4 
FUSCOUS HONEY-EATER. 
birds were always observed in forest country, and frequented the tall trees. 
Although not typical, this bird most resembles P. fusca, with its dark-coloured 
bill and breast, while its habits and call are identical vdth that bird’s. Possibly 
it is the bird that Mathews has recorded from Cairns as Ptilotula flavescens 
subgermana, which is another species.” The absurdity and ambiguity of the 
last sentence needs no comment. I cannot decide whether Campbell meant 
he did not know what the bird was he had in view. 
I separated three subspecies in my “ Reference List,” in 1912, thus : 
Ptilotis fusca fusca (Gould). 
New South Wales. 
Ptilotis fusca dawsoni Mathews. 
“ Differs from P. /. fusca in its smaller size : wing 72 mm. Dawson River, 
Queensland.” 
Queensland. 
Ptilotis fusca dingi Mathews. 
“Differs from P. /. fusca in its much paler coloration above and below. 
(Murray Flats) South Australia. 
South Australia, Victoria. 
In my 1913 “ List ” I, still admitting these, ranged them under the genus 
Paraplilotis, and it will be noted that Campbell states the Cairns bird is not 
typical, but I am not certain that he was examining this species as the other 
bird mentioned by him in the same connection is so different. 
The names of the forms admitted will now be 
Paraptilotis fusca fusca (Gould). 
Paraplilotis fusca dingi (Mathews). 
Paraptilotis fusca dawsoni (Mathews). 
VOL. XI. 
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