934 MR, A. J, NORTH ON THE HABITS OF A [Dec. 1, 
In conclusion, I may take this opportunity of mentioning that 
in the Park at Woburn there is a small herd of Wapiti-like deer 
from the Altai, which I believe to be referable to C. eustephanus 
of the Thian-Shan. Unfortunately, their antlers have been so 
damaged by the voyage, that they are valueless for purposes 
of comparison ; but the general appearance of these animals leads 
one to think that they belong to the species in question. The big 
Deer of the Altai have been generally referred to the so-called 
Cervus maral, probably owing to the use of the term “ Maral” 
by the natives of Central Asia. Mr. W. L. Sclater’ has, however, 
already pointed out that the Altai deer is in all probability identical 
with the Thian-Shan stag. Accepting this identity, and also that 
C. luehdorfi is specifically inseparable from C. eustephanus, the 
range of the latter species will extend from the Altai to Amur- 
land, and will thus lead on towards the habitat of the Wapiti. 
These Altai deer appear to be distinctly different from C. bed- 
fordianus. 
Next year I hope to be able to give some further observations on 
the Altai deer at Woburn. 
5. On the Habits of a Cuckoo in the Gilbert Islands. 
By Atrrep J. Norru, C.M.Z.S., Ornithologist to the 
Australian Museum, Sydney. 
[Received August 19, 1896.] 
At a meeting of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, in 
September 1894, I exhibited a male and female of the Long- 
tailed Cuckoo, Hudynamis taitensis, which had been recently 
presented to the Trustees of the Australian Museum by the 
Hon. C. R. Swayne, H.B.M.’s Resident at the Gilbert and Ellice 
Groups. These birds had been obtained by Mr. Swayne on Big 
Makin Island or ‘‘ Butari-tari” of the natives. A short note was 
also contributed relative to the distribution of this species, and to 
the tradition current among the natives of the Gilbert Group, 
that the female deposited her egg on a piece of palm-leaf placed 
on a cloud, and left it to be incubated by the sun”. 
During June of this year Mr. Swayne, who was in Sydney for a 
short time while on his way to London, informed me that he had 
seen this Cuckoo oust a Noddy Tern (Anous stolidus) from its nest 
and take possession of it. As the habits and food of these birds 
are so entirely different, and as I had never previously heard of so 
remarkable an instance of appropriation on the part of a Cuckoo, 
Mr. Swayne, prior to his departure, kindly sent me the following 
notes :— 
' Cat. Mamm. Indian Mus. pt. ii. p. 184 (1891). 
* See Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. W. ser. 2, ix. p. 584. 
