QUEENSLAND and NORTHERN TERRITORY 57 



As a utility bird it hangs somewhat in the 

 balance, killing useful lizards and stealing nestling 

 birds. As a set off against this we know that it 

 feeds on young snakes and yabbie crayfish. These 

 latter destroy an infinite amount of fish ova and 

 considerably damage irrigation channels. Its 

 popularity saves it! 



The northern form "b" is found on the Gascoyne 

 River in the west, with the paler race b^ in the 

 drier area. These northern races are not nearly 

 so musical as the southern. They also differ in 

 their way of nesting, the large termite dwellings 

 of the tropics being bored into. The eggs are pure 

 white. The young in the first few weeks voice 

 their ancestors and learn more fully the lesson of 

 their parents. The following spring they have 

 accomplished the standard of their kind. 



How the Kookaburra got into West Australia 

 we do not know, but it certainly came from the 

 south east of the continent as it bears the geo- 

 graphical stamp of that species. Mr. A. J. Campbell 

 considers it was introduced in 1896. 



To the great interior it has not followed the 

 Halcyon. 



DISTRIBUTION OF THREE LARGE 

 CUCKOOS 



In these three we have more than map interest. 

 viz., conspicuous form, colour and habit. Map 22 

 shows the extent of country over which three 



