REMARKS ON FOREGOING LIST OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



THE autJwrifif rf/ers to t/te S//(-ciei^ iKime only. — The fir.st coluiiiu indicates the number of the 

 Species in tliis list, for future reference ; the tliird, shows such as are represented in th(; 

 Collection in the Australian Museum, and the fourth the number of the species in Gould's 

 Handbook, or references to other works ; the remainder show the distribution of the ditFerent 

 species over Australia ; the last to the South portion of New Guinea, and has lieen compiled from 

 collections made at Yule Island, Katow, Port Moresby, Fly River and China Straits, ic, by 

 D'Albertis, Goldie, the Macleay Expedition, Pettard and Broadbent, and the Revs. Messrs. 

 McFarlane and Lawes. 



Since the publication of Mr. Gould's Handbook in 1865, the territorial boundaries of the different 

 colonies have altered considerably, so that the range of the ditierent species can be Ijut indefinitely 

 expressed by such wide terms as " Victoria," " Queensland," " New South Wales," Arc. ; lai'ge 

 portions of the country formerly known as New South Wales, now belong to Queensland ; and many 

 other changes have taken place. I have therefore given the particular localities in which most of 

 our large collections have been made, purposely to show the spread of certain species. 



Where any confusion through the choice of names is likely to occur, that previously in use among 

 Australian Ornithologists has been given under notes and references. 



The sketch map accompanying this list shows the boundaries of the Colonies as they now stand, 

 and the position of other localities mentioned. 



The number of species enumerated in Mr. Gould's Handbook, as inhabiting Australia in 1865 

 was 672 in all. This number has Ijeen increased of late years by the discoveries of new species, and 

 by occasional visitors from other countries, to 760 — omitting doubtful species — most of these 

 additions are from North-east Australia or Queensland. But while not a few new species have been 

 brought to light, we find only one strictly lyir (/emts* — that of Scenoj/c'Hs, belonging to the family 

 of Bower-builders, (SceuopidtfJ among wliicli are also included the rtilouorliiiucJinx, AUurorjIns, 

 Clildinjidodent, and the "Regent Bird" Serkidus luelinua. 



Our knowledge of the range of many species, previously known, only from the locality in which 

 they were first discovered, has been of late years, greatly augmented, by collections made by INIessrs. 

 Boyer-Bower, K. H. Bennett, P.roadbent, Cairns, Masters, Pettard, Rainbird, James Ramsay, 

 Spalding, and Thorpe ; during my own excursions in North-east Austi-alia in 1873-4, I was enabled 



* The new <jenus PRioNODURAof De Vis, (P.L.S., of N.S.W., Vol. VIT.,p. 5H2) cannot be strictly defined on 

 account of the bill beinfj mutilated. 



