A fourth species of Australian corvid.

Abstract

A fourth species of the genus Corvus is described from Australia; it differs from C. coronoides in its smaller size, bifurcated and shorter hackles, well feathered inter-ramal area, call, behaviour and movements. This fourth species has been found breeding in sympatry with coronoides in southern New South Wales. Examination of the type specimens of the Mathewsian subspecies perplexus, halmaturinus, and mellori together with Stresemann's C. difficilis, clearly showed that mellori was the name by which this fourth species of Corvus must be known – Corvus mellori Mathews. A newly collected, adult female specimen has been designated the allotype.