620 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



on the 26th of October, 1839, my attention was attracted by 

 the appearance of a Cuckoo, which I at first mistook for the 

 Cacomantis fiahelliformis, but which on examination proved 

 to be a new species ; this example was the only one I ever 

 saw Kving, and a single skin is all that has since been sent 

 to me from New South Wales ; it must therefore be very 

 rare in the south-eastern portion of the continent. More 

 recently I have received examples from Western Australia. 



On comparison, this species will be found to differ from 

 C.Jlabelliformis, for which it might be readily mistaken, in its 

 smaller size, in the more square form of the tail, and in that 

 organ being destitute of white markings on the outer webs of 

 the feathers. In its structure and colouring it will be found 

 to approximate to the members of the genus Mesocalius, and 

 in fact to form one of the links which unite the two groups. 



Head, throat, and all the upper surface dark slate-grey; 

 back and wings glossed with green ; tail glossy brownish 

 green, each feather tipped with white, and with a row of 

 triangular-shaped white markings on the margins of the inner 

 webs ; primaries and secondaries with a patch of white on 

 their inner webs near the base ; edge of the shoulder white ; 

 under surface of the shoulder, vent, and under tail-coverts 

 rufous ; remainder of the under surface grey, washed with 

 rufous ; bill black ; feet olive. 



Total length 9 J inches ; bill 1 ; wing 6 J ; tail 5 ; tarsi f . 



Sp. 381. CACOMANTIS DUMETORUM, Gould. 



Square-tailed Cuckoo. 



Cuculus dumetorum, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part xiii. p. 19. 

 Cacomantis dumetorum, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., torn. i. p. 104, Caco- 

 mantis, sp. 3. 



This species, which inhabits the north-western coast, differs 

 from C. insperatus in being of a much smaller size and in the 

 whole of the plumage being browner. 



