Avifauna of New Caledonia. 509 



and Lantana bushes) ^ suspending its domed nest to the ex- 

 tremity of a branch, sometimes not quite at the end. It is 

 generally composed, when in niaoulie trees, entirely of 

 niaoulie-bark, which the little builders tear off in long strips 

 (at other times of rootlets, fibres, and dried bents of grass) , 

 and is snugly lined at the bottom with feathers, or the silky 

 down of an Asclepiad, which has been introduced here and 

 thriven only too well. In shape the nests exactly resemble those 

 of Nectariniee, being domed, with an aperture in the side ; but 

 they have a ^'tail," like those of Rhipidura, only not so long. 

 The eggs, two in number, are laid any time from June till the 

 end of December, and are white or pale pink, minutely speckled 

 with a darker pink ; sometimes these specks are concentrated 

 in the form of a ring towards the obtuse end, at others they 

 are evenly distributed over the whole surface. Axis 8'", 

 diam. 6'". These little birds enjoy (?) the unenviable privi- 

 lege of being the foster-parents of the New-Caledonian Cuckoo 

 {Cuculus hronzinus, Gr. R. Crray) . We have just been fortunate 

 enough (October 10th) to discover two nests, each containing 

 a Cuckooes egg. One of these nests had been submerged in 

 a flood which swept over the banks of the Moindou river, and 

 though the nest was still wet and sticky with mud, yet the 

 birds had laid in it. 



How the Cuckoos manage to introduce their eggs into 

 these domed nests, unless by first laying them on the ground 

 and then carrying them in their mouths, we are unable to 

 divine. It is physically impossible for a bird of that size, 

 and carrying a long tail, to enter the little round entrance of 

 one of these nests, nor could it drop its e^^ into it, as might be 

 done if it were stationary and open (cup-shaped) . In this case 

 it is pendent, swinging in the breeze and with every move- 

 ment of the bough, and covered in. 



This species measures — length 3" 10'", wing 2", tail 1" 7"' . 

 Bill and legs black ; soles of feet grey ; iris dull crimson. 



23. Merula xanthopus (Porst.). 



This fine Blackbird is commonly distributed all over the 

 island, but is very wary and shy, always frequenting the 



