THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
D. melanophrys were removed from Dimnedea, then that genus would be very 
sharply defined, indeed, from Thalassogeron, But they are stiU separable on 
account of the characters given above.’ ” 
There could be no doubt whatever, that D. 7mlanophris is much more 
closely allied to D. cuhninata than to D. exulans, and careful examination of 
the biUs confirms this conclusion. If genera are to be admitted in the Alba- 
troses, then D. imlanophris must go with Z>. cuhninata and not with D. exulans. 
I agree with Coues that the differences observable would be best ranked 
as of less than generic value, but as those views do not seem acceptable 
to working ornithologists at the present time, I am perforce compelled to 
accept ThalassarcTie as also of generic rank. I therefore accept five genera 
thus : — 
Dioimdea Linne 
Phcehastria Reichb. . . 
ThalassarcTie id. 
Thalassogeron Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway 
Phoehetria Reichb. 
Type D. exulans. 
„ P. albatrus. 
„ T. inelanophris. 
„ T. chrysosiotna. 
„ P. palpehrata. 
It might be also noted that in recognising Phcehastria as a subgenus of 
Dioinedea, a distinct conflict with the facts is made, unless Thalassogeron is also 
so ranked. From the nature of the base of the lower mandible, I should place 
Phodoastria further away from Dioynedea than Thalassogeron ^ and would suggest 
242 
