86 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



*BROAD-BILLED BRONZE-CUCKOO 



(Chalcococcyx lucidus, Lath.) 



Some doubt exists as to whether this species is really found in 

 Tasmania. Mr. A. J. Campbell states that a specimen of this 

 Cuckoo is in the Australian Museum, Sydney, labelled as from 

 Tasmania. This specimen, he states, is more bronzy-brown than 

 either the Bronze or Narrow-billed Bronze-Cuckoos. But I have 

 found this bronzy-brown appearance rather constant in all speci- 

 mens of Tasmanian -taken Bronze-Cuckoos I have examined. 



In the proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania, October, 

 1870, it is recorded that a specimen of this species of Cuckoo shot 

 at Kangaroo Bottom had been presented to the Museum. Mr. 

 Arthur Butler informs me that at the present time there is no speci- 

 men of this Cuckoo in the Hobart Museum. He also states that at 

 one time it was the custom down South to call the Bronze-Cuckoo 

 the Broadbill; he is of opinion this is how the error arose. The 

 stronghold of the Broad-billed Bronze-Cuckoo is New Zealand. 



*BRONZE-CUCKOO 



(Chalcococcyx plagosus, Lath.) 



Male. Upper surface violet-brown, with a strong metallic 

 gloss; forehead partially mottled with white; upper tail coverts 

 same as back, outer webs of outer feathers barred with white ; tail 

 metallic coppery with green reflections, dark subterminal spot on 

 each feather, also white spot on inner web of all except centre 

 feathers; "outer pair of feathers with broad white ends and four 

 or five partial white bars, the next pair having two rufous blotches 

 on the inner web " (B. M. Cat.); wing coverts like back; quills 

 brown glossed with copper; sides of the head and neck whitish, 

 mottled with brown; rest of under surface white, distinctly barred 

 with coppery-bronze, showing green reflections in some lights; 

 under w r ing coverts white, narrowly barred with coppery-bronze ; 

 under surface of quills dusky, with broad white bases 

 to inner webs, forming oblique band across the wing; 

 under surface of tail ashy-white instead of metallic ; bill black ; 

 legs and feet blackish-brown. Dimensions in mm. : Length, 160; 

 bill, 13; wing, 101; tail, 72; tarsus, 15. 



Female. Similar to male. 



Eggs. Elliptical in shape; texture fine; surface glossy; colour 

 uniform bronzy or olive. Dimensions in mm. of odd examples : 

 (1) 17 x 12.5, (2) 17.5 x 12. 



Breeding Season. September to November or December. 



Geographical Distribution. Tasmania, King Island, whole of 

 Australia; also several islands and groups of islands in the South 

 Pacific Ocean. 



