THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
but this view was contradicted by Ramsay, who wrote: “ Mr. R. B. Sharpe 
seems to doubt the existence of a third Oriole in Australia—0. affinis Gould 
I can only assure ornithologists that in my opinion this is a good species, and 
fairly described by Mr. Gould, and that it has nothing to do with the young 
of 0. fiavicincta, as supposed by Mr. Sharpe. This bird is smaller than 
O. viridis, the bill larger than 0. viridis, the wings shorter, the tarsi smaller 
the breast duUer, etc., etc. Hah. Gulf District, N.W. Queensland, and 
Dawson River Districts, etc.” It wiU be at once noted that the localities 
given by Ramsay are not the ones that Gould mentioned. Nevertheless 
following Ramsay, Australian ornithologists recognised 0. affinis from North 
Queensland right across to North-west Australia. As Ramsay recorded both 
species from North Australia it is obvious that he was not recognising the 
race Gould had named. Gould’s species was a geographical one and Ramsay’s 
was not. Upon examining my series in 1912 I recognised that Gould’s species 
was a valid subspecific form and that the North Queensland bird was different 
and was also a valid subspecies, as also was the north-western form. This 
meant the reduction of Gould’s species to its proper value and the addition 
of two subspecies, making instead of two doubtful species four well-marked 
subspecies as 
Oriolus sagittatus sagittatus (Latham). 
New South Wales, Victoria. 
Oriolm sagittatiis suhaffinis Mathews. 
“Differs from O. s. sagittatus in its smaller size and more streaked upper-surface. 
Cooktown, Queensland.” 
North Queensland. 
Oriolus sagittatus affinis Gould. 
Northern Territory. 
Oriolus sagittatus blaaumi Mathews. 
“ Paler than O. s. affinis above and below, mth less streaking on the under¬ 
surface, and with a long black bill. Napier Broome Bay, North-west 
Australia.” 
North-western Australia. 
I transferred these to the genus Mimeia, but otherwise made no alterations 
in my 1913 “list.” 
Recently Campbell, dealing \vith a female from Torres Straits, has recorded: 
“ Slightly lighter coloured (less greenish) than birds from Northern Territory, 
but sunilar to a female taken in Victoria save its smaller size—^whig 140 nun., 
as against the southern example, 150 nun. Migrating birds taken in Victoria 
are similar to those at Cardwell, the bills of which, however, are larger. In 
northern birds the white spots on the terminal end of the tail-feathers are 
smaller, and almost disappear in some specimens.” 
274 
