THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
been previously divided into genera, and no reasons were given for the 
rejection of these. 
Reichenbach, in the Nat. Syst. Vogel, p. vii., 1852, wrote : 
Tropicophilus Leach cethereus L. Gm. 
Lepturus Moehr edtvardsi and ffavirostris Brandt. 
Ph(Ethon L. phoenicurus L. Gm. 
Bonaparte, in the Comptes Bendus Sci. (Paris), Vol. XLI., p. 1115, 1856, 
and in the Consp. Oen. Av., Vol. II,, p. 183, 1857, continued this usage of 
three genera, but corrected the error made by Reichenbach with regard to 
the type of Phcethon L., correctly designating mthereus Linne as the type, and 
proposing Phoenicurus for the species phoenicurus L. Gm. 
Examination of the species convinced me of the propriety of admitting 
these three generic groups, but criticism of the names showed that none 
save Phoethon Linne was valid. 
In the Austral Avian Record, Vol. IT,, 1913, p. 56, I therefore proposed: 
“ SciEOPH.®THON, gen nov. Differs from Phoethon Linne in its longer 
wing, stronger legs and feet, shorter tail, though as powerful in the bill. 
‘‘ Type, Phoethon ruhricauda westralis Mathews. 
“ Leptoph.®thon, gen. nov.» Differs from Phoethon Linne in its much 
smaller size throughout, though having a comparatively longer tail. 
Type, Phoethon lepturus dorotheae Mathews.” 
‘‘ Note. — The Tropic Birds have been referred to the one genus Phoethon, 
though here again generic ranl^ is due to the differences observed. Phoethon 
and Scoeophoethon agree somewhat in size, but the latter has discarded the 
plumage of the former, which is seen in the Juvenile, in favour of a uniform 
white one ; it has also developed in size. Leptophcethon, on the other hand, 
has also achieved the beautiful adult-plumage of Scoeophoethon, but is sadly 
diminished in size. However the evolution has proceeded, the birds are now 
sufficiently distinct to warrant generic separation.” 
The synonymy of Scoeophoethon and Leptophcethon is given under these 
generic names, but as Phoethon Linne does not occur in Australian waters, it 
might be as well to note that Lepturus Brisson and Tropicophilus Stephens 
and of Reichenbach are synonyms of the restricted genus Phoethon. 
Systematically the genus Phoethon has always been a stumbling block, 
the toti-palmate feet being the great obstacle. On account of this character 
the genus and family are placed among the Steganopodes, with the other 
members of which Order it has very little affinity. As already noted under 
Fregata, most of the workers investigating the anatomy of that genus and 
also this seem to have been throughout prejudiced by the toti-pahnation of 
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