LARGE-TAILED NIGHTJAR. 
that this is a recognisable race. Mr. Mathews in his original description states 
that it is smaller than Caprimulgus macrurus macrurus, but here again he has 
doubtless made comparison with Caprimulgus macrurus mesophanis instead 
of the typical race from Java. Tlris Australian bird is apparent^ of the same 
size as Caprimulgus macrurus macrurus, but is distinguishable by its paler 
coloration, particularly on the upper parts. So far as I am able to judge from 
the limited series at my command, birds from New Guinea, allowing for the 
usual range of individual variation, do not differ in either size or colour from 
typical Caprimulgus macrurus keatsi of the Northern Territory in Australia.” 
He then refers to this form, as well as the Port Essington specimen three birds 
from Port Moresby, New Guinea. A little local knowledge would have enabled 
Oberholser to negative such an incongruous association, as the birds of Port 
Moresby have no geographical connection with those from Port Keats. A 
careful criticism of Australian specimens, using Oberholser’s standard for 
subspecific differentiation, will allow four subspecies in Australia, with no 
known extra-limital range at present. 
Thus 
Rossornis macrurus yorki (Mathews). 
Cape York, North Queensland. 
These agree with my original description in being smaller than C. macrurus 
salvadorii from Labuan, which was the form I accepted as typical at the time 
I made my comparison. Peculiarly enough, as I have just shown, this is a 
larger form than typical C. macrurus macrurus, but when Oberholser suggested 
I had compared my birds with his C. macrurus mesophanis he overlooked this 
fact and still considered Bornean birds as typical. Six Cape York specimens 
give wing measurements : 176, 174, 181, 178, 172 and 178, averaging 176*5 mm. 
I find the Cairns birds to measure appreciably larger and, moreover, to be paler 
on the under-surface with the bars more regular. The wing measurements of 
four birds read : 184, 185, 190, 194, averaging 188*2 mm. This agrees with 
Oberholser’s C. m. mesophanis in measurement, but are quite separable from 
the preceding, so that I propose 
Rossornis macrurus coincidens subsp. n. 
Cairns, Queensland. 
As in the case of C. m. yorki my comparison of my C. m. keatsi was made w^th 
the Labuan specimens and consequently must be corrected as Oberholser 
states in regards to typical Javan birds. I have since received a series from 
Melville Island which I did not separate at the time, but which now seems 
necessary in view of Oberholser’s results. Five specimens measure in the 
wing 178, 187, 189, 187, 187, averaging 183*6 mm. These are notably larger 
than the Cape York birds as well as paler than the Port Keats series, the 
VOL. VII. 
241 
