THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Watling gives the following note : “ The natural size. Tliis is a scarce 
bird and well resembled, and the only one we have yet seen ; the blue feathers 
on this bird are of a beautiful changeable blue.” 
No. 206. Crimson-breasted Warbler, Lath., Gen. Syn., Suppl. II., p. 250. 
Sylvia rubricollis Lath., Ind. Orn. Suppl., p. lv. 
Watling gives the following note: “ Native name Bood-dang. Natural size.” 
No. 207. Crimson-breasted Warbler, Lath. 
Watling says : “ Natural size.” 
In my 1913 “ List ” I placed Sylvia rubricollis Lath, in Appendix B., 
p. 329, writing : “ Founded on Plate 207, not 206, as Sharpe gave, and this 
does not appear to be Dicceum hirundinaceum, as was determined by Gray.” 
It is obvious that Latham gave his name not to No. 207, as that states 
“ Natural size,” and he wrote “ Size uncertain” ; it may have been founded 
on a Lambert drawing as Gray decided, but the description is sufficient to 
identify the name with tliis species. 
It is important to decide this as the name may yet come into use, though 
it is to be hoped that such a change will not be made. 
Shaw and Nodder called this bird Motacilla hirundinacea in 1792. 
In the Portland Catalogue published in 1786 (Solander) or rather the 
editor (possibly Humphrey) recorded on p. 174: 
“ Motacilla hirundinacea. See Mr. Lightfoot, Philos. Trans., 1785.” 
At the place quoted Lightfoot described the Reed-Warbler under the 
name Motacilla arundinacea, and apparently the Portland Catalogue name is 
an error. It has been argued that some errors are valid names, e.g., Opopsitta, 
in which case this bird’s name would become Microchelidon rubricollis, and the 
name of the British Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus hirundinaceus. In this case 
I do not anticipate such an alteration but record the facts as someone else 
may later “ discover ” the names, this being the first published intimation 
of the complication. 
The species ranges all over Australia without showing much variation, 
but does not occur in Tasmania, nor have I seen a very close ally from New 
Guinea, although this bird is common at Cape York. It is such facts as these 
that constitute the most interesting features in Australian ornithology, suggesting 
its stability since its arrival in Australia after the separation of Tasmania from 
the mainland and its spreading backwards into the Cape York district. When 
I drew up my “ Reference list ” in 1912 I separated three forms as 
Dicceum hirundinaceum hirundinaceum (Shaw and Nodder). 
South Queensland, New South Wales, 
Victoria, South-west Australia. 
Dicceum hirundinaceum yorki Mathews. 
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