THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
In the preparation of my “ Reference List ” I had to examine the birds 
in connection with the names and I came to the same conclusion as Gould, 
viz., the Western bird was smaller, and on the whole differently coloured, but 
of course only subspecifically separable. I therefore revived Gould’s name, 
calling the Eastern bird lemcidea herigom berigora V. & H. (synonym 
H. orientalis Sharpe), and the Western one leracidea berigora occidentalism 
giving a note : “ The differences relied upon by Sharpe for the separation of 
his two forms are of no value, as it will be noticed that of the three birds 
collected by Elsey in the Northern Territory two are referred to one form, 
the other to the ‘ very distinct ’ second form. Inasmuch as the Western 
race is recognisable, Gould’s name must be accepted for it.” I later separated 
the Melville Island form, but joined with it the Northern Australian birds and 
in my “ List ” I admitted three subspecies thus : 
leracidea berigora berigora V. & H. 
East Australia ; Tasmania ; South Australia. 
leracidea berigora occidentalis Gould. 
South-west Australia. 
leracidea berigora melvillensis Mathews. 
Northern Territory ; North-west Australia. 
I can endorse North’s remarks as to the puzzling variation of these 
birds and it was only after a long and careful study that I could evolve a 
satisfactory explanation. The two forms separated by Sharpe are peculiarly 
distinct when odd birds are examined, but his thigh coloration is useless as 
a distinctive feature. The names have been so confused from Gould’s name 
to the present, that I propose to give a rough preliminary review, using 
vernacular names, before my technical review. I would also mention that 
when my results were checked I had before me more than five times the long 
series North mentions he dealt with ; while altogether I have examined 
about ten times the number North gives. Notwithstanding this apparent 
superfluity of specimens, many more are necessary, together with full data 
and field observations, before a really complete idea of this bird can be 
gained. I will call the birds Brown Hawk and Striped Brown Hawk, and 
observe that the former has typically a uniform dark brown surface above 
and with dark brown to black blotches, often almost uniform black below. 
The Striped Brown Hawk is the one described above by Vigors and 
Horsfield, Gould, and Sharpe : generally more or less rufous above with 
darker shaft-stripes and white to creamy below, also with dark shaft-stripes. 
Between these two every possible variation exists. The differences are 
apparently not geographical at the first observation, but prolonged study 
showed that locality has a great deal to do with these differences. 
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