THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
eaetem race Oustalet’s Merops modestus described from D’Urville Island, 
New Guinea. Oustalet’s description w*as based upon an immature specimen, 
but series are not at hand to determine the subspecies from that locahty. 
I admit two Australian subspecies as given in my 1913 “ list,” but 
suggest that more will be recognised when this bird is properly studied. 
Thus, I do not consider that the birds from Port Essington should be 
classed with those from Mid-west Australia, while it is doubtful whether 
the North Queensland, Cape York, birds can go vtith those from South 
Australia. 
The chief work in connection with this species in Austraha is the 
mapping of the migration routes : when this is done the discrimination 
of subspecies will be easy. No one has yet taken up this study seriously, 
though it was advocated many years ago and a few unconnected notes 
have from time to time been recorded. 
To conclude, there can be subspecies of migratory birds, and in the 
present instance the western race is abundantly distinct and recognisable 
at sight. North noticed the diSerence, but laid no stress upon it. 
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