96 CARTER, Birds Occurring in the Region of N.W. (ape. [ ist Oct. 



December, and was particularly numerous on the Lower Gascoyne 

 River. 



(82.) DACELO CERVINA (Fawn-breasted Kingfisher, Pooka). — Plentiful on 

 the Gascovne and Lyons Rivers, where their loud cackling notes could be 

 heard in the early day and evening. They remain in the shade during the 

 mid-day heat. On 4th October, IQ02, I heard their well-known note- 

 when crossing the bed of the Minilya River, where they were never pre- 

 viously known to occur. Possibly the fact that small fish are now plentiful 

 in the pools there, as recorded by me in the Zoologist, may have something 

 to do with their extending their range. The aborigines' name, Pooka, 

 signifies stinking. 



(83.) Halcyon pyrrhopygius (Red-backed Kingfisher). — Fairly common 

 about inland creeks, where their mournful whistle may be heard all day. 

 One specimen shot contained several fair-sized scorpions. This bird was 

 never noted on the coast. 



(84.) HALCYON SANCTUS (Sacred Kingfisher). — This species was only 

 noted on two occasions, and on the coast, both times in February. Possibly 

 they were migrating. 



(85.) HALCYON SORDIDUS (Mangrove Kingfisher). — These birds were not 

 uncommon on the coast, especially in the summer months (December to 

 April), and were probably migrating. I did not succeed in finding eggs. 

 Shot a bird on the beach, 15th June, 1900, and saw a pair ist September, 

 1901, which was probably breeding in some sandstone cliffs. 



(86.) CUCULUS PALLIDUS (Pallid Cuckoo). — A common visitor to the coast 

 and inland as soon as winter rains commence. Their peculiar cry may be 

 heard all day, and very often all through the night. Female birds were 

 rarely seen. An immature young one was shot 14th November, 1900. 



(87.) MESOCALIUS OSCULANS (Black-eared Cuckoo). — A scarce visitor, two 

 specimens only being seen and secured, viz., one on the range near the 

 coast, 19th May, 1898, and one inland, 16th April, 1900. 



(88.) CHALCOCOCCYX BASALIS (Narrow-billed Bronze-Cuckoo). — A fairly 

 common winter visitor, arriving usually in June, but occasionally seen 

 after summer rains. An egg of this species was found in a nest of the 

 Tricolored Chat (Ephtkianura tricolor), 4th March, 1898, and another in 

 a nest of the Field-Wren (Calamant litis canipestris), ist June, 1887. 



(89.) CENTROPUS PHASIANUS (Coucal). — A specimen of this bird was shut 

 in thick scrub near a pool at Minilya station in 1887. It occurs sparingly 

 on the Ashburton River. 



Description of a New Gymnorhina, with Observations 

 on G. dorsalis, Campbell. 



(With Plates.) 

 By Alex. Wm. Milligan 

 {Honorary Ornithologist, Perth Museum, W.A.) 

 Gymnorhina longirostris (Long-billed Magpie), sp. nov. 



During the course of a systematic examination of the bird- 

 skins of the Western Australian Museum, Perth, my attention 

 was attracted to hve Magpie-skins which had been obtained by 



