BABBLER. 
Pomatorhinus temporalis nigrescens Mathews. 
North-west Australia. 
“Differs from P. t. rubeculus in its much darker coloration above, especially 
on the mantle, and also below, the abdomen being very dark reddish.” This 
was the P. rubeculus of most writers. 
Pomatorhinus temporalis intermedins Mathews. 
Eastern Northern Territory. 
“ Intermediate between P. t. temporalis and P. t. rubeculus , having the 
upper coloration of the former combined with the underside coloration of 
the latter, but of a lighter shade.” 
I later received birds from Melville Island which I named : — 
Pomatorhinus temporalis barnba Mathews. 
“ Differs from P. t. intermedins in having lighter ear-coverts, rump and 
wings.” 
In my List 1913 I recognised the genus name Pomatostomus as the valid 
one for this series, and at the same time listed seven subspecies, regarding the 
Melville Island form as the same as the mainland rubeculus until series of the 
latter could be examined. At the present time I would admit the eight with 
their names thus (with the proviso that more may be later recognised) : — 
Pomatostomus temporalis temporalis (Vigors and Horsfield). 
Pomatostomus temporalis trivirgatus (Temminck and Laugier). 
Pomatostomus temporalis tregellasi (Mathews). 
Pomatostomus temporalis cornwalli (Mathews). 
Pomatostomus temporalis rubeculus (Gould). 
Pomatostomus temporalis barnba (Mathews). 
Pomatostomus temporalis nigrescens (Mathews). 
Pomatostomus temporalis intermedins (Mathews). 
A note regarding the usage of the name Pomatorhinus frivolus must be 
here given. When Sharpe examined the “ Watling ” drawings he concluded 
that Turdus frivolus Latham should be used, and on his authority I introduced 
this identification into Australian literature. Independent consideration 
convinced me of the impropriety of the association and I at once corrected 
my error, pointing out that the description disagreed and that practically 
the only point of similarity was the curved bill. I have had a figure prepared 
for the Austral Avian Record of Turdus frivolus Latham for comparison. 
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