238 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON A NATURAL HISTORY 



The immature m^le wants the nuchal collar, has the pectoral 

 black band broader, its chestnut margin narrower, the beak dark 

 horn brown. 



Adulc female. — All above pale ashy brown ; ear coverts a 

 darker and glossiei brown ; a faint subocular line from the rictus, 

 tail and thighs brown ; primaries narrowly, secondaries and coverts 

 more broadly edged with ash grey ; chin and throat nearly white^ 

 c hest aud upper abdomen pale buff : all the feathers from the chin to 

 l he lower abdomen with a dark shaft streak — lower abdomen white : 

 flanks grey — under tail-coverts buffy white : legs, feet and mandible 

 horn brown. 



P. fre'^rum. 



Total, 



Culmen. 



Wing. 



Tail. 



Tarsus. 



$ 



165 



17*5 



06 



76 



24 



$ 



170 



17:0 



93 



86 



28 



? 



172 



19-0 



92 



79 



26 



P. lanuidcs. 



190 



25-0 



95 



83 



25 



It will be seen from these measurements that P. fretorum is 

 inferior in size and different in proportions to P. lanoides. It is 

 further distinguished by the pectoral bands of black and chestnut, 

 and the chesnut collar occupying the whole neck on its upper surface. 

 Habitat — Southern shorts ot Torres Straits. 



Natricid.k — Neospades, — g.n. 



Habit stout, short, rounded : tail short, tapering, not distinct 

 from trunk. Head flat, subelongate, gently tapering, moderately 

 distinct from the neck, muzzle rounded ; an azygos prefrontal 

 shield ; postfrontals moderate, vertical pentagonal. Two nasals, 

 nostril between, lateral — one loreal — two pre — and two post — oculars ; 

 labials in moderate number, scales keeled, anal divided, subcaudals 

 two rowed ; teeth minute, irregular, last maxillary grooved ; eye 

 moderate, pupil elliptical. 

 !N. kentii. 



Rostral broader than long, angular and separating the nasals 

 caudal ; prefrontal a nearly equilateral triangle with the angles. 



