THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
“ A pallid form closely resembling P. s. forresti, but easily separable by the 
smaller size and paler coloration. East Murchison.” 
Mid Westralia. 
Ptilotis sonora rogersi Mathews. 
“ Differs from P. s. murchisoni in its browner coloration above. Wyndham, 
N.W.A.” 
North-west Australia. 
Ptilotis sonora decipiens Mathews. 
“ Differs from P. s. rogersi and all other subspecies in its light grey back. 
Mungi, N.W.A.” 
Interior of North-west Australia. 
Ptilotis sonora forresti Ingram. 
Northern Territory. 
A little later I added 
Ptilotis sonora cooperi. 
“ Differs from P. s. rogersi in its heavier bill and much darker coloration above 
and below.” 
Melville Island, Northern Territory. 
These nine were admitted in my 1913 “ List ” under the genus name 
Meliphaga and the specific name M. sonora. 
I then added 
Meliphaga sonora westwoodia. 
“ Differs from M. s. foresti in being larger and darker. Westwood, 
Queensland,” and almost immediately recognised the application of Vieillot’s 
Melithreptus virescens to this species, as it had been definitely recognised 
as the same species as Gould named P. sonorus, and that the specimen 
had been collected by Peron and Lesueur. I also considered that the Sharks’ 
Bay form should be distinguished as it differed from the other ten named forms. 
Receiving specimens from Central Australia I named 
Dorothina virescens everardi. 
“ Differs from D. v. virescens (Vieillot) in being paler and smaller. Everard 
Ranges, Central Australia.” 
When Carter explored Dirk Hartog Island he found this species the 
commonest bird, this confirming Peron and Lesueur’s typical form, and inad¬ 
vertently I named it 
Meliphaga virescens hartogi. 
In Carter’s paper the differences between the typical form and the lower 
mainland birds was noted and discussed; but Campbell has altogether 
confused the forms so that at present it is necessary to note that twelve 
subspecies are named with probably many more to follow. 
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