THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Captain S. A. White, in connection with the Birds of the Lower Murray, 
has observed : “ Met with in large families, mostly in abraded plumage, owing 
to their having finished nestmg. A discussion took place re the coloration 
of the eye. Some contend that when the bird is alarmed or worried it can 
produce a scarlet membrane in front of the eye. My experience has shown 
me that the eye is deep red during nesting time.” 
Cleland, in his Census of the Birds of the PilUga Scrub, New South If ales, 
wrote: “Of this species, also congregating in ‘ famihes,’ sixty-two members 
were seen, distributed mostly in the centre of the scrub. Estimated minimum 
population, 4,092. The numbers of birds seen in the various ‘ families’ were 
as follows: Twelve on one occasion, eight on one, seven on two, six on one, 
five on one, four on two, three on one, two on one and one on two occasions.” 
No subspecies were named until I prepared my “Reference List,” when 
I admitted three: 
Corcorax melanoramphos melanoramphos (Vieillot). 
Queensland, New South Wales. 
Corcorax melanoramphos suhniger Mathews. 
“ Differs from C. m. melanoramphos in being slightly smaller, and in being 
darker above and below. (Ringwood) Victoria.” 
Victoria. 
Corcorax melanoramphos whitece Mathews. 
“ Differs from C. m. melanoramphos in having a shorter bill, 36 m.” 
Eyre’s Peninsula, South Australia. 
In my 1913 “ List ” I only admitted two, synonymising the first two. 
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