IS CUCUI.IDrK. 



The e^i; of the 1 ilack-earcd Cuckoo tj'pically is elliptical or a compressed oval, and soine- 

 tiines nearly a true o\al in form, the shell heini; close-f^'rained, smooth, and lustreless, and is of 

 a unilorni lii h ehoLolate-luDwn ((jjour. An e^n taken by Mr. C. ICrnest ('owle, at lllamurta. 

 Central Australia, on the 5th March, iSi^l), from a nest of the Red 'I'hroat (I'virlwLniiiti hniiiiwiis), 

 which also contained the ei^'i^s of the ri.ijhtful owner, measures : — o-.~S;i x 0-59 niches, .\nother 

 taken by .Mr. Cowle on the ijth March, U)u2, Irom a nest of the same species at lllamurta, but 

 containing three eggs of the Red Fhroat, measures : -O'jj x 0-57 inches. I'ndoubtedh- the 

 nest of the Red Throat is the commonest receptacle for the Black-eared Cuckoo's egg, and 

 there is not a striking difference in the colour of the eggs, for both are dark, as in Givlmsilciis 

 t'liiysoii-lnm : on the otiiei hand the egg ot the lUack-eared Cuckoo is almost uniform in colour 

 with the eggs of the Streaked Warbler (T/z/Z/cH/di/ir Miv/V/ii/j ^, in whose nests it has on several 

 occasions been found, and from which it Cim only be distinguished by its more elongated form 

 and larger size from those of the rightlul owner. 



^'oung males resemble the adults on the upper [larts, but are slightly darker, the entire 

 head is brown, the tips of the ear-coverts dark brown ; all the under surface and under tail- 

 coverts brownish-grey ; the cheeks and fore-neck and under tail-coverts are washed with 

 rufousbulf, which is more distinct on the latter. Wing 4'5 inches. 



In New South Wales Mr. H. L. White records linding the eggs of the iJlack-eared Cuckoo 

 in September, and in N'ictoria Mr. G. A. Keartland found a nearly full-sized egg while dissecting 

 a female he obtained at Melton, \'ictoria, towards the latter end of October. In Central 

 ■Australia Mr. C. Ernest Cowle procured most eggs of tliis species in March, the usual breeding 

 time in that part of this continent if rain sets in, and it is a normal season. 



CBreniUS Xj.ifii.nyCIF'ISOOOCC'Sr^^, Cahanis and Ifeinn. 



Lamprococcyx plagosus. 



liKuNZE CUCKiKi, 



('iicii/nn jjl<it/(is)is, Lath,, liid. Orn., Suppl. 11., p. x.xxi. (1801). 



Chrysococcy.r lucijus, Gould, Bds. Austr., fob, Vol. IV., pi. 89 (pt.), ceiitrt- tig. (1S48). 



Lam/ir(ii'iiici/.r jil.dijosus, Gould, liand-bk. Bds. Austr., \'ol. 1., p. (>"2."i (18(j.'j). 



(Jha/cococci/x /i/<i(j(>.-'Us, Shelley, Oat. Bds. Brit. Mus., Vol. XIX., p. 2U7 (1801) ; Sliarpe, Cat. Bds. 

 Brit. Mus., Vol. II., p. 102 (1900). 



Adult male. — Crmi-ii af llu' lirad, Idnil-iiPxk aiid iiKuilJf lustroim cojipp.ry-jnirple, passing iiUo 

 a mftaJlic brimzn-green on tlir /rings, back, rump and nppe.r lail-corerls ; primaries hroirn, tin' outer 

 nv.bs irilli ii'irrair irliilii brnicii rdyi's : tii.il feathers liro/rii, tin- lyiitrdl ones stningly irushi'd irilli 

 ine/allic briiii~i'-yre.eii and crossed ivilh a siibtfriinnid and black baiid, anil hacing a small irliilf spot 

 mar the tip of the inner iceb, the lateral feaf/iers a-itli alternnti'd black and a'hile bauds on their 

 inner a^cbs, and the /n ua.tt/imafc feather laui ur thrci mia-r or less ilisfitict rufous spots : the onter 

 ivebs broa-ii a-ifh hal f riinailnl a'lntc markiiu/s, iv/iich are almost lost on their apiical portion : sides 

 of the head and III ck dull nhitc, mottled into dull broir.y-broirn : throat ami all the nude/' surface 

 and 7iinhr tail-corerts irliite, transrersely and e.renly barred iritli metallic coppery-bronze, which is 

 less liistroas mi the throat .■ bill blae\<. ; legs and feet da rk slaty-grey : iris redilishdiroioi. Total lengtli 

 in tlie jlesli. <i Jf'i inches, /ring '/, tail '■'.), bill it'o, tarsus tl'dj. 



AjiULT FEMALK. — 'J'he se.ces are nlike in plumage. 



Z)is<ci7)?t<(o«— North-western Australia, Northern Territory of South Australia, Oueensland, 

 New South Wales, X'ictoria, South .Australia, Western .Australia, Tasiuania. 



