• 63 [Vol.xliii. 



Mr. J. M. G00DA.LL then read the following paper on 

 A.inerican Cuckoos and Cow-birds : — 



Remarks on the Eggs of some Argentine Cuckoos and Argentine 

 and Canadian Cowhirds. Exhibited in Cases Nos. 1 

 to 5. 



With regard to Cuckoos, Case No. 1 shows full clutches 

 1/9 and 1/11 and 20 other eggs of the Guira Cuckoo (Guira 

 guira) collected by me at the Estancia, " Los Alfalfares,'^ 

 Arias, Province of Cordoba, in Oct./Dec. 1907. These 

 eggs (turquoise-blue in colour, splashed with pure white) 

 are perhaps some of the most striking and beautiful known 

 to Science. 



The habits of the bird, as well as the eggs, are fully 

 described by Mr. Hudson in ' Argentine Ornitliology,' vol. ii. 

 pp. 32-35, and I was able personally to confirm very many 

 of his observations. 



Although so well known to those who liave had experience 

 with this species, it may not be out of place to mention that 

 a singular habit of the female, previous to nidification (and 

 alluded to by Mr. Hudson), is to lay and waste a clutch, 

 or perhaps more, of eggs on any odd spot (an old partial 

 nest of Dove preferred) in bush or tree, altogether too small 

 to contain the eggs, nearly every one of which falls to the 

 ground and is broken. By watching carefully and arranging 

 beds of moss and soft grass on the ground underneath the 

 spot, or incipient nest, where it was likely the eggs were to 

 be laid, I succeeded in saving, unbroken, half of those now 

 exhibited. Afterwards, on Dec. 3rd, 1907, I found a typical 

 nest, from wliich the sitting bird flew. It was placed in a 

 willow-tree about 10 feet from the ground, a deep and cup- 

 like structure of twigs and roots and lined with fresh green 

 leaves. The clutch was nine and the eggs slightly incubated. 

 Shape elliptical and average measurements 4x3"20 cms. : 

 texture of shell very close-grained. The other set of 

 eleven (apparently product of two birds) was collected 

 by a relative and sent to me after my departure from 

 " Los Alfalfares.^' 



