BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 81 



brown, the wing coverts margined with butt:, and the feathers of 

 the breast margined with dark brown ; also a shorter bill. 



Nest. — As a general rule a hole is drilled into a decayed place 

 in the trunk of a tree, or else into a decayed elbow of a dead limb. 



Eggs. — Clutch four to five; round in shape, with one end some- 

 what contracted; texture fine; surface glossy; colour pure white. 

 Dimensions in mm. of a clutch:— (1) 25 x 22, (2) 25.5 x 22, (3) 

 25.5 X 21.5, (4) 25.25 x 21. 



Breeding Season. — October to December. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, King Island, whole of 

 Australia; also Solomon Islands, New Guinea, New Hebrides, New 

 Caledonia, Java, Lombok, Sumatra, Celebes, and Moluccas. 



Observations. — I have never yet met with this summer visitor 

 to our shores anywhere in the northern part of the island. Mr. 

 A. L. Butler mentions (Emu, vol. vii., p. 89) having noted it 

 several times on the Derwent, once as early as the 4th August. 

 He also mentions having seen one dive into the water and catch 

 fish after the manner of the Azure Kingfisher. 



In May, 1873, a specimen of the Sacred Kingfisher, freshly shot, 

 was presented to the Hobart Museum. It was at the time stated 

 that this specimen was the first record for Tasmania. 



I can find no record of the eggs of this species having been taken 

 here. 



Sub-Order — Coccyges, 



FAMILY- CUCULID/E (6 species). 

 Sub- Family — Cuculinae. 

 *PALLID CUCKOO 



(Cuculus pallidus, Lath.) 



Male. — Upper surface ashy-brown, faintly glossed with green; 

 lateral tail coverts with indistinct white margins ; two centre tail 

 feathers same colour as back, rest blackish, all tipped and notched 

 on both webs with white, giving the appearance of bars; wing 

 coverts slightly lighter than back, with obscure white edges; quills 

 blackish-brown, barred on their inner webs with white; under sur- 

 face uniform stone colour, becoming almost white on abdomen and 

 under tail coverts ; thigh coverts somewhat obscurely barred with 

 dusky ; under wing coverts almost white ; irides brown ; bill black ; 

 legs and feet yellow. Dimensions in mm. : — Length, 330; bill, 21 ; 

 wing, 201; tail, 175; tarsus, 21. 



Female. — Similar to male. 



Young. — " White predominates in its plumage, in many places 

 tinged with buff and brown, resembling the colour of sealskin. 

 Brown and white intermingle on the head ; the feathers of the 

 mantle are brown, with bufi tips ; the body feathers on the back 



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