^"'10^6^^ 1 Dove, Cuckoo Notes from Tasmania. QQ 



egg of the Pallid Cuckoo was in its place. The ground was fairly 

 clear under and around the bush, but not a trace could I find of 

 the missing egg, so I came to the conclusion that the Cuckoo had 

 carried it away in her bill. The egg deposited was a good match 

 for that of the Honey-eater in shape and tint, but was somewhat 

 larger ; the fraud was detected, however, and the Honey-eater 

 deserted her nest. 



The Golden Merops (Merops ornatus).* 



By James Sl'oane, Mulwala Station, Mulwala, N.S.W. 



The sand-ridges near the Murray on Mulwala are a regular nesting- 

 place of this beautiful migrant. It comes only during the breeding 

 season, and as soon as the young are strong enough for the 

 journey it goes back to its tropical forests. It had specialized 

 in nesting in a way that resisted its habitual enemies, and its 

 burrow used to fulfil its purpose in giving ample protection against 

 ground foes. Twice only have I seen nests disturbed by them. 

 But the fox came, specialized as a ground-hunter, with a cunning 

 that the underground nest of the Merops gave no protection 

 against ; and the birds that came for countless ages to the Murray 

 have in a few years nearly lost their place in the plan of Nature. 

 Already they are almost gone, and in a few years will be unknown. 

 The nest is at the end of a narrow tunnel about 3 feet long and 

 a foot below the surface. The fox digs down on top of the nest. 

 For some years the foxes did not interfere with the nests, but 

 when they did every one was destroyed. The foxes seem to 

 farm the birds, for the attack is not made till the young are about 

 to leave. Several that I had under observation appeared likely 

 to escape, but they were always taken. Sometimes the fox lives 

 near the Merops' burrow, and must see it nightly. It is hard to 

 understand why the nests are left till the young are well grown, 

 for one would expect competition for them amongst the foxes. 



Perhaps some of the birds are now breeding elsewhere, though, 

 with their fixed habits, this is not likely. Wherever they go in 

 Southern Australia they will not, while they nest on flat ground, 

 escape the fox, even though the instinct of self-preservation does, 

 as I have seen, occasionally help some pairs for a while. It is 

 unusual for the nest to be near a human habitation, but one was 

 made at the corner of our garden near the back of the house, on an 

 open space where an untied dog slept at night. This saved the 

 nest. The following year there were two nests, and last year 

 four. This year two were made, but unfortunately a new enemy 

 appeared ; a brown snake came, and was killed in one of the 

 burrows. It is clear that the birds realized that there was a pro- 

 tective influence at the spot, even though the first nest may have 

 been put there by chance, and possibly they knew the protection 

 came from the dog. The dog certainly took no interest in them. 



* The Australian Bee-eater. 



