246 S/ray Ralhcrs. I'^isffan" 



The Pheasant-Coucal. — The range of the Pheasant-Coucal 

 {Ccntropiis phasiauimis) extends from N.W. AustraHa to 

 New South Wales. The writer has observed it from the 

 north of the Richmond River to La Perouse, near Sydney. 

 It is more numerous in the Clarence and Richmond River 

 districts than anywhere else, although along the Karuah 

 River it is fairly common, while at La Perouse, in swamps near 

 the Coast Hospital, odd birds have often been met with. The 

 alhuial flats of the coastal rivers, where bracken fern is inter- 

 mingled with sword-grass and rushes, or shallow fresh-water 

 swamps and creeks overgrown with sedge, reeds and rushes, con- 

 stitute the habitats and favourite haunts of this handsome and 

 quaint species. In sugar-cane fields adjacent to creeks, low lying 

 dam[) ground, or swamps, it is extremely plentiful, and has often 

 been disturbed while searching for food among the cane. 



The Pheasant-Coucal is mainly insectivorous, all manner of 

 insects being devoured, large or small, while many other small 

 animals frequenting damp and swampy i)laces add to its bill of 

 fare. Systematic investigation might prove that it is of real and 

 inestimable value to sugar-cane growers, and may be found to 

 be of great assistance in minimising the depredations of the two 

 sugar-cane beetle pests {Xylotrupes anstranicus and Lepidoderma 

 albo-hirtuin), which cause extensive damage at times. It is im- 

 possible to give any idea of the raucous and harsh notes of this 

 bird- — a raucity and harshness all its own. Its progression on foot 

 is none the less characteristic; sometimes it hops, while now and 

 then it has recourse to a sort of canter, when in the open ; but 

 in the rushes and such like it cree]>s and nms with celeritv. One 

 has to see it to appreciate fully its wonderful adai)tal)ilitv in 

 getting through thick growth. 



During the breeding season, which usually commences in Octo- 

 ber and extends over several months in favourable weather, the 

 female is very cautious, and is seldom seen ; but the male may 

 often be seen perched in a low tree overlooking its hauiU. When 

 an intruder encroaches on its domain, and flushes it unexpectedly, 

 it rises by a most laborious flight, simultaneously gives forth its 

 harsh notes, and seeks refuge in anv low tree i)rotruding just 

 above the rushes, where it can \ iew its enemy without showing 

 its form completely. Perching on a lower branch close to the 

 trunk, it scans the surroundings, then cautiously it hops from one 

 branch to the next one higher till the limit of its ascent is reached, 

 when it descends to a lower branch, returning to the undergrowth 

 by a hover and a flutter, simply flo])])ing down as it reaches the 

 tops of the rushes. It is essentially a ground bird, seldom taking 

 to the wing unless forced to do so. 



On November 2nd. 1919, a few miles north of Ilallina, a nest 

 was found with two incubated eggs; a couple of other nests were 

 also found not comi)leted. As the season was \ery dry at that 

 time, it may account for the small number of eggs, three to five 

 being the usual sitting. The nest containing the two eggs was. 



