THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. 
as an intruder approaches within about a hundred yards, but as I have pointed 
out in my notes on Gerygone albigularis, it is quite impossible to distinguish the 
peculiar, pleasing, lackadaisical song of these two birds, but the present 
species is a ventriloquist. , It has an extraordinary habit of continuously 
shaking itself, just as though all its feathers were wet. It is inclined to be 
of a restless nature, always on the move, and although it seldom takes a 
long flight, it has the appearance of always being in a hurry. They have 
a decided objection to men.” 
It is very unfortunate that this bird must bear the specific name, fuscus, 
which Gould bestowed upon it in 1838, and there can be no question upon 
this matter. As already indicated this is a change upon purely ornithological 
grounds and is unassailable. It is regrettable that the name should apply 
to the most widely distributed species with a number of subspecies as 
here shown. 
Ethelornis fuscus fuscus (Gould). 
(olim culicivorus ) 
Swan River, West Australia. 
The typical form has a grey throat and breast, brown back and tail with 
large white patches towards tip and white at the base. The bill is small. 
The immature has a yellow under-surface and the iris hazel or straw- 
yellow ; in the adult claret, red or orange-red. 
Ethelornis fuscus wayensis (Mathews) 
Interior of mid-West Australia. 
This form is well described as differing in its paler coloration above and 
below, especially noticeable on the throat. 
Ethelornis fuscus dendyi (Mathews). 
Interior of North-west Australia. 
This was diagnosed as differing from 4 4 culicivora ” typical in its paler 
coloration above, but darker rufous on the abdomen and flanks. Compared 
with the preceding form it is a larger bird with a small bill, the upper 
coloration darker and the grey throat more marked. 
Ethelornis fuscus musgravi (Mathews). 
Musgrave Ranges, Central Australia. 
This is a pallid form, resembling wayensis , and is paler than jachsoni , 
while the bill is more slender. 
Ethelornis fuscus jachsoni (Campbell). 
North-west New South Wales and South 
Queensland. 
