48 MiLLIGAN, Some W. Australian and Allied Species. \ E""" 



' ' L ist Oct. 



Notes on Some Western Australian and Allied 

 Species. 



By Alexander Wm. Milligan, Perth, W.A. 

 Pachvcephala OCCIDENTALIS (Ramsay) and Allied Species. 



Dr. E. P. Ramsay, in separating P. occidentalis (one of the 

 white-throated, yellow-breasted section of the Pachyccphalce) 

 from P. gutturalis (Latham), relied on the following differences 

 in the males : — 



{a) Tail grey, without olive wash on basal margins of 



feathers. 

 {b) Width of blackish subterminal band of tail less than 



one-third of length of tail. 

 (yC) Yellow neck-band very indistinct or broken. 

 {d) Olive of upper surface of a more greenish tint. 

 {e) Yellow of under surface paler. 

 Lately I have had the opportunity of handling and examining 

 a large series of skins of both sexes, adult and young, 

 collected at various places in Western Australia along the 

 western and south-western coastal districts, extending from 

 Perth to Albany. The results of the examination clearly in- 

 dicate that the differences relied upon by Dr. Ramsay are not 

 always constant or apparent. Difference («) appears to be 

 constant in mature birds. Difference {U) does not appear to be 

 well sustained, for in 12 adult male skins, forming part of the 

 series, the tail of every one measured 3 inches and in two in- 

 stances (Perth and Cape Naturaliste birds) the subterminal band 

 measured i:^ inches, or more than one-third of the length of the 

 tail. Difference {c) received partial confirmation in one skin 

 only, and in that one the neck-band was indistinct but not 

 broken. As to difference (<^), I am unable, in the absence of a 

 series of skins of P. gutturalis, to make a comparison, but as 

 regards difference {e) I found that the breast colour varied in 

 intensity from pale lemon colour to orange-yellow. 



In distinguishing the females of the species mentioned. Dr. 

 Ramsay relied on the following : — 



(i) Lower part of chest, flanks, and abdomen, and under 

 tail coverts rufous-buff, but not ashy-grey as in 

 P . gutturalis. 

 (2) Under wing coverts light rufous-buff, but not ashy-grey 

 as in P. gutturalis. 

 These differences are not borne out by the examination, as 

 the following cabinet notes, in reference to four adult females, 

 evidence : — 



Specimen (c/). — Chin white-freckled, chest grey, abdomen 

 and under tail coverts huffish, under wing coverts 

 creamy or dull white. 

 Specimen {U). — Chest freckled-grey, abdomen paler shade 

 than preceding specimen, under wing coverts as 

 in («). 



