THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
This specimen was given by Gould to the British Museum, and when 
Gadow wrote the volume of the Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum 
dealing with these birds he determined the specimen as a variety of 8. 
pileata. Later Ramsay demurred, writing: “ This is a somewhat doubtful 
species, and Dr. Hans Gadow, who has presumably examined the type from 
Gould’s collection, has made it still more doubtful by placing it as identical 
with S. pileata (Gould). As I have specimens agreeing very well with Mr. 
Gould’s description, from the interior provinces, obtained by Mr. James 
Ramsay, I prefer to consider it more nearly allied to S. chrysoptera than to 
any other.” 
Milli gan then recorded a form from West Australia under Gould’s name, 
but on the preparation of my “ Reference List ” I concluded: “ Note .—The 
type of S. tenuirostris, which I have examined, was procured by Captain Sturt, 
and is a young long-billed aberration. The name must be used for the South 
Australian race, which is characterised by its duller head, smaller size, and 
more spotting on the upper-surface, but the slender bill is not constant. Indeed, 
this feature is more constant in the East Murchison race, as pointed out by 
Milligan.” 
In that “ Reference List ” I included the forms of leucoptera as subspecies 
of pileata, but omitting those, four true pileata subspecies were recognised: 
Neositta pileata pileata (Gould). 
(Swan River) West Australia. 
Neositta pileata tenuirostris (Gould). 
South Australia, adjoining parts of Victoria. 
Neositta pileata milligani Mathews. 
“ Differs from N. p. pileata in its smaller size and much paler coloration. 
East Murchison, West Australia.” 
Mid Australia. 
Neositta pileata broomi Mathews. 
“ Differs from N. p. pileata in its paler coloration, and from N. p. tenuirostris 
in its more distinctly spotted upper-surface. Broome Hill, West Australia.” 
South-west Australia. 
The reconsideration of these forms a little later necessitated the addition of 
Neositta pileata whitlocki Mathews. 
“ Differs from N. p. broomi in its lighter coloured back, but not so pale 
as milligani. Stirling Ranges, South-west Australia.” 
These five forms were recognised in my 1913 “ List.” 
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