82 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



are white, with brown centi'es; the upper tail coverts are brown, 

 with whitish edges, lanceolate in shape and ornamental in 

 character, the ends of the barbs beijiy unconnected; the tail 

 feathers are sooty-brown and deeply toothed with whitish. The 

 throat is like the head ; towai-ds the lower part of the under surface 

 the brown gradually disappears, and on the abdomen all the 

 feathers are w^hite; primaries dark brown, toothed with white on 

 the outer webs, and having buff spots on the margins of the inner 

 webs ; secondaries similar to primaries but without buff spots ; wing 

 coverts brown, or brown with buffy tips ; lower surface of wings 

 and tail grey, toothed with white, except the lower wing coverts, 

 which are grey with wavy brown markings; axillaries white, tinged 

 with buff; iris brown ; feet horn-coloured ; bill yellowish-brown " (J. 

 R. M'Clymont). 



Eggs. — Somewhat oval in shape; texture fine; surface glossy; 

 colour flesh-pink, very sparsely spotted with reddish. Dimensions 

 in mm. of odd examples : — (1) 24 x 17, (2) 24.5 x 17. 



Breeding Seasoyi. — September to November or December. 



Geographical Distrihxdion. — Tasmania, King Island, and the 

 whole of Australia. 



Observations. — The Pallid Cuckoo, which is a moderately 

 common species in most districts, usually arrives during the early 

 part of September and departs during March or April. The note 

 of this species, which is a melancholy one, may often be heard 

 sounding through the bush when all other birds are silent. 



Why Cuckoos should foist the responsibility of rearing their 

 families on to other birds is beyond comprehension. There must 

 be some reason, and a good one too, if we could but find it out, for 

 in nature there is a reason for everything — nothing, not even the 

 most insignificant trifie, being left to chance. 



At one time there was great diversity of opinion as to how 

 Cuckoos managed to deposit their eggs in nests whose openings 

 are barely large enough to admit their heads. With regard to the 

 Palhd Cuckoo, however, it will be observed from the list which 

 comes later that open nests are the rule. Nevertheless, with this 

 ^7 species as well as the others fomid there, it has been proved beyond 

 doubt that the eggs are first laid on the ground and then carried 

 in the bill of the parent bird to be placed in the nest. It sometimes 

 happens that the Pallid Cuckoo lays its egg in a nest either before 

 it is quite finished or the rightful owners have laid theirs. It is no 

 very uncommon occmTence to find the egg of this Cuckoo either 

 built into the lining of a nest or else the nest deserted and con- 

 taining an addled egg of this species. 



Regarding the ejection of the rightful occupants of the nest by 

 a young, blind, and naked Cuckoo, and what precisely causes the 

 Cuckoo to effect the ejection, many theories have been advanced. 

 Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley (Emv, vol v., pp. 145-152) is of opinion 

 that the action is purely automatic and governed by external 



