19. SYNCECUS. 247 



for while describing his fourth epecies (S. cervinus) he remarks : 

 " tlie Swiimp-Quails of Australia must either be regarded as con- 

 stitutiiig but one or several species — a point which must be left 

 for future invcstip;ation." 



liesidcs the differences of plumage, indi%iduals differ considerably 

 one from another in size, though this is of little or no imjiortance. 

 Having had the advantage of examining a comparatively large 

 series of these birds from all parts of their range, I am perfectly 

 satisfied that there is only one species. The changes in the plumage 

 of the upper parts are very similar to those found in Excalfactoria 

 chinensis. 



1. Syncecus australis. 



'Nevf JloWand Q\m\l, Lafk. Gen. Syn. Suppl. ii. p. 283 (1802); id. 



Gen. Hist. viii. p. 306 (1823). 

 Coturnix australis, Temm. Pig. et Gall. iii. pp. 474, 740 (1815) ; 

 Sfeph. in Shard's Gen. Zool. xi. p. 373 (1819) ; Vieill. Tahl. Encycl. 

 Meth. i. p. 308, pi. 237. fig. 2 (1823) ; Gould, Si/n. B. Austr. text & pi. 

 (1837-S) ; Gray, List of B. pt. iii. Gull. p. 39 (1844) ; id. Gen. B. 

 iii. p. 507 (1846). 

 Terdix australis, Vieill. N. Diet, d'llist. Nat.xxx. p. 262 (1817) ; id. 



Gal. Ois. ii. p. 40, pi. ccxv. (1825). 

 Dwarf Partridge, p. 305 [ d ], atid Elegant Quail, p. 306 [ $ ], Lath. 



Gen. Hist. viii. p. 300 (1823). 

 Synoicus sordidus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 33 [S. Australia] ; id. B. 

 Austr. V. pi. 91 [te.xt] (1848) ; id. Handb. B. Austr. ii. p. 195 

 (1805) ; BanLsay, P. Linn. Soe. X. S. W. i. p. 186 (1876), ii. p. 196 

 (1877) [distribution] ; Masters, P. Linn. Soe. K. S. W. ii. p. 275 

 (1877) [Port Darwin] ; Bamsay, Tab. Li.ot Aust. B. p. 19 (1888). 

 Svnoieus diemenensis, Gould, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 33 [Tasmania] ; id. 

 ' B. Austr. V. pi. iK) [text] (1848) ; id. Handb. B. Au.'^tr. ii. p. 194 

 (1805); Bamsni/, P. Linn. Soe. N. S. W. i. p. 185 (1870), ii. 

 ]i. 19(i (1877) [distribution] ; id. Tab. List Aust. B. p. 19 (1888) ; 

 North, X. >.y B. B. Austr. p. 290 (1889). 

 Svnoieus australis, Gould, B. Austr. v. pi. 89 [text] (1848) ; id. 

 'Handb. B. Awtr. ii. p. 193 (1805) [X. S. Wales, S. Australia, 

 Tasmania]; Diyi/les, B. Austr. ii. pt. xx. pi. 96 [text] (18t)8); 

 Jiamsai/, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 119 [N.E. Queensland]; id. P. Linn. 

 Soe. X.S. jr. i. pp. 185, 219 (1870), ii. p. 190 (1877) [distri- 

 bution] ; id. Tab. Liit Aust. B. p. 19 (1888) ; North, N. 4" E. 

 B. Austr. p. 289 0889). 

 Svnoieus cervinus, Gould, Handb. B. Austr. ii. p. 195 (1865) ; 

 'Ramsay, P. Linn. Soe. N. S. W. i. pp. IsO. 3>i4, 394 (1876), ii. 

 p. 190 (1877), iii. p. 290 (1878), iv. p. 101 (1879) [distribution]; 

 id. Tab. List Aust. B. p. 19 (1888) ; North, N. ■$■ E. B. Amtr. 

 p. 291 (1889). 

 Coturnix (Svnoieus) australis, Gray, List Galliiue Brit. Mas. p. 61 



(1867) ; i(V. Hand-l. B. ii. p. 208 (1870). 

 Syncecus australis, Miill. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 280 [Melbourne]. 

 Synoecus diemenensis, Miill. P. Z. S. 18(i9, p. 280 [Melbourne]. 

 Coturnix (Synoicus) sordidus, Gray, Hand-l. B. ii. p. 268 (1870). 

 Coturnix (Synoicus) diemenensis. Gray, Hand-l. B. ii. p. 2(>8 (1870). 

 Coturnix (Synoicus) cervinus, Gray, Hand-l. B. ii. p. 268 (1870). 



