Names of some Australian Birds. 55 



Museum/ will apparently in future have to bear the name of 

 Cacomantis rufulus (Vieillot). 



Recently, Dr. Ernst Hartert has pointed out in ' Novitates 

 Zoologies ' (vol. xii. p. 217, 1905) that Latham's Columba 

 pallida (Ind. On. Suppl. p. lx) was founded on the "Pale 

 Pigeon" of the 'General Synopsis of Birds' (Suppl. ii. 

 p. 270), and is not applicable to the well-known Pallid 

 Cuckoo of Australia and Tasmania. As there appears from 

 Dr. Hartert's remarks to be some uncertainty also about the 

 propriety of using the name of Cuculus variegatus Vieillot, 

 which he substitutes for Latham's name, would it not have 

 been advisable, when changing it, to have given it the first 

 specific name applied where no doubt could possibly exist 

 as to the species it was intended for in the description? 

 At least there would have been a greater chance of finality 

 being assured in the nomenclature. According to Pucheran, 

 Vieillot's description of Cuculus cinereus, given on the same 

 page as that of C. variegatus, was founded on a specimen 

 from New Holland. Vigors and Horsfield's description of 

 this species (under the name of Cuculus inornatus) is unmis- 

 takable, and under this name the well-known "Pallid 

 Cuckoo " is beautifully figured by Gould in his folio edition 

 of the ' Birds of Australia.' 



Passing on to the Meliphagidse, I think that Shaw's specific 

 name of " lunidatus," in use for the well-known Melithreptus 

 of South-eastern Australia, should give way to Latham's older 

 name " atricapillus." The Certhia atricapilla of Latham's 

 < Index Ornithologicus,' p. xxxvii (1801) is founded on the 

 Black-headed Creeper of his ' General Synopsis of Birds ' 

 (Suppl. ii. p. i67), which he states inhabits New South Wales. 

 It is accurately described, except that Latham omits to make 

 any reference to the lunate white marks on the back of the 

 herd. Shaw's description of Certhia lunulata, published in 

 1817 (Gen. Zool. viii. p. 221), is applicable to the young of 

 Meliphaya atricapilla, "the back, wings, and tail" being 

 described as " cinnamon-brown." Temminck (PI. Col. 

 pi. 331. fig. 1) figures it as Meliphaga atricapilla, and refers 

 it to the Certhia atricapilla of Latham, while pointing out 



