THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
N. c. occidentalism which it most resembles.” In my List I lumped this form 
with the latter, but here admit it. The facts are that from the range of 
typical occidentalis to the range of typical connivens, all across the Northern 
Territory, birds are secured which are more or less variable, sometimes 
approximating to the one, sometimes to the other. A more complex nomen- 
clature would be : 
Hieracoglaux connivens connivens — occidentalis, 
and as the range of country is very great I do not advise this course. It 
is more than possible that when longer series of birds are available, two 
or three distinct races may be determined in the country named for 
this form. 
In the Nov. Zool., Vol. XII., 1905, p. 209, Hartert recorded specimens 
from the West Kimberley District, South AUigator and Mary Rivers, 
Northern Territory, under the name Ninox connivens occidentalis, writing : 
“ The western form is smaller, above paler, the stripes on the under-side 
always much more rusty than in N. c. connivens, though the latter vary, 
being sometimes lighter, sometimes darker.” 
North regarded such specimens as typical connivens, though he noted 
Hartert’s conclusions under the “ species ” occidentalis. Thus he wrote : 
“ I have also examined specimens from different parts of Western Australia, 
Victoria, Queensland, and as far north and west as Port Keats, in the 
Northern Territory of South Australia, and not far from the border-line of 
North-western Australia. From this locality I expected to find Ninox 
occidentalis or an intermediate form, instead of a typical N. connivens, and 
similar to examples obtained in New South Wales. An adult male obtained 
at Cooktown, Queensland, is slightly paler, and has a more pronounced 
white face than southern examples.” The type of suhoccidentalis came from 
Port Keats, and my specimens resembled occidentalis, which indicates 
variation. As recorded above by Macgillivray, I recognised Cloncurry, 
Queensland, specimens as referable to this form, while North determined 
them as true connivens. Macgillivray himself does not pass any opinion, 
but he states that peninsularis is quite distinct from these Cloncurry birds. 
I note this, as when Sharpe received a specimen of typical peninsularis he 
reviewed the species again and observed : “ The British Museum contains 
a good series of this apparently well-marked species, which differs from 
Ninox connivens by the rufous streaks on the lower parts.” I find that 
he recognised all the Northern Territory and North-western birds under 
this name as the birds in the British Museum are so labelled. Thus two 
specimens labelled Ninox peninsularis bear Elsey’s label with the data : 
“ Athene. Male. Stomach empty. Osfurc. feeble. Aug. 18, 1856. Long. 137°, 
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