THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
visit to Perth, and he, after making a critical examination of the skins of both 
species, expressed himself as entirely in accord with my pronouncement. 
Certainly the general pattern of the plumage of the two species is very similar, 
but the same remarks apply with equal force to Ptilotis plumula, which appears 
to be an inland representative of Ptilotis carteri. Convert the yellow plumes 
of Ptilotis plumula into white, and you have P. carteri. I cannot admit 
P. penicillata as being as near an ally to P. carteri or to P. leilavalensis as is 
either P. plumula or P. flavescens .” 
North had differentiated the Lcilavale bird by the absence of the blackish line 
separating the silky-white ear-patch, and the olive-yellow head coloration, etc. 
When I examined the material I possessed in 1912 for the preparation of 
my “ Reference List ” I was surprised to find the variation existent, and I 
also recognised that P. carteri and P. leilavalensis were simply subspecific 
forms of P. penicillata, notwithstanding Milligan’s suggestion that P. 
plumula was a nearer ally. It \vi\\ be noted that Cleland has noted the very 
close actual relationship of P. carteri with P. penicillata, and Macgillivray 
of P. leilavalensis with this species also. 
1 found that the species could be separated into eight subspecies, each 
of which showed as good separative characters from each other as did P. leila¬ 
valensis or P. carteri. 
These were distinguished as 
Ptilotis penicillata penicillata Gould. 
Interior New South Wales. 
Ptilotis penicillata mellori Mathews. 
“ Differs from P. p. whitei in its still darker coloration above and below. 
(Templestowe) Victoria.” 
Victoria. 
Ptilotis penicillata whitei Mathews. 
“ Differs from P. p. penicillata in its darker coloration above and below. 
Murray Flats, South Australia.” 
South Australia. 
Ptilotis penicillata rosince Mathews. 
“ Differs from P. p. penicillata in lacking the dark line of feathers above the 
white ear-patch, and in being lighter above. Port Augusta, South Australia.” 
South Australia (Port Augusta). 
Ptilotis penicillata leilavalensis North. 
North Queensland. 
Ptilotis penicillata carteri Campbell. 
Mid-west Australia. 
Ptilotis penicillata ladasi Mathews. 
558 
