THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
wrote : “ Something about Hooded Parrakeets and other birds of the Northern 
Territory.” At a place called Granite Rocks inland from Pine Creek he camped 
near two waterholes. “ The sun rose (July) about 7 a.m., but already, at 
about 6.30 the common Parrakeets flew past, screeching as they always do ; 
after them came the Hawks, waiting for the flocks of Doves and Finches to 
feast on. I shot as many as six to ten every morning, amongst them the 
beautiful white variety. The first of the smaller birds to arrive were the 
Blue-eyed Doves, in countless numbers. When a hawk would swoop down 
on them whilst drinking, the whirr of their wings would remind us of 
the roar of the incoming waves on the ocean beach. Then appeared the 
Parrakeets, the Browns and the Hooded, and here I may mention that those 
I handled all had the hood coloured black ; the younger males, only half 
coloured, showed a more dirty sooty colour. All the specimens I handled — 
speaking of males, of course — showed either the black or sooty coloration. 
None, either from this part or those from the Maiy River or Driffield way, 
had a hood that one might call brown, even with a certain amount of imagination. 
Of course the Northern Territory is a vast country and other forms may exist 
elsewhere, but within 300 miles south of Port Darwin, they are all alike.” 
I have already stated that I have concluded Gould’s species should include 
Collett’s as being subspecifically distinct. The range of the two forms 
apparently did not overlap, because we have no evidence as to the extent of 
Gould’s form and it is doubtful whether we ever shall now. 
At the present time I admit two subspecies as 
Psepliotellus chrysopterygius chrysopterygius (Gould). Interior Mid- 
Queensland. 
Psephotellus chrysopterygius dissimilis (Collett). Northern Territory. 
Differing in having the forehead black, not yellow. 
As synonyms may be cited P. cucuUatus North, P. c. blaauwi Van Oort and 
P. c. dorothece Mathews. I might note that the type of P. dissimilis Collett 
is in my collection. This form was first procured on the north-east of Arnhem 
Land by Robert Brown, so that extends all over that country from Pine Creek 
to the McArthur River. It is necessary to trace it more eastward still in order 
to decide the exact status of the Gouldian form. As, however, the species 
has not been met with at Alexandra, Normanton or Cloncurry there does 
not seem much hope of its continued existence. 
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