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Mr. A. J. North,



losus), the Bronze Cuckoo (Lamprococcyx plagosus), and the Rufous¬

tailed Bronze Cuckoo (L. basalis). All of these species are more

common in the eastern and central districts, during spring and

summer, and occur in the neighbourhood of Sydney, Guculus inornatus

being the nearest approach to a strict migrant, while in very mild

winters a few remain throughout the year, or are absent only for a

short period. Flinder’s Cuckoo ( Eudynamis cyanocephala) and

Channel-billed Cuckoo ( Scythrops novce-hollandice) occur principally

in north-eastern New South Wales, but in late summers and in

autumn examples sometimes wander over the contiguous portions of

the State. To this Order also belongs the Pheasant-Coucal ( Cen -

tropus phasianus), locally known as the “ Swamp Pheasant,” "Swamp

Cuckoo,” and the “ Lark-heeled Cuckoo.” It differs from the true

Cuckoos in constructing a round nest of grass and debris on the

ground, usually lined with eucalyptus leaves, with an aperture on

either side for ingress and egress. The swampy scrubs and brushes

of the northern coastal district are its favourite haunts ; it is, how¬

ever, sometimes obtained in the neighbourhood of Sydney, and at

Port Hacking and in the Illawarra district.


The Order Psittaci is fairly well represented in New South

Wales, for out of the sixty species inhabiting Australia and Tasmania

thirty-six are found within its boundaries. In this Order hybrids

often occur, and instances of albinism, partial or total, xanthrochroism,

erythrism, and melanism are frequently met with. Those most

worthy of notice are the different species of the genera Trichoglossus

and Glossopsittcicus in the Lories; Cacatua and Calyptorhynchus in

the Cockatoos; and Platycercus, Psephotus, and Neopliema in the

Parrakeets. Like the Honey-eaters, the hairy-tongued Lorikeets

constituting the Australian members of the Family Loriidse aid in the

pollination of plants and trees, as they feed to a large extent on the

nectar extracted from the blossom of eucalypti and other trees. The

Blue-bellied Lorikeet ( Trichoglossus novce-hollandice), the Scaly-

breasted Lorikeet ( Psitteuteles chlorolepidotus), the Musk Lorikeet

(Glossopsittacus concinnus), and the Little Lorikeet (G. pusillas )

inhabit the coastal and central districts; all but the Scaly-breasted

Lorikeet, which frequents chiefly the north-eastern part of the State,

are generally distributed over these parts. They are at times very



