THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
evidencing that it is not in the highest plumage ; being merely in a 
transitional stage. Another specimen (No. 11341 C.A.S.) from the same 
locality has the appearance of an immature bird. The crown is heavily 
clouded with sooty-brown, the hind-neck is obscurely vermiculated, the 
back is distinctly vermiculated, and the white of the inner-webs of the 
primaries is concealed. No. 15548 U.S. Nat. Mus. is intermediate between 
the two Academy specimens, the three examples forming a succession 
terminating in the high D, chionoptera plumage. In supporting the 
claim of D. chionoptera for recognition. Dr. Godman infers that the 
nestlings of D. chionoptera are white, and that those of D. exulans 
are grey. Tlie adults being indistinguishable, such a condition would 
prove only that a dichromatism exists in the young, as in Diomedea 
irrorata. 
“ Diomedea regia Duller is also considered to be a mere variation. The 
characters propounded for the supposed adult are fairly midway between 
those Mr. Salvin assigns to D. exulans and to D. chionoptera, 
“ The explanation of the diverse plumages of Diomedea exulans, I believe, 
is to be found m dichromatism and age variation, there being a dark 
phase and a hght phase which coalesce in maturity, somewhat as in 
Diomedea irrorata. 
“ Recently Mr. Gregory M. Mathews has revived Diomedcea epomophora 
Lesson, relegating to its synonymy Diomedea regia BuUer, and dilating 
on the shape of the bill as a diagnostic character. The extensive series 
now under review show that the individuals of Tubinarme species are 
subject to much variation in the form and size of the biU. 
“ A later candidate for recognition is Diomedea sanfordi Murphy, sepa- 
rated from D. exulans on the basis of variation in one specimen. Especial 
value is attached to the shape of the nasal tubes. This character, 
however, is a highly variable one in the Diomedece.^^ 
The preceding should serve as a warning to would-be lumpers arguing 
from analogy, as the three species, exulans, chionoptera and epomophora, 
are “ realities, not concepts,” and “ present peculiar characters that 
separate them from each other.” 
The data given by Loomis exposes his inability to understand this 
group, his apology reading : “ In some of the species I have been hampered 
in the determination of distinguishing characters by lack of specimens.” 
Thus, the biU features of regia are constant, as is evidenced by 
the recognition by Murphy, as his D. sanfordi is that species. While 
Murphy laid stress on the shape of the nostrils, 1 gave particulars of the 
shape of the biU, and the close study I made of the group convinced 
