ego NESTS AXD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



456. — Chalcococcyx lucidus, Gmelin. 

 BROAD-BILLED BRONZE CUCKOO. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xix., p. 295. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Potts : Trans. New Zealand Inst., vol. 

 ii., p. 65 (1S70); Buller: Birds of New Zealand, vol. i., p. 83 

 (1888). 



Geographical Distribution. — Australia (Eastern) and Tasmania, also 



New Zealand, Chatham Islands, and Macqnaric Island (accidental). 



E(/!/>:. — Similar to that of C. jihi(/o.<ii.<. It has been described by 

 Sir Walter Buller as "of a broad ovato-clliptical form, generally 

 greenish-white or very pale olive colour, often clouded, or stained with 

 brownish grey." Another is, " rather more elliptical in form, and of 

 a uniform olivaceous brown." Dimensions in inches: (1) -8 x -5, 

 (2) -Tx-S. 



Observations. — There has also been .some confusion about the iden- 

 tity and nomenclature of the various Bronze Cuckoos, and more 

 particularly those that wander to the southern parts of Australia. 

 Gould, after examination, concluded that the New Zealand bird, to 

 wliich the specific name furidiis was applied, was identic<il with ba.':a/ix. 

 But, seeing the egg of the New Zealand bird is bronze, while the other 

 is red-speckled, Gould's deductions do not hold. 



Dr. Ramsay says : — " Most ornithologists agree in considering 

 C. plagosus and G. basalts distinct species, and C. lucidus, from New 

 Zealand, as a third;" while the British Museum Catalogue shows that 

 G. lucidus is the New Zealand race of C. plagosus, with a range of 

 habitat down Eastern Australia. 



On the i!5th November, 1898, Mr. J. R. Burton infonns me, a 

 Shining Cuckoo was observed on Macquarie Island, which is situate 

 about 600 miles south-west of New Zealand. Tliis is probably the most 

 southern " record " for any Cvickoo. The bird was perched amongst the 

 rocks, and was apparently in a fatigued condition. 



A specimen of G. lucidus, or the Broad-billed Bronze Cuckoo, t.aken 

 in Tasmania, and exhibited in the Australian Museum, Sydney, has 

 a more bronzy-brown appearance than the other two varieties, but, like 

 G. basnlis, has chestnut markings on the tail feathers. However, this 

 third southern variety of Bronze Cuckoo needs inquiring into by field 

 workers, and may possibly lay in some Australian birds' nests. 



I give a few remarks on the Broad-billed Bronze Cuckoo in its New 

 Zealand habitat, where it is called the Shining Ciickoo. According to 

 Sir Walter Buller, it arrives in the north part of the country during 

 September. At Wellington, it was observed, from a record kept for 

 ten years, to arrive between 5th and 10th October. Tlie Cuckoos 

 commence to depart about the middle of January, and most are gone 

 by the end of that month. Other obsei-vers have noticed the birds in 

 February and March. 



