SINGING HONEY-EATER. 
than examples from the interior of the mainland.” This was written in 1904, 
and seven years afterward Milligan named the Rottnest form as a distinct 
species, P. insularis (probably from Lawson’s specimens but without any 
mention). 
A “ Victorian ” once wrote: “ Gould, who was a good judge of species, 
stated that he had ‘ abundant evidence that the range of this species extends 
across the entire continent of Australia from east to west.’ If that be correct, 
it is feared that many of Mathews’s subs., notably murchisoni, decipiens, rogersi 
and cooperi, dissolve into one, which may, in general, be a trifle lighter coloured 
than, say, those from Victoria or South Australia. More recently, Mathews 
desires to shift the type locality to Shark Bay. . . . Whitlock collected 
skins on Barrow Island as well as at Cossack on the mainland. Both 
examples are similar and typical.” 
I never said that my subspecies were species, and I agreed with Gould 
that the species extended from east to west. I do not desire to shift the type 
locality anywhere, I simply give the facts as nearly truthfully as I can get them, 
and always endeavour to state them correctly. The “ Victorian” does not use 
the word “ typical ” as is used by experts to-day, otherwise the Shark Bay birds 
are typical and the others might agree. However, in this case as in so many 
others, this writer will probably amend his conclusions with further study. 
As above recorded, only Ingram and Milligan had recognised the variation 
of this species, but each had differentiated the forms with specific rank, which 
I conclude was wrong. When I examined the material during the preparation 
of my “Reference List” in 1912 I found that the species was very variable 
geographically, and after reducing the above two “ species ” to subspecifie 
rank I found I could recognise five more, which, with the typical form, 
made eight subspecies as follows : 
Ptilotis sonora sonora Gould. 
South Australia. 
Ptilotis sonora walgetti Mathews. 
“ Differs from P. s. sonora in its greyer coloration, slightly shorter bill and 
shorter wing (92 mm.). (Walgett) N.S.W.” 
New South Wales. 
Ptilotis sonora broomei Mathews. 
“ Approaches P. s. sonora, but is slightly paler above and darker below. Broome 
Hill, South-west Australia.” 
South-west Australia. 
Ptilotis sonora insularis Milligan. 
Rottnest Island, West Australia. 
Ptilotis sonora murchisoni Mathews. 
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