INSKSSORES. 150 



the Pardaloti as the P. punctatus and P. quadraffintits, and like 

 them is distinguished from the other members of the group 

 by tlie absence of the seahng-wax-hke tips of the spurious 

 wing-feathers. It is the largest species of the genus yet dis- 

 covered, and is readily distinguished from its near allies, the 

 P. punctatus and P. quadragintus, by the great size of the 

 spots on the crown. 



When I published my plate and description in the folio 

 edition, only a single specimen of this bird had been dis- 

 covered, and I was unaware in what part of Australia it had 

 been obtained. I have, however, lately seen other specimens 

 collected by Mr. Waterhouse during the overland expedition 

 to the Victoria River under Mr. Stuart. Mr. White of 

 Adelaide also informs me in a letter that he " saw this bird 

 in considerable numbers about the lat. 27° or 28°." 



The more I study the birds of Australia and witness the 

 gradual discovery of new species of various forms, the more 

 I am convinced that many still remain to be discovered, and 

 that years must elapse before our knowledge of the entire 

 avifauna of Australia can be considered complete. 



Forehead crossed by a narrow band of du'ty white ; crown 

 and back of the head deep black, each feather having a spot 

 of white near its extremity ; back of the neck, back, wing- 

 coverts, and rump brownish grey ; wings dark brown, mar- 

 gined with pale brown, the spurious wing, a small portion of 

 the base of the primaries, and the outer margins of the 

 secondaries fine golden orange ; immediately before the eye 

 a spot of bright, fiery orange ; above and behind the eye a 

 stripe of buff; upper tail-coverts bright olive-green; tail deep 

 blackish brown, the extreme tips of the feathers being white ; 

 throat and abdomen greyish white ; chest bright yellow ; 

 upper mandible and legs brown, under mandible greyish 

 white. 



