c;76 .VESTS AND EGGS OE AVSTRAEJAN BIRDS. 



As Gilbert observes, the Black-eared Cuckoo is vci-y shv, and is 

 usually met with in the interior of the provinces. It utters a feeble, 

 lengthened, and somewhat plaintive note, at long intervals. It flies 

 slowly and heavily, and for short distances at a time. 



The only one I happened to notice in a state of nature was an early 

 bird, seen " sneaking " about a native pine scrub, near Echuca, Victoria, 

 28th July, 1894. 



On circvunstantial evidence, there is no doubt that the egg 

 received from Central Australia, by Mr. G. A. Keartland, and described 

 by Mr. A. J. North, is referable to the Black-eared Cuckoo. Mr. C. E. 

 Cowle was instioimental in securing this type-egg, wliich was found with 

 a clutch of Tit's ( Acanthiza). I believe a similar egg has since been 

 found in the nest of the Red Throat (Piirrholamun), while Mr. James 

 Kershaw exhibited at the Field Naturalists' Club, on the 13th Jiuie, 

 1898, an egg taken in the Wimmera district from the nest of the White 

 Face ( Xeroijhila). 



455. — Chalcococcyx bas.\lis, Horsfield. — (385) 

 NARROW-BILLED BRONZE CUCKOO. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iv., pi. 8q, lower figure. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xix., p. 294. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Ramsay : Proc. Zool. See, p. ;)5g 

 (1869); Campbell: Southern .Science Record (1883); North: 

 Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 247, pi. 13, fig. 13 (1SS9); Campbell: 

 Victorian Naturalist {1898). 



Gei)fir<i jihiriit Dix/rlhiitiuti . — Whole of Austmlia and Tasmania ; also 

 Aru Lslands, Timor, Flores, Lombock, Java and Malacca. 



JHyi/s. — Elliptical in form ; texture of shell fine ; surface sliglitly 

 glossy ; colour, pinkish-white, minutely freckled, or spotted all over with 

 pinkish-rod. Dimensions in inches: (1) .74 x -52, (2) •72x-51. 

 (3) -Tx-B. (Plate 17.) 



Observations. — The Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo is also found 

 throughout Australia, inclucUng Tasmania. 



The arrival of this bird in soutliern parts is concurrent with tlie 

 tide of the other Cuckoos, its laying season connncncing about the end 

 of September, and continuing into December. There is a noteworthy 

 fact in connection with the two common Bronze Cuckoos frequenting 

 the southern parts of Australia. The one that lays the olive or bronze- 

 coloured egg, invariably, or with few exceptions, deposits its burden in 

 dome-shaped or covered nests, while the Narrow-billed (the species now 

 imdcr notice) chooses either dome-shaped or open, cup-shaped nests as 

 receptacles ff)r its red-speckled egg. 



