No. 6.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 121 



It has not such a wide range as Fregata minor, but 

 may even be more local, for one of the results of my 

 researches is the proof that Fregata is practically a 

 sedentary genus. 



The type locality of Fregata ariel is Raine Island, 

 Torres Straits, and a series from Bedout Island, North- 

 west Australia, shows that the latter bird is noticeably 

 larger, the largcist females giving culmen 90 mm. and 

 wing 563 mm., while typical birds never exceed a wing 

 length of 545 mm. 



I therefore name the Bedout Island form 



Fregata amel tunnyi, subsp. n. 



From the Mascarene group a subspecies can be 

 recognised with a very small bill, the longest female 

 bill being 80 mm., the longest wing 542 mm. I name 

 this subspecies 



Fregata ariel iredalei, subsp. n. 



selecting Aldabra as the type locality. 



A form has also been noticed in the Atlantic Ocean, 

 but no series are yet available. 



In the preceding digest not much detail is given, 

 but such details will all be found in my Birds of Australia, 

 the part covering these birds being now in the press. 



'Y'-e. 



K.a, 



