C3G ^Messrs. II. C. Rohinsou and W. S. Laverock on 



61. Lampkocorax metallica (Temm.). 



Culornis metallica Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xiii. 

 p. 138 ; Le Souef, Ibis, 1898, p. 53. 



This bird was very common at all the localities visited by- 

 Mr. Olive, who obtained a large series of adult birds, together 

 with the nests and numerous clutches of eggs. The latter 

 have recently been well described by Mr. Le Souef {loc. cit.). 

 The greatest number of eggs in any of the clutches we 

 have received is four. 



62. Artamus leucorhynchus leucopygialis Gould. 

 Artamus Itncogaster Sharpe, t. c. p. 3. 



Artamus leucorhynchus subsp. minor Harteit, Nov. Zool. 

 vi. p. 424 (1899). 



Australian specimens have the bill certainly smaller than 

 the form found in Java and the Philippines, though in five 

 examples before us from Cooktown and Cairns we find the 

 culmen to be 17'5-19 mm., and not 15-16 mm. as given by 

 Mr. Hartei't. Possibly we measure in a different way. In 

 any case Gould's name for the form is the one that must be 

 used. 



63. Pitta strepitans simillima Gould; Sclater, Cat. 

 Birds Brit. Mus. xiv. p. 428. 



Not very common at Cooktown, but much more abundant 

 at Cairns, where it frequents dense scrub and is very hard to 

 see, though it may be heard pattering over the dead leaves. 

 " Iris brown ; feet flesh- colour ; h\\\h\a,ck" {Olive). 



The only constant character by which this subspecies can 

 be distinguished from the typical form is its smaller size. 

 The white speculum on the wing is very variable ; normally 

 it extends from the inner web of the fourth to the outer web 

 of the sixth primary, and this is the case in five out of the 

 eiglit adult specimens before us. In one it extends to the 

 outer web of the seventh, in another it commences on the 

 inner web of the third, whilst in yet another the speculum is 

 almost absent, being but faintly indicated on the outer web 

 of the fifth primary. 



