^"'."gl;"'"' ^"-^•- ^"'^^•' "f ■^''"raf District. 21 



Br.E-KATKR (Merops o'rnatus). — A summer visitor, lound on flat, 

 sandy country. Their burrows are made on the side of sheep tracks, 

 or in the mounds thrown up by rabbits. The egg chamber is not 

 Uned. 



Blue Kingfisher {Alcyone azurea). — This species is peculiar to the 

 banks of the Wimmera, where nests may be found during December. 



Brown Kingfisher {Dacelo gigas). 



S.\CRED Kingfisher (Halcyon sanctiis). 



Pallid Cuckoo (Cuculus pallidus). — This species, Uke the following, 

 is rather uncommon here, and during the eight years over which my 

 records extend I have no note of having taken an egg of either species, 

 though a Fuscous Honey-cater was observed feeding a young Pallid 

 Cuckoo on one occasion. 



F.\n-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis fiahelliformis). 



Black-eared Cuckoo (Mesocalius palliolatus). — A rare bird, which 

 may be recognised by its extremely high-pitched note. Its rich 

 chocolate-coloured egg is generally deposited in the nest of Chihonicola 

 sagitfata, which egg it closely resembles in colour, though not in shape. 

 From a friend in this district I lately received a clutch of three eggs of 

 Malurus cyaneus, \v\i\\ which was also found one egg of Mesocalius 

 palliolatus and one egg of Chalcococcyx basalis. A fresh egg of Meso- 

 calius palliolatus was taken from a nest deserted a few days previously 

 by a brood of Chthonicola. The colouring matter on these eggs is very 

 soluble ; it is therefore necessary to exercise care in cleaning them of 

 their contents. 



Narrow-billed Bronze-Cuckoo {Chalcococcyx basalis). — This is the 

 most frecjuently met with of the Cuckoo family. The following may 

 be mentioned as some of the foster-parents : — Peircvca leggii, Acanthiza 

 reguloides, Malurus cyaneus. 



Bronze-Cuckoo {Chalcococcyx plagosus). 



Blue-bellied Lorikeet {Trichoglossus novcs-hollandicB). — An ir- 

 regular summer visitor, which, as far as I know, docs not build in tiic 

 flistrict. 



Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsittacus concinnus). — A common bird, 

 especially when the eucalypts are in blossom. The hollows selected for 

 nesting are usually inaccessible, and for this reason the eggs are not 

 often taken. These remarks apply also to the next two species 



Purple-crowned Lorikeet {Glossopsittacus porphyrocephalus). 



Little Lorikeet {Glossopsittacus pusillus). 



Black Cockatoo {Caly ptorhynchus funereus). — Usually found in the 

 mountains, but during the summer may be seen in any part of tlie 

 district in search of the larvae of certain beetles which bore into the 

 branches of the Casaurina trees. A cluster of Pinus insignis trees 

 growing close to a house was visited periodically by a flock of these 

 Cockatoos and the cones torn open to extract the seed v/hich they 

 contained. 



White Cockatoo {Cacatua ^a/ema).— Numerous througiiout tlie 

 district during winter and spring. The principal food appears to be 

 the larvae of a species of longicorn beetle which bores into the eucalyj)ts 

 after they have been rung, and small IuIkts wiiich grow in damp 

 localities. 



