THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
I have carefully studied these birds in view of Rothschild and Hartert’s 
conclusions and cannot recognise two species. Admitted that the north- 
western forms are separable subspecifically, a value I accepted following 
Hartert’s decision that they were only doubtfully separable even with that 
rank, I consider the Queensland birds intermediate, and as Rothschild and 
Hartert admit, the females at this locality are inseparable and the males only 
by the lore coloration which I find very variable and not specific, as the same 
bird will show dark or pale lores according to the incidence of light. A series 
of dark-lored birds held at an angle in the sunlight become pale-lored. Again, 
it is possible the coloration varies according to age and sex, and in this connection 
I was interested in the examination of a series of the Red-throated Thickhead. 
In this species also the lores are black, but specimens also show grey lores. It 
appears to be a seasonal change and certainly does not distinguish a different 
species, and the same thing can be observed in connection with the forms of 
Lewinornis as already indicated under that genus. In these the differences 
are much more marked and noticeable than in the present case, where they can 
scarcely be distinguished. I cannot, therefore, follow Rothschild and Hartert’s 
conclusions, but must maintain the values accepted in my “ List.” 
Mastersornis rubecula rubecula (Latham). 
New South Wales ; South Queensland. 
Mastersornis rubecula ringwoodi (Mathews). 
Victoria. 
Mastersornis rubecula yorhi (Mathews). 
North Queensland. 
Mastersornis rubecula concinna (Gould). 
Northern Territory. 
Mastersornis rubecula broomei (Mathews). 
North-west Australia. 
Mastersornis rubecula papuanus (Rothschild and Hartert). 
South-eastern New Guinea. 
Mastersornis rubecula sciurorum (Rothschild and Hartert). 
Louisiade Islands. 
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