THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
feature of mastersi ; while Gould, who was very accurate, wrote of levigaster : 
“ a narrow obscure line, yellowish-white,” and does not mention “ white under 
the eye,” which Masters did. 
After carefully studying these birds and duly considering the facts of 
the limited distribution of the species as evidenced by tenebrosa , chloronota 
and richmondi, I am admitting more species than I did when I prepared my 
44 List of the Birds of Australia.” I there included mastersi , mouhi, and cantator 
as subspecies of levigaster , but I do not think this is fully proven, so I am 
restricting levigaster to the North-west and Northern Territory west of the 
Roper River. I solicit field investigation, as these species seem in somewhat 
the same case as some of the Palsearctic Warblers which could never have been 
definitely separated by skins alone, but which prove to be quite distinct 
species when their habits are known. It is suggested that even many more 
species of “ Gerygone ” may be recognised in Australia, and that some of these 
now regarded as subspecies may later be given specific rank. 
In the present case four subspecies of levigaster are separated and it is 
possible that the southern forms may represent a distinct species, but I am 
quite unwilling to complicate further a complex problem. 
As above noted specimens from Sampan Creek, Van Diemen’s Gulf, agree 
with Gould’s description and are from the type locality given and are thus 
considered typical, I therefore admit : 
Ethelornis levigaster levigaster (Gould). 
(Type from near Port Essington.) 
Northern Territory. 
Ethelornis levigaster intermissus subsp. nov. 
Buchanan’s Islet, Melville Island, 
Northern Territory. 
A good series are constantly darker above and larger : while the under- 
surface is white with the abdomen faintly washed with pale buff. In the 
male and female the iris is red, as in the typical subspecies and throughout 
all the subspecies, though some examples have the iris marked as “reddish- 
brown.” 
Ethelornis levigaster broomei (Mathews). 
(Type from Napier Broome Bay.) 
Northern North-west Australia. 
This subspecies is greyer above with the buff wash of the under- 
surface evanescent. The original description reads : 44 Differs from G. 1. 
Icevigaster in being less reddish-brown above, and in wanting the buff on the 
lower surface.” 
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