THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
species, as far as can be determined. Kerr, in his Animal Kingdom (pref. 
dated Feb. 1792) noted for these varieties Ps{ittacus ) banksii ftavicollo for the 
var. /3 and Ps(ittacus) banksii fuscus for the var. y . Shaw and Nodder, 
almost simultaneously with Latham’s proposal of his P. banksii, figured 
a species under the name Psittacus magnificus : three species were confused 
here, and later Shaw and Nodder differentiated one, but later still, when P. 
magnificus was figured in the Leverian Museum, the species were once more 
confused, apparently through doubt having been cast upon the separation. 
Latham was just as puzzled, as in the Suppl. Gen. Synops. Birds, II., 
p. 92, he admitted the Banksian Cockatoo with var. A = var. /S of the Index, 
with which he synonymised the Banksian Cockatoo of White’s Journ. New 
South Wales : var. B = var. y of the Index, and var. C, which was the 
Funereal Cockatoo of Shaw. He then concluded great variation was existent, 
as he had seen many drawings and detailed five of these. 
As these are of interest to Australians, I reproduce Latham’s own 
words : 
“ I suspect that this bird differs exceedingly, as I find many varieties 
among the drawings from New Holland, where it is known by the name of 
Karratt. 
“ The first is black, except a large yellow patch under each eye : the 
base of all but the two middle tail-feathers buff, dotted with black ; bill and 
legs pale, not common. 
“ Second variety has no yellow patch beneath the eye ; tail-feathers 
from the base to near the tip plain crimson ; bill and legs brown ; this is 
most common. 
“ Thirdly, without the yellow patch under the eye ; but the black 
plumage sprinkled with yellow dots ; the tail crimson, barred with black, 
just as in the Supplement to my Synopsis. 
“ Fourthly, the yellow patch under the eye composed of pale streaked 
feathers : side tail-feathers deep buff yellow, mottled with brown ; fore part 
of the neck and breast marked with pale yellow buff crescents. 
“ Fifthly, seems a compound between the two last, being both spotted on 
the wings, and waved beneath ; the tail barred above with crimson, and 
beneath with yellow buff colour.” 
These descriptions were written up from the Watling Drawings. When 
Sharpe (Hist. Coll. Nat. Hist. B.M., Vol. II., 1906) discussed these he did 
not make clear the relationship of the drawings nor their absolute identity, 
though he reproduced both Latham’s notes and Watling’s notes. Thus 
he referred all to banksi, though two are quite obviously funereus , and I will 
deal with them under that species. 
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