G30 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



it contained several eggs, one nearly matured, and from the 

 state of the oviduct another must have been recently ex- 

 truded. Its habits seem to indicate that it is parasitic," and 

 this view is confirmed by Lady Dowling informing me that a 

 young specimen, kindly presented to me by her Ladyship, was 

 one of two taken from a branch of a tree while being fed by 

 birds not of its own species. 



Li some notes on the habits of the Sci/throps forwarded to 

 me by my friend Dr. Bennett, of Sydney, in June 1858, he 

 says: — "Ihave much pleasure in telling you that when the young 

 Sci/throps was introduced into Mr. Denison's aviary it was 

 placed in a compartment already occupied by a Dacelo (/igaSy 

 and doubtless feeling hungry after its journey, immediately 

 opened its mouth to be fed, and its wants were readily at- 

 tended to by tlie Dacelo, who, with great kindness, took a piece 

 of meat, and, after sufficiently preparing it by beating it about 

 until it was in a tender and pappy state, placed it carefully in 

 the gaping mouth of the young Sci/throps ; this feeding process 

 continued until the bird was capable of attending to its own 

 wants, which it now does, feeding in company with the 

 Dacelo in the usual manner. When I saw it in the morning 

 it was perched upon the most elevated resting-place in the 

 aviary, occasionally raising itself, flapping its wings, and then 

 quietly settling down again after the manner of Hawks in 

 confinement, and presenting much the appearance of a mem- 

 ber of that tribe of birds. It comes down for food every 

 morning, and immediately returns to its elevated perch. 

 Judging from what I saw of this specimen, I should imagine 

 that the bird might be readily tamed, and would bear con- 

 finement very well. In the young state it is destitute of the 

 scarlet orbits so conspicuous in the adult." 



I once possessed an egg sent me by Strange, which he 

 informed me was taken by himself from the ovarium after he 

 had shot the bird. It was of a light stone-colour, marked 

 all over, but particidarly at the larger end, with irregular 



