight, whilst most are really 

 good figures. 



The Watling drawing No. 202, upon which is founded the Si/lcia rubricata 

 Latham, fnil. Orn. Sicppl. p. Iv, ISOl, is a splendid representation of the bird 

 previously known a,sJlabclliJ'ormis Latham, and was so recognised by Sharpe (p. 142) 

 when dealing with the Watling drawings. ('onse(piently it is available for this 

 species, and we can resume variolosus Horsfield for the species jireviously known 

 under that name, but which a{)pearcd in my Handlist nsjlabellijormis. 



It may nut be out of place to note that in the Watling drawings, Nos. 202 aud 

 203 are both named Ruddy Warbler, the latter named as I'emale. This latter was 

 correctly identified by Sharpe as Eop.ialtria australis. 



The description of the Uuddy Warbler in the Gen. 5y«. Siippl. ii. p. 24'J 

 is based upon both figures, but the description in the Ind. Orn. S/ippl. p. Iv, upon 

 which the name rubricata stands, applies solely to the Cuckoo. 



