THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
It seems very possible that the Indian forms may later be specifically 
separated and more subspecies be there recognised, especially as Oberholser 
was dependent on pubhshed accounts only for his knowledge of these birds. 
His material consisted of “ three specimens ” from “ India ” so that he could 
not determine with any accuracy the relationship of the birds. My friend Mr. 
Stuart Baker is now criticising the fine collection of Indian .birds brought together 
by Hume and now in the British Museum, and from his local knowledge of Indian 
topography finds many easily recognisable races which have been hitherto over- 
looked. I therefore leave this problem in his safe hands for solution, with 
the sure anticipation of fair treatment and discrimination of the necessary 
subspecific forms. 
Oberholser lumped the birds from Java and Borneo under the name C. m. 
macruruSy though the latter had a name available in Caprimulgus salvadorii 
Sharpe. I conclude that the Bornean race is recognisable with the name 
Rossornis macrurus salvadorii (Sharpe) 
and will quote Oberholser’s measurements in this connection. He gives as 
the wing measurements of four Javan birds, 170, 180*5, 176*5, 178 mm., with 
an average of 176*2 mm. ; six birds from Labuan and Northern Borneo read 
183, 182, 175, 186, 188, 179 mm. averaging 182*2 mm. There is thus an appreciable 
difference in size, which is borne out by noting that only one of the four Javan 
birds reaches 180 mm., while only two of the Bornean birds fall under that range. 
In addition the Labuan birds are slightly darker than the Javan ones, so that 
a good subspecific distinction is seen. It becomes absolute when we consider 
Oberholser’s new subspecies G. m. mesopJianis characterised as “ Like C. m. 
macrurus from Java, but much larger.” Wing 189 mm. As his Bornean 
birds considered typical measure up to 188 mm., the difference in size should 
not have been expressed by the words “ much larger.” However, to deal 
with his remarks concerning Australian forms is mj?^ object here. Accepting 
G. m. yorki from Cape York he wrote : “ This subspecies I have not seen, and 
if Mr. Mathews’ measurements (wing 179 mm.) represent the average size, 
the race is but possibly distinguishable. It comes very close to Gaprimulgus 
macrurus macrams, but which seems to be practically identical in size, not smaller 
as Mr. Mathews says in the original description, for he compared it evidently 
with the large form here separated as Gaprimulgus macrurus mesophanisy instead 
of with the typical small bird from Java. I am here recognising it largely 
on account of its isolated range as compared with Gaprimulgus macrurus 
macrurus y and in the probability that careful comparison will reveal characters to 
separate it from the latter race.” 
Then under Gaprimulgus macrurus keatsi he wrote : 
“ The smgle Australian specimen (from Port Essington) examined mdicates 
240 
