WHITE-PLUMED HONEY-EATER. 
“ Differs from P. p. carteri in its more pallid coloration above and below, less 
striping on the throat, and the head less yellow. East Murchison.” 
Mid-west Australia. 
Ptilotis penicillata calconi Mathews. 
“Differs from P. p. carteri in having less yellow on the throat, in its paler 
coloration, and in the white ear-patch being more noticeable. Mungi, North¬ 
west Australia.” 
Interior of North-west Australia. 
Campbell observed: “A pair (<$ and $) from the Coongan are typical 
specimens of P. carteri and probably more than a subspecies.” This was the 
only recent comment upon the above arrangement, which was admitted 
unchanged save for reference to the genus Ptilotula in my 1913 “ List,” until 
Ashby described Ptilotis geraldtonensis, writing: “ It was exceedingly interesting 
to find this bird at Geraldton and Dongara, where it takes the place of P. 
penicillata in South Australia, with similar notes and habits. We expected 
P. carteri, but our specimens differ considerably from specimens in my collection 
of that bird, and although considerably larger and darker in colour than 
specimens of P. fiavescens from Derby, the specimens collected are certainly 
nearer that species than to my representatives of P. fiava, P. carteri, and P. 
keartlundi. I give the name geraldtonensis, that being the first locality in 
winch I found it, although I afterwards found it even more numerous at 
Dongara. It prefers creek beds.” He then gave a complete description and 
diagnosis of the “ new species,” and this caused so much interest that he 
reviewed the group after a hurried visit, and this review is remarkable that 
with the scant material available practically the arrangement adopted by me 
in 1912 was entirely confirmed. 
The results Ashby published in detail and the main points I here note. 
Ashby recognised as one species the forms I amalgamated, with the addition 
of his geraldtonensis, but suggests two divisions, a ” forest division 5 and a 
“desert division”; the “forest division” being diagnosed: ‘"All the birds 
in this series are coloured in varying degrees with yellowish-green, while the 
“ desert division ” covers “ All the birds in this series are coloured with yellow, 
instead of yellowish-green, and all show a wash of buff so characteristic of 
Desert Buds.” 
To the “ forest division ” he allots : 
(1) Victorian birds, with which he considers birds from Adelaide 
Hills are identical; these are the darkest birds. 
(2) New South Wales birds, Torr Downs on the River Darling and 
Broken Hill birds are generally paler. 
(3) Erom the Gorge, near Port Germain, South Australia, are still pale. 
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