934 MR, A. J. nohth on thb HiBiTa 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 0. eustepJianus 

 of the Tliian-Shan. Unfortunately, their antlers have heen so 

 damaged by the voyage, that they ai-e 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 

 Cei-vus 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 

 0. lueJulorJi is specifically inseparable from C. ev.stepliamis, the 

 range of the latter species will extend from the Altai to Anuir- 

 land, and will thus lead on towards the habitat of the Wapiti. 

 These Altai deer appear to be distinctly different from C led- 

 fordiamis. 



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 Ali'ukd J. NouTH, C.M.Z.S., Ornithologist to the 

 Australian Museum, Sydney. 



[Received August 10, 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, Eudtjnamis taitensis, which had been recently 

 presented to the Trustees of the Australian Museum by the 

 Hon. C. E. Swayne, lI.B.M.'s Eesident at the Gilbert and EUice 

 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 tliis year Mr. Swayne, who was in Sydney for a 

 short time wliile on his way to London, informed me tliat he had 

 seen this Cuclcoo 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. Matnra. Indiim Miis. pt. ii. p. 184 (1891). 

 ' See Pioc. Linu. Soc. N. S. W. ser. 2, ix. p. 581. 



