•iN CKXTBOFOIllN.V,. 



drawn toj^ethei ami malted su as to form a sort of screen over the nest. On the J4th February. 

 i6lj4, a gin brought me in li\e eggs of Ctiitropit^. ( )n the *>th April, iX^i', an aboriginal brought 

 nie three eggs oi Ccutropus plnnianus \ there were hnir in the nest, liut he broke one. They were 

 heavily incubated," 



From Coomo(jboolaroo, i'uarin,L;a, ( Hieensland, Mr, ("iiarles ISarnard sent me the following 

 note : — " On 1 5t!i i-'ehruary, I'Syi, I took a nest and tliree eggs of the Swamp I'heasant (Ccntropus 

 phasiiiiuii ). The nest was built about hfteen inches above the ground, in some high broad-bladed 

 grass, the tops of which were drawn down and inter-woven loosely into the shape of a ball about 

 eight inches in diameter, with a round hole in one side for entrance and another at the opposite 

 side as a means of exit, as, by reason of the birds long tail, it is unable to turn in the nest, and, 

 on being alarmed, hops ri^ht throu;;h the nest. The inside at the bottom was thickly padded 

 with Bloodwood ( Hiiia/vptin nii-vntlnisd) leaves, which extended through the entrance and on to 

 the bent down grass outside the nest, which was built against the stem of a small tree, very 

 likely for protection, as the grass all round appeared eipialiy suitable tor nesting purposes," 



W'rilmg me from I'.inibi, i'luuinga. (Queensland, in Xoxember loO'^, Air. II. ("i. I laniard 

 remarks: --" Ccntrcpiis pinnhuius has entirely left this district owin.i; to heavily stocking the 

 country, and dioughts which have cleared off the long grasses and herbage along the water- 

 courses. Several nests were tound vears ago, but I have no data as to the month or year. The 

 nests were consti ucted of the tops of the long grass, woven together and lined with leaves of 

 trees, with an entiance back and front. Number of eggs for a sitting from three to six." 



Mr. I'.ilwin Ashby sends me the following note : — '• I observed Ccntropus. phasianiis freiiueiiting 

 the swampy groimd near the (ilass-house Mountains to the north of Brisbane, Oueensland, 

 and have on two occasions seen them sitting on posts on the side of the railway line, and so 

 interested was the bird at th-_' passing train, that it kept its head facing the engine, hopping 

 around on the other side of the post in order to watch the retreating; train. I have received a 

 skin of this species, with rather darker plumage, from the Xorthern Territory of South 

 Australia." 



I'rom Coimianhuist, Clarence River, New South Wales, Mi. (ieorge Savidge sends me 

 the following notes : — " The I'heasant-Coucal is plentifully dispersed in suitable places from the 

 Clarence Heads to the mountains separating the Upper Clarence from New luigland I >islrict. 

 At Vamba it frequents the low swampy marshes close to the sea, and can tre(]uently be heard 

 in the cane fields along the river bank to as far up the river as Ulmarra. .\bout Copmanhurst 

 it is usually found along the creeks and water courses, and where coarse grass and rough 

 herbage abounds, although it may be seen along the river banks in very rough, steep, rocky 

 places. When (_)uail shooting the dogs seldom miss them, and when flushed they lly to the 

 nearest tree and ascend by leaps from branch to branch until they reach the top, when, if 

 disturbed, they fly to another tree. Sportsmen in this locality shoot them, as they have the 

 reputation of eating small birds and young Quail, but I cannot say I have ever seen proof 

 that they do so, although it is generally accepted that they are very fond of robbing the nests 

 and sucking the eggs of the farmer's fowls. The nest is usually placed in long coarse grass, 

 also rushes and sword grass, and upon one occasion I found one with young just hatched out 

 on the top of a thick Lantana liush. I visited this nest about four days after, for the purpose 

 of taking a photograph, but the young had gone; if nothing had disturbed them they must 

 leave the nest at an early age, which probably they do. The nests I have found usually contain 

 three or four eggs; upon one occasion I foimd Ave in a nest, which is a loose dome-shaped 

 structure, containing two openings, and is lined with gumlea\es; it is made by bending and 

 twisting some of the material down into a receptacle for the leaves, and by arching some ovei 

 the top. The call of this bird may be heard for a considerable distance. The flesh is very 

 coarse and red looking, and not at all palatable." 



