Nos. 2 & 3. J THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 65 



A NAME-LIST OF THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



By Gregory M. Mathews and Tom Iredale. 



In view of the preparation of a Manual of Australian Birds, 

 we have reconsidered the higher classification of birds, and 

 have put forth, in the preceding essay, our first attempt to 

 improve upon the existing schemes as a basis for future work. 

 We hope to make emendations as our knowledge advances, 

 and once again state that we have no prejudices nor precon- 

 ceived notions to obscure our judgment. At the present time, 

 through the ehmination of a majority of nomenclatural ques- 

 tions, we are able to ascend to the study of the higher group- 

 ings, and we suggest this is a most important matter to the 

 younger school of Austrahan ornithologists. In every single 

 order there are anomalous forms demanding investigation, 

 and in the Passeriform birds nearly every genus presents 

 some pecuhar aspect suggesting critical examination. 



This List has been prepared as a simple guide to the species 

 of Austrahan birds, with their technical names, according to 

 the latest determinations. The date of description follows 

 the author's name, and the original genus in which the species 

 was placed by the clescriber is given, thus provichng an easy 

 clue to the original description. 



In the Check List of the Birds of Austraha recently pub- 

 lished in connection with the Birds of Australia by Mathews 

 a complete and original synonymy, generic and specific, 

 has been displayed, such as exists for students in no other, 

 country save Austraha. We refer students to this for any 

 additional information. 



We have included in this List the stragglers of which less 

 than three occurrences are on record, but have marked these 

 with an asterisk. It is not necessary to emphasise the fact 

 that a good look-out should be kept for strangers, as it is 

 possible that these items simply indicate the fact that these 

 occur perhaps irregularly, perhaps regularly, in out of the 

 way places. 



