Birds of Melville Island. 115 



95. Cosmserops ornatus shortridgei. Western Bee-eater. 

 Merops ornatus shortridgei Mathews^ Nov. Zool. vol. xviii. 



1912, p. 290 : Strelly River, West Australia. 



From November to December this bird was rather scarce, 

 but during January it increased in numbers and by February 

 was very common. 



96. Caprimulgus macrurus keatsi. Allied Large - tailed 

 Nightjar. 



Caprimulgus macrurus keatsi Mathews, Nov. Zool. vol. xviii. 

 1912, p. 291 : Port Keats, Northern Territory. 



The call of this bird is like the noise made by tapping 

 the end o£ a log with a hammer. It can be heard for a 

 considerable distance. On the 10th of October a bird was 

 shot while it was making this peculiar call. On the 8tli o£ 

 November two young ones were found by flushing the old 

 bird off them. They were placed just above the high-water 

 mark of that morning. When the young ones were dis- 

 covered, tlie old bird tried to draw attention to herself by 

 flaj)piug and struggling. These birds are rarely seen during 

 daylight. They inhabit the mangroves, and are usually 

 heard either in or on the outskirts of them. Occasionally 

 they are met with along the foreshore. They are nou- 

 migratory. 



97. Micropus pacificus. White-rumped Swift. 

 Hirundo pacifica Latham, Index Ornitli. Suppl. 1801, 



p. Iviii : New South Wales. 



On the 15th of October a few birds passed over, flying 

 very high; these were the first seen; others were noticed on 

 the 7th of November. No others were observed. 



98. Cucnlus optatus. Oriental Cuckoo. 



Cuculus optatus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1845, p. 18 : 

 Port Essiugton. 



During December and January some were seen every day, 

 but were very wild. 



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