THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
B. s. megala < reinwardtii 
B, s. gurneyi Ramsay 
B. s. bismarcki Sharpe . . 
B. s. rufa Schlegel 
Dutch New Guinea, My sol : Salwatty. 
Solomons Island. 
Bismarck Archipelago. 
North Moluccas, Obi. 
As an instance of the splitting in connection with these forms may 
be cited Streseman’s diagnosis of his B. s. pallida, which is “Like the 
preceding but smaller.” Measurements are then given for this as “(J 286, 
294, 295,” while of the preceding the only two from the typical locality are 
“(J 285 (juv.) 297 (juv.).” This would be absurd were it not confirmed by the 
other figures given of the birds associated by Streseman as follows : “ 295, 
296, 297, 300, 301, 304, 305, 306.” Thus the extreme measurements are 
only II mm., and this in this Order is not sufficient, as in the next form 
Streseman himself admits 19 mm. variation. As a matter of fact, I have not 
considered size much in connection with these birds as regards subspecific 
distinction. 
From the preceding it must be somewhat obvious that this species, being 
a sedentary one, has varied to a greater or less extent throughout the 
islands. A natural conclusion would be that as it ranges over a thousand 
mdes directly south in Australia, variation might there be observed. 
In the Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 251, 1912, I separated the Queensland 
form from the New South Wales (typical) bird with the following diagnosis : 
“ Differs in having less rufous on the under tail-coverts and under wing- 
coverts, the bars on the under-surface being wider and darker, more brown, 
not so reddish.” 
In my ‘‘ List ” I discarded this form, but now, reviewing the species, I 
would maintain it, as I find the differences constant, and I now recognise in 
Australia three forms as follows : — 
Lophastur subcristatus subcristatus Gould . . New South Wales ; South 
Queensland. 
Lophastur subcristatus queenshindicus Mathews Queensland (Mackay to 
Cairns). 
Lophastur subcristatus kempi, subsp. nov. . . North Queensland (Cooktown 
to Cape York). 
Type $ collected by Mr. Robin Kemp at SkuU Creek, Cape 
York, 22/12/12. 
These birds are much lighter above, especially on the lower hind-neck 
and upper wing-coverts, while the tail is also lighter when compared with 
L. s. queenslandicus : the bars on the under-surface are narrower and lighter 
in colour, while the under tail-coverts are noticeably paler rufous. They 
are also slightly smaller. 
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