ol. V.-| 

 1905 J 



Barrett, Cuckoo Notes. 23 



this district each species has an apparent preference for one par- 

 ticular nest. Thus the salmon-tinted egg of the Pallid Cuckoo 

 {Cuciilus pallidus) is commonly found in the nest of the Yellow- 

 faced Honey-eater [Ptilotis chrysops), whose flesh-coloured egg it 

 somewhat resembles. The Fan-tailed Cuckoo {Cacomantis flabcUi- 

 f or mis) favours the White-browed Scrub- Wren {Sericornis frontalis). 

 Here again the resemblance between the egg of Cuckoo and foster- 

 parent is noticeable, though what advantage is gained by this 

 similarity, in a covered nest where the eggs can be but dimly seen 

 by the brooding bird, it is hard to imagine. The Bronze-Cuckoo 

 {C. plagosus) and the Narrow-billed Bronze-Cuckoo (C. basalis) 

 both select dome-shaped nests for their offspring, the former species 

 showing a j^reference for the nest of the Brown Tit {Acanthiza 

 pnsilla), and the latter for that of the Blue Wren [Malnrits cyaneus). 

 The illustrations reproduced, which are from negatives by Mr. 

 C. P. Kinane, depict — ^(Plate L) " Young Narrow-billed Bronze- 

 Cuckoo ousting young of Blue Wren ; " (Plate II.) " Young 

 Fan-tailed Cuckoo in Nest of- Brown Tit;" and (Plate III.) 

 " Young Bronze-Cuckoo being fed by Brown Tit." 



Notes on Some Limicoline Birds. 



By (Dr.) H. W. Bryant, Melbourne. 



(^Read before the Bird Observers' Club, I'^th May, 1905.) 



I WISH to confine myself to remarks on those species of shore-birds 

 which I have had most opportunity of studying round the swamps 

 and sea-shore of Hobson's Bay.* Some of these birds commence to 

 visit our shores about the end of June. I find a note in my game- 

 book that on the 25th June, 1897, I shot a Painted Snipe at Little 

 River. As a rule the ordinary Snipe arrive next, about the end 

 of August, in small numbers at first, but becoming more numerous 

 later, in September, October, and November, and remaining often 

 until March. The Tringa, Curlew, Godwit, &c., do not usually 

 arrive until October, and leave about April and May. A special 

 kind of large Dottrel are again later in arriving, just after the dis- 

 appearance of the Tringa. They come in big flocks, and afford 

 very good sport. 



Painted Snipe [Rostratida aiistralis). — When first shot the colour 

 of this bird is most beautiful, it having a kind of shot green tinge 

 all over the feathers. After death this sheen disappears, and as 

 with all stuffed birds the colours fade after a time. Another 

 peculiarity about the Painted Snipe, that I have heard of, but 

 have not so far been able to substantiate, is, that if one of them be 

 placed in the game-bag with other game, it will cause the whole 

 of the game in the bag to decompose very rapidly. 



* Dr. Bryant enumerates eleven species, and his field observations are interesting 

 because written more from a sportsman's point of view. — Eds. 



