15 
that I have at the same time pointed out slight variations, not 
amounting to a specific difference, in individuals from different 
localities. This difference I am unable to account for. I do not be- 
lieve the birds to be distinct species, but am inclined to regard them 
as varieties or races of the same species, modified by the character 
of the situations they frequent. I may mention some curious in- 
stances in point, such as the Artamus sordidus , which is a migratory 
bird in Van Diemen’s Land, and partially stationary in New South 
Wales, yet all the examples procured in the former country are the 
largest and most vigorous, which we should naturally attribute to 
the excess of food afforded by the more humid climate of Van Die- 
men’s Land ; but an instance precisely the reverse of this occurs 
with regard to the Graucalus , which is also a migratory bird in Van 
Diemen’s Land, and examples of which, killed in that island, are 
much more feeble and diminutive than those obtained in New South 
Wales. The Halcyon sanctus, again, whose distribution is universal 
in Australia, varies somewhat in size in every colony, still not suffi- 
ciently so to afford any tangible specific characters. 
Upon taking a general view of the Australian ornithology we find 
no species of Vulture, only one typical Eagle, and indeed a remark- 
able deficiency in the number of the species of its birds of prey, with 
the exception of the nocturnal Owls, among which the species be- 
longing to the restricted genus Strix are more numerous than in any 
other part of the world ; a circumstance which is probably attri- 
butable to the great abundance of small quadrupeds, most of which 
are nocturnal in their habits. 
Among the perching birds there is a great excess of the Insecti- 
vorce — Podargi, Meliphagidce , Maluridce , Gymnorhincc , &c., of the 
Granivorcc , such as various species of the Fringillidce , and of the 
Psittacidce. The latter tribe of birds is more numerous in Australia 
than in any other part of the world, and forms four great groups, 
viz. the Qalyptorliyncld , which mainly procure their food from the 
Hanksice , Casuarince and Eucalypti ; the Cacatuce , which feed upon 
the terrestrial Orclddecc , &c.; the Trichoglossi , which subsist upon 
the nectar they extract from the flower-cups and blossoms of the 
Eucalypti ; and the ground and grass Parrakeets, which feed almost 
exclusively on the seeds of the various grasses that abound on. the 
plains; the united groups amounting to nearly sixty species, 
Of the Rasorial forms, — while the Pigeons and Hemipodes are 
numerous, the larger and typical Gallinacecc are entirely wanting ; 
their only representatives being a few species of Coturnix and Sy- 
no'icus. The Grallatorial birds are about equal in number to those of 
other countries; and among the water birds the true Ducks are but 
few, while the Procellaridce which visit the coast are in much greater 
abundance than in any other part of the world. On a retrospect 
of the whole we find a greater number of nocturnal birds than is com- 
prised in the ornithology of any other section of the globe. I must 
not omit to mention too the extraordinary fecundity which prevails in 
Australia, many of its smaller birds breeding three or four times 
in a season ; but laying fewer eggs in the early spring when insect 
