146 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



a much lighter tint, being of a pale-flesh colour, sprinkled 

 with a few dots of deeper hue, but often without any 

 markings at all. This species appears to have a wide 

 distribution as it has been found, according to Dr. Ramsa}^, 

 in all the colonies as far north as Derby, in North-west 

 Australia, the Gulf of Carpentaria, and down to New South 

 Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, West and South-west 

 Australia. 



Gould, in writing of this bird, says — " The southern 

 part of Australia generally and the Island of Tasmania 

 are inhabited by this species of Cuckoo ; to the latter 

 country, however, it is only a summer visitant, and a 

 partial migration also takes place in the adjacent portion 

 of the continent, as is shown by its numbers being much 

 fewer during winter. It arrives in Tasmania in the 

 month of September and departs northward in February. 

 During the vernal season it is an animated and querulous 

 bird, and may then be seen singly or two or more males 

 engaged chasing each other from tree to tree. Its sing- 

 ing-whistling call, which consists of a succession of running 

 notes, the last and highest of which are several times rapidly 

 repeated, is often uttered while the bird is at rest among 

 the branches, and also occasionally while on the wing. 

 Its food consists of Caterpillars, Phasmidse, Mantidae, and 

 Coleopterous insects, which are generally procured among 

 the leafy branches of the trees, and in searching for 

 which it displays considerable activity and great power 

 of traversing the smaller limbs. When desirous of repose 

 after feeding it perches on the topmost dead branches of 

 the trees, on the posts and rails of the fences, or any 

 other prominent site whence it can survey all round. Its 

 flight is straight and rapid, and not unlike that of Cuculus 

 canerus. In respect' to its reproduction it is strictly 

 parasitic, devolving the task of incubation on the smaller 

 birds, many species of which are known to be its foster- 

 parents." 



The adult male has the head, neck, and all the under 

 surface brownish grey, with a streak of dark brown down 



