70 THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY 



voyage of the Chevert, described and figured under the name of 

 Monacanthus Cheverti, a fish which we believed to have been up to 

 that time undescribed. We mentioned at the time that, with the 

 exception of there being no trace of the third dorsal spine — the 

 chief distinguishing feature of the genus Batistes — the Fish 

 seemed to be identical with Batistes acuhatus, Linn. It turns 

 out that the absence of the spine in our specimen must have been 

 the result of accident, as a few days ago Mr. Masters pointed out 

 to me specimens of the same Fish from the Endeavour River, in 

 which the third spine was distinctly visible. The proper name 

 of the fish is therefore Batistes aculeatus, and Monacanthus Cheverti 

 must sink into a synonym. 



Some further remarks on Poephila Gouldice and Poephila 



mirabilis {Bomb, et Jacq) 



By E. P. Ramsay, F.L.S, &c, Curator of the Australian Museum, 



Sydney. 



In my last note on this species (P.L.S. of N.S.W., vol. I, 

 pt. iii, p. 281), I mentioned that, on account of the black- 

 headed (P. gouldice) and the crimson-headed birds (P. mirabilis) 

 having been found breeding together, I was wont to 

 consider the former, females of the latter, and that both were 

 of the same species. Further investigations, however, have 

 caused me to modify my viefrs on this subject, and to speak with 

 more confidence in the matter. I find now that birds, undoubtedly 

 males, having black heads, have been found breeding with 

 similarly coloured females, and crimson-headed males, with 

 females also crimson-headed, as has been previously pointed out 

 by Mr. Gould.* This, however, does not prove them to be 

 distinct species, as we well know that many birds breed in com- 

 paratively speaking immature plumage, and others again take 

 years before they attain the livery of the fully adult birds. This 

 I believe to be the case in the present instance. The young 

 birds of the first year at least, have the plumage dull brown, with 

 an indication of a pectoral band. As they become older, the head 



•Gould's Handbook, 1 p. 422. 



