COLLARED BUTCHER-BIRD. 
difference observed was apparently governed by the distribution of the 
supposed “ species,” that is, that the form was of subspecific value only. More- 
over, he did not figure two of the forms, writing in his Introduction 
“ Cr adieus cinereus Gould.” 
“ Inhabits Van Diemen’s Land, and may be distinguished from C. 
destructor by its much longer bill, and, when fully adult, by its grey back. 
Gracticus leucopterus Gould. 
“ Inhabits Western Australia ; is of the same size as C. destructor, but 
has the white mark on the wings much larger and more clearly defined.” 
It may be remarked that the latter is the first description of the western 
form. 
Gould further wrote of his C. cinereus : “ By some ornithologists this bird 
may be considered only a local variety of C. torquatus, but I did not fail to 
notice that the two birds appeared very different in their respective countries, 
and ornithologists will observe on examination that a marked difference occurs 
in individuals from Tasmania and New South Wales. I will not, however, 
affirm that this bird is confined to Tasmania, for I have lately received evidence 
of its also occurring on the shores of the opposite part of the continent.” 
Gould had previously described as a distinct species Gracticus argenteus, 
and of this he wrote : “ Examples of this species were discovered on the north 
coast of Australia, both by Sir George Grey and B. Bynoe, Esq., to the latter 
of whom I am indebted for one of the specimens from which my description 
was taken. The Cracticus argenteus is directly intermediate in size between 
C. torquatus and G. nigrogularis, and moreover exhibits a remarkable participa- 
tion in the colouring of those two species, having the white throat and chest 
of the former, and the parti-coloured wings, conspicuous white rump, and 
white-tipped tail of the latter ; it differs, however, from both, as well as from 
all the other members of the genus in the light or silvery-grey colouring of the 
back, and hence the name argenteus has been applied to it.” 
The Tasmanian form was commonly regarded as only of varietal or sub- 
specific rank, while the West Australian form seemed to have been allowed 
specific on account of lack of information. 
The form argenteus had been admitted as valid by Gadow on the existence 
of an immature skin in the British Museum which he regarded as type. It 
will be noted above that Gould had no type, but included all the specimens in 
his description. When Witmer Stone drew up the “ List of the Gouldian 
Types ” in Philadelphia, he concluded that a bird labelled Port Essington 
was type and at that time I agreed. I will refer to this point later. 
At the time of preparation of my “ Reference List ” in 1912 I arranged all 
the specimens, and made out that half a dozen closely related forms were 
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