V 



PLATE CXLIX. 



minds of Britlfh Ornkhologlfts at this period, and thofe efpeclally 

 which it becomes our peculiar province to examine with more 

 than ordinary attention in the courfe of the fupceeding pages. The 

 digreflion will ferve alfo as a prelude^ among the reft, to the little 

 alteration we are induced to propofe in defignating the chara£ler of the 

 Spotted Necked Turtle^ the bird at prefent under confideration. 



It is well known to every Ornithologift, for the Leverian Collec- 

 tion, and the works of Dr. Latham, and ProfefTor Gmelin, are known 

 fufficiently to juflify the conclufion, that there does exift a kind of 

 Turtle nearly allied to the common fort, and, in moft; refpe6l3,. ac- 

 cording with it, but which differs particularly in the form and num- 

 ber of the white fpots on the black patch of the collar, and is hence 

 efteemed a variety of the common Turtle. 



This bird was preferved originally in the Leverian Mufeum, and 

 was defcribed from thence by Dr. Latham, whofe defcription has fur- 

 niflied fubfequent authors with the particulars of this fuppofed va- 

 riety, and if we miftake not, with nearly all the information they 

 poflefs refpe6ling it^ 



For various reafons we propofe to offer, with deference to future ob- 

 fervation, the bird in queftion appears in our mind to be entitled 

 to confideration, rather as a diftinfl fpecies than as a variety of the 

 common Turtle. We fay rather, becaufe it does feem likely to be 

 diftin£l, and yet we are far from wiflijng to conceal our fufpicions, 

 that it may have no real claim to be efteemed fuch : if, however, 

 it fhould prove a different fpecies, the poffibility of which may be in- 

 -ferred, there can be no obje£lion, we apprehend, to diftinguifli it in 

 future by an appropriate fpecific appellation ; we propofe the name 



B 2 albi' 



