172 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



not see it, but by the loud commotion among the Scrub-Wrens 

 (Sericornis) it evidently was not welcome. Having risen 

 again, it was attacked by the Sordid Wood-Swallow in force, 

 and driven off. During the series of attacks it offered no 

 defence, seemingly occupied alone in the search for its daily 

 food." 



The following dates give the arrivals of three species of 

 Cuckoos on two near latitudes for the respective seasons :— 



Bronze Cuckoo {Chalcococcyx plagosus, Lath.) 



1895. 1896. 1897. 



Box Hill, Vict. . . 25th July . . 24th July . . 26th July 



Heytesbury, Vict. . . — . . 27th Sept. . . 21st Sept. 



Ash-coloured Cuckoo {Cacmnantis flabelliformis, Lath.) 

 1895. 1896. 1897. 



Box Hill, Vict. . . 14th Aug. . . 5th Aug. . . 1st Aug. 



Heytesbury, Vict. . . 28th Aug. . . 12th Sept. . . 12th Sept. 



Pallid Cuckoo {Cuculus pallidus, Lath.) 



1896. 1897. 



Box Hill, Vict. . . 1st Sept. . . 12th Aug. 



Heytesbury, Vict. . . 29th Sept. . . 26th Sept. 



The scanty figures given show that the Pallid species arrives 

 between two and four weeks later than the Fan-tailed and 

 Bronze species, and that the arrival of the same species at 

 the Heytesbury district, according to my correspondent, is 

 one or two months later. I presume that Box Hill is upon 

 the migratory course from the north-east, and that the 

 Otway-Heytesbury district is the terminus, except for those 

 that go further west or cross the strait to Tasmania. The 

 dates of arrival appear to be fairly uniform in each year. 

 It would be interesting to learn when Cuckoos leave Queens- 

 land for the south, and the time they spend in New South 



