J A A Royal Austyalasian Ornithologists' Union. [ift"jan. 



Tropidorhynchus corniculatus (7". corniculatus cornirulaius). Friar- 

 Bird. — I was informed that a specimen of this species was taken by a 

 member. 



Anthus australis (A. aitstralis australis). Austrahan Pipit. — Met 

 with on the heath country near the coast, and in the clearings. There 

 is no doubt this bird fits in with the description given by Gould. 



Stagonopleura guttata (5. guttata philordi\ Spotted-sided Finch. — 

 Not numerous ; observed on one or two occasions in the clearings. 



^gintha temporalis {/E. temporalis tregellasi). Red-browed Finch. 

 — Numerous in all the clearings. Not having handled a specimen, 

 it is impossible to say to which sub-species it belongs. 



Ptilonorhynchus holosericeus (P. violaceus inolaceus). Satin Bower- 

 Bird. — h few of these birds were met with on the Dowell River 

 amidst the thick sub-tropical jungle. They are wary birds when once 

 alarmed, and the mules in full plumage are very difhcult to approach. 

 The fruit of the wild cherry seemed to be attracting them. 



Corvus coronoides (C. covonoides psrplexus). Australian Raven. — 

 Although a specimen was not secured, there is little doubt the above 

 naming will be correct. 



Strepera graculina (S. graculina graoulina). Pied Crow-Shrike. — I 

 feel sure there were two species in the district. This was the only 

 one I was able to identify positively. 



Australian Cuckoos. 



By H. L. White, R.A.O.U. (Scone, N.S.W.) 

 Introduction. 



For more than 30 years Cuckoos' eggs have had a great attraction 

 for me, and upon every possible occasion I have tried to add to 

 my collection, which I now look upon as fairly complete, though 

 there will always be what I call chance combinations to be 

 added. It is evident to anyone who has given the matter a 

 close study that the various species of Cuckoos have their 

 favourite foster-parents, and that these are not very numerous ; 

 outside of these favourites are what I term " chance," or, perhaps 

 more properly, " occasional," foster-parents, which are used 

 now and then. 



There is no doubt in my mind that Austrahan Cuckoos which 

 lay in open nests usually select as foster-parents those birds 

 whose eggs nearly approach their own in colouration. A casual 

 glance at my collection gives the impression that my theory is 

 incorrect, as one's gaze is met by many colours that do not 

 harmonize, however uniform the general appearance may be. 

 A visitor often exclaims, " Oh ! look here ! and here ! and here ! 

 these differ altogether." " Quite so," I admit, " but please to 

 remember that those you point out are ' occasional ' combinations 

 only. Examine these dozen combinations of ' favourites,' forming 

 perhaps 90 per cent, of the foster-parents used by this particular 

 Cuckoo. Do not they harmonize ? " The answer is invariably, 

 " Yes, of course they do ! " 



