6 Campbell, Some Additions to H. L. White Collection. [„pj"iy 



size only or slight variation of colour constitute a scientific 

 warrant for separating a sub-species ? I think not. 



Emblema picia. Painted Finch. 



Mathews states {Nov. ZdoL, xviii., p. 428) that the Coongan 

 birds (it. p. coongani) are paler in coloration than those from 

 Gould's type locality, thought to be Derby. It does not appear 

 so, according to the latter's plate 97, vol. iii., " Birds of Australia." 

 Two skins [S and ?) in the " H. L. White Collection " from the 

 North-West Cape are identical with Coongan specimens collected 

 by Whitlock. Mathews now pronounces Gould's type locality 

 to be Depuch Island, near the coast, between Cossack and Yule 

 River [A. A. R., ii., p. 102). That being the case, all these North- 

 western (proper) birds are doubtless Gould's true Emblema pida. 



In plumage the dark under parts vary in individuals. Some 

 are black, others more brownish, while the scarlet markings, in 

 instances, are absent from the throat, or altogether from the 

 under surface. 



Pomatorhinus rubeculus. Red-breasted Babbler. 



The well-defined " Red-breasted " Babbler appears to inhabit 

 the North-West and the great interior. These specimens (two $ 

 from Upper Coongan) answer Mathews's nigrescens, which is the 

 darkest race of this species. However, it is questionable whether 

 there be a tangible sub-specific difference between nigrescens and 

 the real nibecidus, from Derby. I think Mr. Mathews will find 

 that North-West Australia is Gould's type locality, and not 

 " Port Essington, N.T.," as quoted in his (Mathews's) " 1913 

 List," p. 202. 



Artamus personatus. Masked Wood-Swallow. 



Male and female from type region (W.A.) Eastern birds 

 (munna) are larger and darker, but there is less difference between 

 the respective females. 



Melopsittacus undulatus. Warbling Grass-Parrot. 



A female. Slightly paler in colour than typical specimens, but 

 the skin is marked " immature." I venture the opinion, after 

 examination of much material, that the " Check-list " Committee 

 will find great difficulty in separating ornithologically either of 

 Mathews's subs — intermedius and pallidiceps — of this interesting 

 little species of wide-world aviary fame. One has to consider the 

 various and extreme seasons these birds have continually to 

 contend with travelling throughout their extensive inland habitat. 

 In this connection there is a very interesting note by Dr. Wm. 

 Macgillivray in The Emu, xiii., p. 158. 



Malurus assimilis. Purple-backed Wren- Warbler. 



The true Eastern M. lamherti appears to be a very separate 

 form (sub-species), while M. assimilis is more mixed, and extends 

 right across the inland provinces of the continent. It is a poor 

 race, or variety, that one cannot name except one knows the 

 locality it is from. Of the assimilis type, the Dawson bird, on the 



