Australian Birds in the Collection of the Linnean Society. 257 



original name of any species. The present case seems to be 

 one where we are called upon to risk such an alteration. Out 

 of numberless birds of this species which have come under our 

 observation, we have seen none in which the colour of the head 

 was not the same as that of the bird before us, a grayish-brown. 

 The white-headed specimen which Dr. Latham figured, and 

 from Avhich he derived the name of leucocephala, appears to be 

 not a typical individual of the species, but an accidental, or, as 

 far as is hitherto known, an unique variety of it. Even still we 

 should adhere to an established name, however strictly inappli- 

 cable to an entire group, if the original describer had named the 

 species from an actual specimen. But in the present instance 

 we find that Dr. Latham's figure and description are taken from 

 a drawing. AVe shall not, however, deprive this beautiful bird 

 of its original name without assigning it a better. And in pro- 

 posing the present alteration, we hope the venerable Father of 

 Ornithology will pardon us for the liberty we have taken, and 

 accept this slight tribute of gratitude for the valuable assistance 

 which his labours have atlbrded us in our ornitholocjical studies. 



Mr. Caley calls this species Bed Diamond Bird, — the colonial 

 name ; he met with it occasionally, but not in abundance. He 

 is not aware of its habits. 



2. Bella. F. brnnnescenti-grisea, fasciis niimerosis nigris linc- 

 ata ; snbtiis alba, nigro-fasciata ; loris nigris ; uropygio rcr- 

 tricumque mediaruni basi coccineis. 



Loxia bella. Lath. Ind. Orn. Siipp. xlvi. no. 8. 



Black-lined Grosbeak. Id. Gen. Hist. v. p. 267. no. 83. 



Some specimens of this species in the collection were brought 

 by Mr. Brown from Port Jackson, where he obtained them 

 September 1803. 



VOL. XV. 2 L 3. BiCHENOVII. 



