Vol. xxxi.] 



68 



Mr. G. M. Mathews described the following new sub- 

 species of Australian birds : — 



Ptilotis ornata wesleydalei, subsp. n. 



Adult male. Differs from P. o. ornata Gould, in being 

 much darker above, and in having the yellow ear-patch 

 and the dark stripes on the under surface much more 

 pronounced. 



Hab. Inlacd districts of South-west Australia. 



Type: $ . No. 3260. 16. vi.08, Broome Hill, South- 

 west Australia. T. Carter coll. 



Ptilotis ornata underbooli, subsp. n. (Mallee Yellow- 

 plumed Honey-eater.) 



Adult male. Differs from P. o. tailemi Mathews, in its 

 smaller size, more curved bill, lighter upper- and under- 

 pays, and smaller yellow ear-patch. 



Hab. Mallee country of Victoria and South Australia. 



Type: No. 6276. 12, ix. 10, Underbool, Victoria. 

 T. Tregellas coll. 



Mr. T. Iredale, introduced by Mr. G. M. Mathews, 

 exhibited the type-specimen of Larus affinis and made the 

 following remarks : — 



ei Larus affinis was described by Bernhardt (Vidensk. 

 Meddel. Kjobenhavn, 1853, p. 78) from a single specimen 

 obtained in Greenland. The name was applied by Howard 

 Saunders to a large Siberian Gull, and his identification has 

 been accepted up to the present time. The pale-backed race 

 of Larus fuscas, recently described by Dr. P. R. Lowe under 

 the name of L. f. britannicus, suggested a misuse of the 

 name given by Reinhardt, his description and measurements 

 agreeing very closely with those of the form described by 

 Dr. Lowe, whilst they disagreed entirely with those of the 

 bird to which Saunders had applied Reinhardt's name. 

 Such a conclusion necessitated a re-examination of Rein- 

 hardt's type-specimen; and upon application to HerrWinge, 

 of the Copenhagen Museum, it was forwarded to me 

 and is exhibited here to-night. It has been examined 

 by Mr. Ogilvie- Grant at the British Museum, also by 

 Dr. Hartert and the Hon. Walter Rothschild ; and the 



