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Official Organ of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union;' 



Bircis of 2^ fcatbcr." / 1^ nr 



Vol. XVI.j 2nd OCTOBER, 1916. [1 



A New Wreri' Warbler, Malurus lamberti daw^ 

 sonianus (Barnard's Wren). 



By H. L. White, Esq., M.B.O.U., Belltrees, Scone, N.S.W. 

 Mr. G. M. Mathews, under the generic name of Lcggeornis, divides 

 the species lamberti into six sub-species. I pro2)ose adding 

 another, as above. 



The sphtting-u}) of genera, after the style adopted by Mr. 

 Mathews, appears to most of us quite unnecessary and cumber- 

 soms. What is wrong about Malurus that we cannot retain it ? 

 Why puzzle us by adding Hallornis, Leggeornis, Rosina, Ryania, 

 and Nesomaliirus ? The average man has enough trouble as 

 it is in remembering generic names ; it is hardly fair to add to 

 his difficulties. The advantages conferred by the trinomial 

 system of nomenclature are very considerably discounted by the 

 plan adopted by Mr. Mathews of naming such a number of so- 

 called new genera after ornithologists and his numerous relations, 

 friends, and acquaintances. 



Some two years ago Mr. H. G. Barnard sent me a Malurus 

 from the Dawson River, Queensland, which appeared to differ 

 considerably from Malurus lamberti lamberti. I asked him to 

 procure more skins, which are now to hand. Our most con- 

 servative authorities have admitted Malurus lamberti assimilis ; 

 my new form differs from it quite as much as it {Malurus lamberti 

 assimilis) in turn differs from Malurus lamberti lamberti. My 

 collection contains specimens of all but one of Mr. Mathews's 

 sub-species, so I am in a position to make comparisons. Assuming 

 Malurus lamberti assimilis to be a recognized sub-species of 

 Malurus lamberti lamberti, my new form differs from it in having 

 a more robust bill, the black band at the back of the neck wider, 

 while the blue of the head and back is of a much more purple 

 shade, and the chestnut shoulders are considerably darker — in 

 fact, it is as much darker than Malurus lamberti assimilis as that 

 form is darker than Malurus lamberti lamberti. In size it is 

 slightly smaller than either of the others mentioned. 



Of the other sub-species mentioned by Mr. Mathews, my bird 

 most nearly approaches Malurus lamberti mastersi, from the 

 Northern Territory, but is easily separable from that form by the 

 fact that its ear coverts are of a quite distinct shade, being more 

 like those of Malurus lamberti bernieri, from Western Australia. 



