THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA, 
However, when Sharpe had the Watling drawings brought to his 
notice he observed a drawing of a Wood-Swallow and thereupon suggested 
a change in the customary designation. This powerful authority influenced 
me and I sanctioned the change, but further consideration showed that Sharpe’s 
conclusions were wrong. I have had the figure which Sharpe examined 
reproduced, but I here quote the description given by Latham of his Black- 
crowned Thrush. “ This species is about six inches long ; bill pale blue ; 
legs black ; back and wings black ; but the quills are edged with white ; the 
chin is black, from thence to the vent white ; but the sides of the body next 
the wings, and the crown of the head are brown. Inhabits New Holland ; 
frequently seen about Port Jackson . in New South Wales.” 
This species has never at any time “ the chin is black, from thence to the 
vent white.” Sharpe suggested this was a state of immaturity, but this 
species is striped when young and even then is never white underneath. 
Upon reviewing the subject the long-customed name sordidus was found to 
be preoccupied so that another name had still to be found. I recognised 
the following as undoubtedly given to this bird. Latham described a 
“ Blue-winged Grosbeak. Size of a Bunting ; length seven inches ; 
general colour cinereous-brown ; round the base of the bill as far as the eyes 
considerably darker ; wings wholly of a deep blue, but the base of the outer 
quills white, forming a long white spot on the outer edge of the middle of 
the wing ; tail the same, but paler than the wings ; the ends of all the 
feathers white ; bill and legs blue. Inhabits New South Wales ; found at 
Port Jackson. From a drawing by General Davies.” Latham named this 
Loxia cyanoptera. 
In the Austral Avian Record , Vol. IV., pp. 114-122, 1920, is an account 
of General Davies and some of his drawings. 
As regards the subspecific forms of the species Gould wrote : “ I may 
here observe, that specimens from Swan River, South Australia, and New 
South Wales present no difference either in size or colouring, while those 
from Tasmania are invariably larger in all their admeasurements, and are 
also of a deeper colour.” 
A. G. Campbell, making comparisons of Victorian with Tasmanian birds, 
gave measurements 
Victoria Total length 6 ‘8, culmen ’52, wing 5*0, tail 2 ‘9, tarsus *65. 
Tasmania „ „ 6*75 „ *55 „ 4*9 „ 2*85 „ *7 
and wrote : “ More difference than might be expected exists between the 
Tasmanian and the mainland birds. Both the bill and the tarsus of the 
former are longer slightly, while the outer web of the fourth primary, which, 
in the mainland specimen is, together with the second and third, broadly 
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