162 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



find that one of the birds already introduced to our 

 colony eats hairy caterpillars. 



The dates of the arrival of C. pallidus were, according to 

 my notes — the 1st of September in 1896, the \'2t\\ of 

 August in 1897, and the 20th of August in 1898. These 

 cuckoos start to call at daybreak (5 o'clock), and the 

 Bronze disturbs the peace in the hours just previous to 

 midnight. I have more than once left a cosy fire at 

 10 p.m. to investigate the strange sound. 



The call of the Ash-coloured Cuckoo {C acomant'is flaheUi- 

 formis, Lath.), is a high-pitched, hard-sounding trill, and 

 given as if the bird was in trouble and seeking someone. 

 It gives me the impression that the meaning of its generic 

 name, "prophet of ill," was applied as if it had a direct 

 bearing on the voice. It is certain the birds of the neigh- 

 bourhood do not like it, and as my friend Mr. Graham has 

 made a fuller observation, I quote from one of his letters as 

 follows: — " On the 30th August, 1897 (eighteen days after 

 the arrival of the cuckoo), a pair of Scarlet-breasted Robins 

 attacked an Ash-coloured Cuckoo, aligliting together upon 

 its head and back. They worried it for half a minute, the 

 cuckoo not caring much, judging by appearances. When 

 it flew away to catch a grub several Yellow-rumped Tits 

 took offence at its presence and offered fight. Flying to a 

 green tree, it was then beset by a White-shafted Fan-tail. 

 From there it flew to the ground, amongst the ferns (Pteris), 

 outside the slab fence. I could not see it, but by the loud 

 commotion among the Scrub- Wrens (Sericornis) it evidently 

 was not welcome. Having risen again, it was attacked by 

 the Sordid Wood-Swallow in force, and driven off. During 

 the series of attacks it offered no defence, seemingly oc- 

 cupied alone in the search for its daily food." 



The following dates give the arrivals of three species 



