q88 NESTS AA-D EGGS OF AUSTRAL/AN BIRDS. 



also as the Friar Birds were seen chasing the Cuckoos away, I do not 

 tliiuk there is much doubt about the identity of the egg.' 



Writing again later in the season, Mr. Cornwall says : — " Here is 

 a note about the Keel which may be of interest. On two different 

 occasions this year, my attention was drawn to the young of that 

 species being fed by two other birds. In each case it was the Yellow- 

 tinted Honeyeater (Ptilotis flava) and the Helmeted Friar Bird 

 (Plnhmon huceroides). I thought it rather remai'kable that those two 

 distinct birds should be feeding the one nestling. Mr. B. Gulhver can 

 endorse the above statement." 



The Koel hkewise lays in the nest of the Common Friai- Bird 

 (P. corniculatus). At Cliinchilla (Queensland), near Mr. Broadbent's 

 camp, was a nest of a Friar Bird. He watched the young Cuckoo come 

 out and the old Friar Bii'ds feed it, for about a week, in the neighboiu-- 

 hood of his tent. There were no young Friar Birds with it. After the 

 young Koel grew big enough, it was shot for collecting purposes. Tlie 

 male Koel used to come about the nest at night, remain till dawn, and 

 fly away till the next night. 



On the authority of Dr. W. Macgillivray, the Yellow-thi'oated Miner 

 (My~aiithn flnviyuJa ) may bo added to the list of foster-parents of the 

 Koel. Also the Silvery-crowned Friar Bird (P. (irye.iiticepx) — Le Souef, 

 and the Little Friar Bu-d (P. sordidus), and Northern Oriole (0. affinisj 

 — -Keartland. 



461. — ScYTHuops NOV.*: HOLLANDi^, Latham. — (38G) 

 CHANNEL BILL. 



Figure. — Gould ; Birds of Australia, £ol., vol. iv., pi. go. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xix., p. 330. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould: Birds of Australia (184S), 

 also Handbook, vol. i., p. 630 (1865) ; North : Proc. Linn. 

 Soc, N.S. Wales, vol. ii., 2nd str., p. 410 (1887); Campbell : 

 Proc. Roy. .Soc, Victoria, vol. v., new^ser., p. 125 (1S93), al.so 

 Victorian Naturalist (iSgS). 



Geographical Distribution. — Australia in general and Tasmania 

 (accidental); also New Guinea, New Britain, Ke Islands, Cerani, Bovuii, 

 Obi, Batchian, Tcmate, Celebes and Flores. 



E(j(j!i. — Inclined to oval in shape ; texture of shell somewhat coarse; 

 surface slightly glossy ; colour, vinaceous-buff, dully blotched with chest- 

 nut or umber and purplish-brown. Much resembles tliose of (lie Hill 

 Crow Shrike (SlrcjHrd iiryuta ) of Tasmania. Dimensions in inches: 

 (1) l-6GxM3, (2) l-63xl'-26. (Plate 17.) 



Observations.— Thi& bird appears to be a wanderer over the whole, 

 of Australia, but has not yet been recorded for the south-western 



