\'ESTS A.VD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 575 



Eggs. — Undesci-ibed.* 



Oh.ier vat ions. — This fine Cuckoo of northern forests is most nearly 

 allied to the familiar Fan-tailed Cuckoo fC. f/abel/ifornii.^J, but differs 

 in its smaller size, and in the unifonn rich chestnut coloiuing of 

 its under-surface, from which it derives its distinctive name, Chestnut- 

 breasted. 



Referring to the Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo, and writing to the 

 •• Ibis," p. H62 (1899), Mr. D. Le Souef states : " This bird I saw on many 

 occasions on the Bloomfield River, near Cooktown, and often heard it 

 uttering its mouraful note during the night. I have also noticed it 

 flying among the bushes, evidently hunting for nests. I never saw or 

 heard the Fan-tailed Cuckoo fC. flaheJliformis) in the district. Mr. R. 

 Hislop has sent me a clutch of eggs of Sericurnis magnirostris, in which 

 was deposited the egg of a Cuckoo, which I h,ave little doubt was laid 

 by C. castane.iveiitris." 



454. — MisrocALius PALLIOLATUS, Latham. — (382) 

 M. osculans, Gould. 



BLACK-EARED CUCKOO. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iv., pi. S8. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xix., p. 279. 



Previozl.' Descriptions of Eggs. — North : Report Horn Scientific Expe- 

 dition, .\ves, p. 65 (1896) ; Campbell : Victorian Naturali.st 

 (1898). 



Gengraphical Distrihiition. — Aiistralia in general; also Am. Ke, 

 and Batchian Islands. 



Eggs. — Long oval in shape ; texture of shell fine ; surface glossy ; 

 coloiu', nearly a imiform shade of reddish-chocolate. Dimensions : 

 (1) -87 X -57. (2) -8 X -69. (3) -88 x -63. 



Observations. — The Black-eared Cuckoo is a larger and more robust 

 bird than any of the Bronze Cuckoos, and also differs from them in 

 colouration. 



Gould himself shot two in New South Wales, 1839, received one 

 from GUbert, who obtained it in Western Australia, and two from other 

 collectors. 



* A supposed egg, provisionally described by Mr. D. Le .Souef, is : " Colour, 

 white, with minute freckles of a brownish tint rather sparsely scattered over the 

 egg, forming a light zone at the larger end. It is nearly oval in shape, and 

 measures -S:; x '58 inches." 



