Australian Birds in the Collection of the Linncan Societij. 201 



This bird also exhibits so general a resemblance to the pre- 

 ceding species, that we should at once have referred it to it as a 

 variety, were it not that it difl'ers in its geographical situation, as 

 Avell as in some minuter characters. It is a native of Van Die- 

 men's Land, where it was met with by Mr. Caley, while the 

 other species is found in New South AVales. That gentleman 

 noted also that the irides of the present bird were brown, while 

 tliose of Pod. humeralis were yellow. The chief ditlerence in 

 their plumage is as follows : The longitudinal streaks on the 

 head of Fod. humeralis are bold and broad, diffusino- a stronçf 

 black shade over the head ; those of Pod. Cuvieri are slender 

 and more distant from each other, and leave the fuscous-brown 

 of the head predominant. The Pod. Cuvieri wants the fulvous 

 fascia on the shoulder, and the fascia on the tail are not so 

 strongly marked as in Pod. humeralis. The bill also of the Van 

 Diemen's Land bird is somewhat shorter than the bill of the 

 other. We have seen a few other specimens of Pod. Cuvieri 

 which came from the same locality as our specimen ; as also 

 some other birds of the New South Wales species : and those 

 leading marks of distinction stated above seemed constant be- 

 tween them. At the same time we must observe, that there 

 appeared much variation in the different specimens of each of 

 these supposed species ; and we consequently cannot speak 

 with the same certainty respecting the difference of species in 

 this group, as in groups less subject to variation. We therefore 

 state our doubts on these points, while we follow the general 

 plan Avhich we have prescribed for ourselves in all such doubtful 

 cases, of keeping apparent species distinct, until proof is given 

 of their being identical. 



Mr. Caley calls all these birds by the native name of Benit'. 

 He observes that they are night birds, and seem stupified when 

 found upon the wing by day. 



VOL. XV. 2 D Fam. 



