THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
mouth of the tunnel and on the ground outside. Height from ground, 
three feet. Smelt strongly.” 
This dull-coloured species shows little variation save in depth of the 
dullness, and, as this varies seasonally and long series had never been 
brought together, no value was given to the differences observed until I 
compiled my “ Reference List ” in 1912, I there admitted two subspecies : 
Halcyon pyrrhopygius pyrrhopygius Gould. New South Wales, 
South Australia. 
Halcyon pyrrhopygius obscurus. 
“ Differs from H. p. pyrrhopygius in its slightly smaller size, and 
it« duller coloration above, but having the rump more brightly coloured. 
Parry’s Creek, North-west Australia. 
Northern Territory, North-west Australia.” 
I later added. 
Halcyon pyrrhopygius utingi. 
** Differs from H. p. obscurus in having the wings more sky-blue, 
the head less green, and the black nuchal stripe more pronounced. 
Cape York, North Queensland.” 
These three subspecies were still recognised in my “ List of the Birds 
of Australia,” but re-examination of my collection, since increased, indicates 
that the characters given above for separation are more or less of an 
individual nature, and I have been unable to determine fixed features as 
my series is still too small to show the seasonal and sexual variation 
accurately. I might here explain, for the benefit of northern critics, that 
the cKmatic conditions in Australia are vastly different from those of 
northern climes, and it is impossible to compare specimens of similar date 
with the assurance of a northern student. Hence the series I possess, 
though possibly quite sufiicient to fix a subspecies, as regards a Palaearctic 
bird, does not adequately express the geographical variation in this case, 
and, consequently, I do not admit any recognisable subspecies of this 
form at this time. 
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