[120]

May. - 45.

Gould showed me some beautiful cases of Alcyone, very close, just distinguishable by shades of colour & slight differences of bill, inhabiting Java, Timour & different parts of Australia - Still more striking cases of Dacelos with curiously same forms of colour, from same islds Australia & New Zealand; most of these undoubtedly quite distinct others so close that many wd call them varieties - Splendid cases of pigeons from Java, Timour & Australia very close, & two species from different parts of Australia, identical except in size, the northern species being smaller, but with foot a shade larger: he considers them as distinct species!!

 

[120v]

Again 15 species of Ptilotis, all, except 2, characterized by yellow or white tuft, by ear. - several of them very close: some of the species line distinct, but most come from different parts of Australia - Here a larger form comes from the north, just reverse of Pigeons = Where these close species come from different islds it is impossible to know even, whether they are real species: only can be known, when they mingle, as willow-wrens in England. Nearly all birds from East & West Australia distinct = Wonderful new quadrupeds from Australia alone edentate, sucking being - animal with hind extremities reduced to one bone & hoof.

[in margin:] Geograph Distrib