74 MR. J. GOULD ON NEW AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. [Feb. 13, 



inhabited by this bird in the island of Trinidad, and presented to 

 him by the Hon. Arthur Gordon, C.M.Z.S., Governor of the 

 island. 



The egg was elliptical in shape and pure white in colour, the 

 larger axis measuring 1"7 inch, and the smaller 1'2. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. On Two New Australian Birds. 

 By John Gould, Esq., F.R.S. 



One of the many results which attend the progress of colonization 

 over the great country of Australia is the bringing to light of new 

 species in every department of zoological and botanical science. 

 Whether the explorer proceeds towards the centre of this vast region, 

 or in the direction of the as yet but little-known northern coast, 

 some new bird is sure to be brought under our notice ; and thus, 

 through the exertions of the earlier settlers and the zeal of public 

 officers, Northern Queensland has yielded many fine species pre- 

 viously unknown, some of greater interest than others. That 

 the supply from this quarter is not yet exhausted seems evident 

 from the fact that we rarely examine a fresh collection thence 

 without finding therein either a new species or a specimen in such a 

 state of plumage as to induce an anxious desire to see an example 

 of it in its full beauty. The next collection that arrives probably 

 adds something to our knowledge of the subject ; and a third fur- 

 nishes us with all we desire respecting it. For some years past I 

 have been treasuring up all the specimens I could obtain of the 

 little Bronze Cuckoo of Cape York, under the impression that it 

 would ultimately prove to be distinct from the species of the same 

 form inhabiting New South Wales, Western Australia, and Tasma- 

 nia ; and I have now before me four, exhibiting a uniformity of 

 characterization which distinguishes them from all their congeners, 

 however closely allied. To the unpractised eye they would appear 

 to be identical with one or other of the previously described spe- 

 cies ; and a cursory observer might suppose that the Australian 

 members of this genus are identical with those inhabiting the islands 

 to the northward of that country, This, however, I venture to 

 say, is not the case, and I shall here point out in what particu- 

 lars the bird from the Cape-York peninsula differs from the rest. 

 In size it is rather smaller than the one or more inhabiting the 

 southern coast of Australia, but at the same time has a stouter 

 bill, in which respect it somewhat resembles the Port-Essington 

 Chrysococcyx minutillus ; it differs, however, from that and every 

 other species in the rich buff colouring of the under surface of the 

 wings or the basal portions of the primaries. Moreover a rufous tint 

 pervades the upper surface ; and the rufous hue of the tail is of a 

 deeper colour, all the feathers, except the two central ones, being of 

 a rich rusty fawn-colour, and the outer one on each side only marked 



