ON A NEW SUB-SPECIES OF PSOPHODES — NORTH. 1 3 



0\ A NEW SUB-SPECIES of PSOPHODES CREPITANS. 

 By Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S., Ornithologist. 



For many years past I have known that the specimens of 

 Psophodes collected by Messrs. Cairn k. Grant in 1887 and 1889 

 at Boar Pocket, North-eastern Queensland, were different in 

 several respects from the P. crepitans, inhabiting New South 

 Wales and Victoria. While lately examining the Reference 

 Collection 1 found another skin from the same locality, which 

 was obtained by Mr. W. S. Day on the 4th of May, 1891. As all 

 the .specimens collected at Boar Pocket at wide intervals are 

 alike, I take the present opportunity of pointing out the 

 distinctive characters of this northern race of Psophodes crepitans- 



Psophodes crepitans lateralis, subsp. nov. 



Adult. — Like P. crepitans, Gould, but diifers in having the 

 lateral feathers of the tail, which is shorter, tipped with pale- 

 brown instead of white. Moreover, the sides of the lower flanks 

 are olive-green, whilst in P. crepitans they are ashy-brown. 

 Total length 98 inch; wing 3-9, tail 5-4, bill 09, tarsus 1'3. 



//a6.— Boar Pocket, N.E. Queensland. 



Type. — In the Australian Museum, Reg. No. 0-4645. 



Remarks. — I have selected the largest and finest specimen as 

 the type. The tail measurements of two more adult males from 

 the same locality are respectively 5-2 and 5 inches. Specimens of 

 P. crepitans, obtained in the II la war ra District of New South 

 Wales vary in the total length from 10-5 to 11 inch, and in the 

 length of the tail from 5-75 to 61 inch. 



Boar Pocket is situated on the table-lands of the Upper Barron 

 River, about thirty-two miles from Cairns. 



