THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Simultaneously with its description by Vigors and Horsfield from a specimen 
from Shoal water Bay, Queensland, it was beautifully figured by Temminck and 
Laugier in the Planch. Coloriees from the Blue Mountains, New South Wales ; 
Temminck’ s plate appeared a little later than Vigors and Horsfield’s descrip- 
tion, but a similar bird had been previously figured by the same authors with 
the same locality, but although this species (P. turdinus ) is structurally very 
like the species now treated the coloration is a little different and no specimen 
agreeing with this has yet been seen. 
Tiie recognisable figure by Temminck and Laugier under the name 
P. trivirgatus was at once synonymised with Vigors and Horsfield’s name, 
and all birds from Eastern Australia were recorded as the latter species. 
Upon the receipt of birds from North-west Australia, however, Gould 
noted the striking differences, and described the Northern bird as a distinct 
species under the name P. rubeculus. This was easily recognisable, being 
smaller and darker and two species w'ere continuously admitted until 1912, 
when I prepared my Reference List. The large series studied proved that 
these were only subspecifically separable, intergradation being absolutely 
seen through long graduated series and that many valid subspecies were easily 
determinable, some more marked than the previously distinct species rubeculus. 
As a matter of fact, it was the recognition of these very distinct forms that 
had allowed the continual usage of rubeculus, typical rubeculus being practically 
unknown save from Gould’s figure and an odd specimen or two. 
I therefore determined seven subspecies as follows : — 
Pomatorhinus temporalis temporalis Vigors and Horsfield. 
Mid- Queensland. 
Pomatorhinus temporalis trivirgatus Temminck and Laugier. 
New South Wales. 
“ A little darker than the former and larger.” 
Pomatorhinus temporalis tregellasi Mathews. 
Victoria (type locality) and South Australia. 
“ Differs from P. t. trivirgatus in its darker coloration underneath, and in 
having a shorter bill, though equally as long a wing measurement.” 
Pomatorhinus temporalis cornwalli Mathews. 
Cairns, North Queensland. 
“ Differs from P. t. temporalis in its much paler coloration above and 
below.” 
Pomatorhinus temporalis rubeculus Gould. 
Western Northern Territory. 
The dark well-known form, smaller, and dark on the back and deeper 
coloured below. 
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