Q06 Dove, Notes on Parasitism. \_-i^"\\\\ 



as the entrance itself, and projected horizontally just above the 

 latter. The egg of the Cuckoo was a fine example, the zone of 

 purplish-brown near larger end being very much more marked 

 than in the illustration on plate xvii. of " Nests and Eggs " ; 

 there were scattered spots of a minute character over the rest 

 of the surface, and it appeared twice as large as the eggs of the 

 host, but probably this was deceptive. Except for the great 

 difference in size, there was a good deal of resemblance between 

 the tgg of the intruder and those of the host, the markings on the 

 latter being the same in character, but a good deal fainter. 



The position of the above nest, in a small tangle of grass and 

 bracken, and with a dead bracken lying horizontally across just 

 above the " hood " of entrance, coupled with the absolutely un- 

 disturbed appearance of both "hood" and entrance, made it 

 quite clear to my mind that the parasitic egg had been introduced 

 by the bill, and in no other manner. It would have been quite 

 impossible for the female Cuckoo to have " sat upon " this nest 

 in any fashion for the purpose of deposition, or even to have 

 " backed up " against the small circular aperture, as her 

 prominent tail would have pushed the above-mentioned horizontal 

 dead bracken fern quite out of its original position. 



For some time now I have devoted a good deal of attention to 

 that most interesting family the Ciiciilidce, and have been noticing 

 the plumage and calls of the various species which visit our island. 

 It is, I think, possible to distinguish the male and female of the 

 Pallid species in the field by shape and markings, and it is 

 probable that the " Knick-knick-knick-knick " call sometimes 

 uttered is the note of the female, especially as it is very similar to 

 the call of the British Cuckoo (C. canonis), of tlie same genus as 

 our Pallid Cuckoo. 



In regard to the Fan-tailed and the two Bronze-Cuckoos which 

 visit us, I am unable to distinguish the sexes in the field, and do 

 not know the calls of the females, if they have any calls ; but I 

 should like to have the opinion of other experienced field workers 

 as to whether there is any noticeable difference in the plumage 

 and calls of the sexes in tliese three species. 



Colour^Sense in Satin Bower^Birds. 



By H. V. Edwards, R.A.O.U., Bega, N.S.W. 



While admitting that Satin Bower-Birds {Pdloiiorhynchiis 

 violaceus) in some instances use articles of other colours — such as 

 red and yellow Parrot feathers — among the decorations of their 

 play-arbours or bowers, it seems remarkable to me that, in the 

 particular instance I refer to, the birds should have confined 

 their ornaments, so far as strong colour is concerned, entirely to 

 such as had a blue tint. 



1 kept a bower built at the edge of a New South Wales coastal 



