uf Birds f rum Port Denison. 331 



lines appear indistinctly. Of course this must not be taken for 

 a description, it is merely intended to give some idea of the bird. 

 In size it is quite equal to C. optatus, 



85. CucuLUS, sp. ? 



Since 1862 I have several times, throughout various parts of 

 the year, received specimens of a second Cuckoo from Port Deni- 

 son ; and as I am unable to find any description at all fitting it in 

 Gould's ' Birds of Australia,' or any other publication, I believe 

 it to be in all probability a new species, the decision of which, 

 however, I shall leave to those better acquainted with the group. 

 All the specimens that have been received from Port Denison, 

 are exactly alike in plumage, and were procured from February 

 to December. 



In size they are slightly smaller than Cacomantis flabelliformis, 

 (Lath.) ; Cuciilus cineraceus, Yig. & Horsf. 



86. Cacomantis pallidus (Latham). H. B. A. i. p. 615. 

 Arrives during September and the following months in tole- 

 rable numbers. 



87. Lamprococcyx plagosus (Latham). H. B. A. i. p. 623. 

 A common summer visitant, arriving about August or Sep- 

 tember. 



88. ScYTHROPs nov^-hollandIjE (Latham) ? H. B. A. i. 

 p. 628. 



I am not at all sure of this species. Mr. Bainbird procured 

 four examples only, which he informs me he shot from a flock of 

 about fifty passing over Port Denison, flying inland from the 

 sea. They certainly resemble the true S. nova-hoUandia, but 

 difi'er in having the bill much more rounded above, shorter, and 

 more curved downwards. The quills also are smooth, with the 

 edges not serrated. The head, throat, neck, and breast are of a 

 very pale lead-blue, with feathers of brownish-yellow interspersed 

 over the head, throat, and upper part of the neck. The feathers 

 on the breast are barred, and edged faintly with white ; abdomen 

 white J flanks white, barred with dark brown ; under tail-coverts 

 white. Back and rump very dark brown; upper tail-coverts 

 dark brown, getting blackish at the tips, which are finally edged 

 with brownish-yellow running off^ into white. Primaries and 



