172 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



As I believe modern ornithology may be advanced by a further 

 record of accidental varieties, I beg to submit brief descriptions 

 of 37 specimens belonging to 27 species which have come under 

 my observation. In those cases not in my collection I have 

 to thank the respective owners for tlie privilege afforded me 

 of making a close examination of the specimens, and for 

 permission to record the descriptions, to which in some 

 instances I have added notes taken from standard works, and 

 as I think it would add to the convenience of reference, I will 

 mention the several birds in the order of their arrangement in " A 

 Key to the Birds of Australia and Tasmania," recently published. 

 44. CoRVUS CORONOIDES, Vig. and Hors., Crow. 



At Kerang there is a mounted specimen of either this species 

 or Gorone australis, the Raven, which is an extreme instance of 

 albinism, as it is quite white, with creamy bill and brownish- 

 cream legs. The first primary is almost equal in length to the 

 innermost secondaries. 



It may be mentioned that the young of this species are 

 almost as black soon after birth as they are at maturity, and they 

 do not go through the stages of plumage usual with most birds. 



In the " Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London " 

 for 1895, page 401, the case of a Rook is mentioned in which 

 every feather of the entire plumage is spangled or tipped with 

 white. 



In birds, albinos are more common in species that are 

 naturally black than amongst those of any other colour. This, 

 says Mr. Tegetmeier, is one of the few laws respecting variation 

 which have been definitely proved, and is equally true of wild 

 and domesticated species. The occurrence of white Blackbirds, 

 Rooks, &c., is recorded much more frequently than that of other 

 albinos. 

 67. Grallina picata, Lath., Magpie Lark. 



Dr. Chas. Ryan has observed and identified an almost white 

 specimen of this bird. 



91. Petrceca campbelli, Sharpe. 



This species is a recent addition to the known avi-fauna of 

 this continent, and is found in Western Australia. 



Mr. Campbell has described to me an albino of this bird in 

 the possession of a friend at Albany. It has bill, legs, and feet 

 black ; breast scarlet ; rest of the plumage white. 



92. Petroeca PHCENiCEA, Gould, Flame-breasted Robin. 



At a recent meeting of this Club Mr. A. Coles exhibited a 

 specimen of this bird which appeared abnormal only by a con- 

 spicuous blotch of yellow encircled by the red of the breast. 



Such a result may have been produced by alcohol, though it is 

 more likely to be an ancestral mark reproduced. 



