i86 journal of Agriculture. [lo March, 1910. 



The number of tools, and implements for grading land is being rapidly 

 increased in VictOTia, and the Commission desires to obtain illustrations 

 and prices of these, and has recently issued a circular asking makers to 

 furnish it with both. 



The work of the Commission is not, however, a sufficient basis for a 

 bulletin on the irrigation of lucerne, and the experience of. irrigators is 

 too limited to enable a manual on local practice to be prepared. In the 

 United States, however, this matter has been the subject of careful and 

 comprehensive studv for several ^•ears, and the Office of Experiment 

 Stations of the United States Department of Agriculture has recently 

 issued a bulletin on the irrigation of lucerne, which applies so well to 

 conditions here that the Commission has reprinted the greater part of it. 

 The bulletin {Farmers'' Bulletin, 373, issued 19th November, 1909) was 

 compiled bv S. Fortier, Chief of Irrigation Investigations, OffiT'e of 

 Experiment Stations, United States Department of Agriculture. 



For convenience in perusal, the word alfalfa, which is used instead 

 of lucerne in the United States, has been changed to- lucerne, and dollars 

 and cents have been converted into pounds, shillings and pence. 



Applications for copies of the bulletin should be forwarded to the 

 Secretary, State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Melbourne. 



INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS OF VICTORIA. 



The Bronze Cuckoo {Chalcococcyx plagogu$. Lath.). 



C. French, Jr., Assistant Government Entomologist. 



Amongst our useful insect-eating birds, the Cuckoos certainly hold a 

 prominent place, and the above named species is one of the best. This 

 bird is generally found in the same vicinity as the Narrow-billed Bronze 

 Cuckoo, and it is no easy matter to separate the two species unless one has 

 a close view of the birds. The most noticeable difference between the 

 markings of the two species is that the Narrow-billed (C. basalis) has the 

 crown dark brown, and a brownish colour in the tail. The eggs of the 

 Bronze Cuckoo are of a bronze or olive green colour, whilst those of the 

 Narrow-billed are of a white colour with pinkish markings. 



Both of the.se birds deposit their eggs in the well known nests of the 

 Yellow-rumped Tit {Acanthiza chrysorrhoa), and it is no uncommon 

 thing to find the eggs of the two species in the same nest. 



Bronze Cuckoos were fairly numerous in the suburbs near the city 

 this season, and seem to be on the increase. Unfortunately, the Tits 

 usually build their nests in the Prickly Acacia {Acacia armata) hedges 

 within easy reach of boys, and many nests containing eggs of the Cuckoos 

 are destroyed. When the Tits build in private gardens thev generally 

 remain unmolested, as this little useful insect-destroving bird is a general 

 favourite. 



The food of the Bronze Cuckoo consists of various noxious insects, 

 and as the birds continually visit orchard after orchard in search for food, 

 they consume a great number of insects daily. 



The Pallid or Unadorned Cuckoo {Cuculus inornatus) is one of the 

 verv few birds that destroy the larvae of the destructiye Vine Moth. 



