146 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



Cuckoo. — This migratory sJDecies is located in Derby district to 

 tlie north, and in the central area of the continent to the north- 

 east. An egg received by me having same axis, diameter, and 

 markings as many of this bird I have personally collected in our 

 colony, I will ask you to accept by analogy the habitat of this 

 cuckoo as now extended to the southern part of Western Aus- 

 tralia. 



505. Fsephotus multicolor, Temminck, Many-coloured Parra- 

 keet. — Hitherto the range of this bird's habitat has been within 

 New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and interior. I 

 know of no chronicle showing it to have been found in the Derby 

 country, so that its extension of range is probably from Central 

 Australia. The skins received were those of male and female in 

 immaturity. Robert Hall. 



1 6th Januar}', 1S99. 



CORRESPON DENCE. 



VERNACULAR NAMES FOR AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



To the Editor of the Victorian Naturalist. 



Sir, — Many ornithologists would be glad if Mr. North would 

 point out, through the Victorian. Naturalist, what birds he 

 considers should be added to the " List of Vernacular Names 

 for Australian Birds," and also those present in it which he 

 considers doubtful. Tlie list is a great help to many, and must 

 have entailed much gratuitous labour on the part of those who 

 prepared it. 



A LOVER OF BIRDS. 



NOTES. 



Quail Breeding in Captivity. — Early in November I pur- 

 chased a pair of Swamp Quail, Syiuecics australis, from Mr. 

 Cooper, bird fancier, of Eastern Market, Melbourne. The birds 

 were almost stripped of feathers through fighting amongst them- 

 selves, as there were too many in the cage. I placed them in a 

 small aviary, in which three Cockatoo Parrots and a Green-leek 

 Parrot were confined, having previously covered half the floor 

 with tufts of grass in the sod. For the first fortnight they kept 

 out of sight, unless the grass was turned over, but by the end 

 of a month they began to show themselves. They then seemed 

 to have settled on one particular spot as a camping place. 

 About a month ago I discovered that an egg had been laid in 

 this place, but next day it was at the other side of the aviary. I 

 returned it to the nest, and six more were laid. Immediately 



