THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
most peculiar rubricatus which I now call Dipardalotus. This interior form 
has also modified the family call-notes in a distinct manner and has vigorously 
extended its range into the north, and may in the future oust some of the 
weaker forms. Apparently Nesopardalotus is being eliminated in the struggle 
for existence, and the better equipped Pardalotus and Pardalotinus will alone 
survive in Tasmania. 
The superficial features that attract remark may be shown as follows: 
Coloration obscurely greenish with dull specklings; dull yellowish throat; 
no eyebrow; no coloured tipping to primary coverts ; size small 
Nesopardalotus. 
Black head and eyebrow developed by all the rest. 
Black head spotted with viiite; speckling on back developed into spots; 
coloured rump ; no coloured tipping to primary coverts Pardalotus. 
Black head spotted with wirite ; back speckling lessening and in some 
cases vanished; rump nearly uniform with back; no coloured tipping to 
primary coverts Dipardalotus. 
Black head spotting diminishing, in some cases vanished; back uniform, 
speckling completely eliminated ; coloured rump ; coloured tipping to primary 
coverts notable Pardalotinus. 
Or they can be arranged this way 
Head uniform with back Nesopardalotus. 
Head black ; tipping to primary coverts Pardalotinus. 
Head black spotted with wdrite 
No tipping to primary coverts ; rump coloured ; 
bill short. Sexes differing Pardalotus. 
Rump nearly uniform with back; bill long. 
Sexes alike Dipardalotinus. 
That these forms are still developing is certain, as the geographic variability » 
is accompanied by undetermined specific variation in the case of Pardalotinus ; 
thus in the North the rump coloration varies from dull chestnut to bright 
yellow and the spotting of the head is quite lost, a pure black head being seen; 
in the South the spotting on the head has diminished into streaks towards the 
occiput and the rump coloration has remained dull. However, the tipping 
to the wing-coverts varies from yellow to scarlet and the white edging on the 
primaries varies from a single line to a large white patch. These characters 
do not yet seem specifically fixed, though various observei-s have attempted 
to suggest differentiation in the habits of the forms, showing these differences, 
which are in some places found associated, in others geographically separated 
into different series. 
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