THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
breasted Teal as a salt-water bird only, Capt. S. A. White, who is equally 
reliable, writing as a field ornithologist, concluded exactly the opposite. 
Campbell seemed surprised at the systematises doubts, but if anyone will 
carefully analyse what I have collated, there should be no doubt as to the 
systematises puzzle. Examination of my own material in conjunction with 
that which Count Salvadori studied when cataloguing the collection in the 
British Museum and the additional material was not sufficient to differentiate 
the two species. I concluded, however, that the Northern birds were probably 
separable and described the North-western bird thus : 
“ The adult male differs from the adult female of N. c. castanewn in 
being considerably lighter on the head and back, and in having the centre of 
the feathers on the under-surface not so dark.” 
In endeavouring to define the exact limits of these forms for this place, 
I had to start once more at the beginning as the additional material which 
had come to hand did not confirm my earlier disposition. I am compelled 
to admit that I cannot yet confidently assert that I know all about these birds 
and their inter-relationships. I propose, therefore, that my conclusions be 
considered of a tentative character only. 
Meyer and Wiglesworth [Birds of Celebes^ Vol. II., 1898, pp. 874-878) 
fully discussed this matter as it occurred to them. N. gihherifrons was described 
from Celebes, and after giving full details of the varied opinions, wrote: 
“ Our own conclusion in the matter is (1) that N. gihberifrons is a 
species perfectly distinct from N. castaneum^ as is proved by Dr. Sclater; 
(2) that there is no sound evidence to show that N. castaneum has ever 
occurred outside of Australia and Tasmania.” 
They gave measurements of Celebes birds as follows : — 
Wing. 
Tail. 
Tarsus. 
M.t. and claw. 
Exp. culm. 
2 . • 
184 
77-80 
34 
45-47 
34-37 
? .. 
182 
81 
34 
44 
35 
Unsexed 
178-185 
80 
32-37 
44-^7 
34-38 
9 Unsexed . 
172-190 
77-89 
32-36 
44-51 
34-38.5 
In the 
British Museum 
there is 
quite a nice series from 
Celebes and 
E. Timor, the measurements of which are as follows : — 
Exp. 
M.t. alone. 
culm. 
Breadth, 
Makassar 
192 
34 
39 
37 
X 16.5 
Celebes 3 specs. 
. . 182-185 
33-35 
38 
33-36 
X 14-16 
Flores 
200 
37 
39 
37 
X 15.5 
E. Timor 3^ 
. . 186-200 
36-37.5 
38-39 
36-37 
X 12-16 
E. Timor 4 $ 
. . 173-199 
34-37.5 
38-40 
34-37 
X 12-14 
no 
