THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
birds seen. King River: A few in forest country. Roper River: Fairly 
numerous. Stomach, remains of beetles and caterpillars, termites, and other 
insects.” 
Campbell and Barnard, writing of birds in North Queensland, stated: 
Noted on the tableland of Kirrama. During the winter season the male 
birds assume the sombre garb of the female. In Central Queensland these 
birds arrive from the north during September, and shortly afterwards the 
males change from the sombre hue to the black and white of adults. The 
transition is very rapid, taking only two or three weeks. As soon as they 
assume the adult plumage they begin to build.” 
In 1912 I separated the northern bird as Lalage tricolor indistincta, differ- 
ing in its bluer head and upper back, and especially in its pale rump. 
Two years later Ashby named a form Kama leucomela mayi from Pine 
Creek, Northern Territory, but later admitted that this was the species he had 
in hand. As my name applied to a Wyndham bird, Ashby’s name seems 
absolutely synonymous as the locality Pine Creek, although in Northern 
Territory is the same faunal area as Wyndham even in a restricted sense. 
At present two subspecies may be t admitted : 
Lalage tricolor tricolor (Swainson). 
East Australia from Queensland to 
South Australia, and South-west Australia. 
It is probable that the South-western form is separable, but better material 
is necessary. 
Lalage tricolor indistincta Mathews. 
North-west Australia, Northern Territory. 
A somewhat paler form, the female being of a paler coloration also. 
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