THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA, 
is not attained until the third year. With regard to a supposed blue White- 
backed Wren ( Malurus leuconotus), there is much doubt whether it may have 
been a sport, or the white back has been produced by the contraction of the 
skin between the shoulders when the specimen was made up. I have searched 
in many localities for this supposed white-backed species without success.” 
A. J. Campbell added a note, quoting Carter’s account, and observed: “It 
is satisfactory to have this point so thoroughly cleared up,” and then gives 
some remarks about the differences between the eastern and western forms, 
concluding that the colours varied seasonally as well as geographically, and 
that “ Students will, no doubt, accept one western geographical race.” 
The two species cyanotus and leuconotus being commonly accepted, I 
separated my specimens according to traditional identification by my Australian 
friends and with the assistance of the British Museum authorities. When I 
prepared my “ Reference List ” in 1912, I was perplexed in the differentiation 
of the two species, but was unable to determine their exact relationship so 
allowed them, and named a Western subspecies of each thus : 
Malurus cyanotus cyanotus Gould. 
New South Wales, Victoria. 
Malurus cyanotus exsul Mathews. 
“ Differs from M. c. cyanotus in having the blue coloration darker above and 
below. Yule River, N.W. Australia.” 
West Australia. 
Malurus leuconotus leuconotus Gould. 
South Australia. 
Malurus leuconotus perplexus Mathews. 
“ Differs conspicuously from the typical form in the coloration of the head, 
which is pale turquoise-blue, whereas the type has the head purplish-blue. 
Day Dawn, West Australia.” 
West Australia. 
When Carter emphasized the fact that there was to him only one species, 
I was willing to accept that view, and carefully examining every specimen, 
I agreed that leuconotus was based on a made-up skin and so w r e both published 
the news. As above noted, this is now agreed upon, but a consideration of the 
subspecific forms still leaves a lot of trouble. I lumped in the Austral Avian 
Record, allowing only 
Hallornis leuconotus leuconotus (Gould) 
and 
Hallornis leuconotus exsul (Mathews). 
Although Campbell agreed to this, it does not seem to show the facts, and 
H. L. White has named 
Malurus cyanotus diamantina 
82 
