I 



32 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. V. 



follows under^ the name Tippet Cuckow, in the Suppl. II. 

 Gen. Synops. Birds, p. 138, 1801, as follows : 



" This is nearly twelve inches long ; tlie bill brown, rather 

 stout, and a trifle curved at the point ; the upper-parts of 

 the body are dull green, the under white ; the crown full of 

 featliers, and as far as the eyes on each side black ; on the 

 sides of the neck tlie black comes forward and almost meets 

 in the middle, giving the appearance of a cloak or tippet ; 

 sides under the wings yellowish ; thighs marked with a few 

 rusty spots ; quills black ; tail very short, tlie outer margins 

 of the feathers marked with wliite spots ; legs dusky bluish- 

 white, dotted with black ; irides orange. Inliabits New 

 Holland, where it is a rare bird." 



Reference to the Lambert drawings was made in connection 

 with the preceding and succeeding species, and tlus was 

 apparently one of the species founded on those drawings. 

 When G. R. Gray examined these he obsei'ved the drawing 

 agreeing with the above description, and could not determine 

 it, adding : " Chrysococcyx ? " 



Gould described Chalcites oscidans, and some years later 

 Cabanis and Heine introduced the new generic name Misocalius 

 for Cuculus palUolahis Latham. As a synonym they cited 

 Gould's G. osculaJis. 



Gould used the genus name Mesocalnis, but pointed out that 

 his osculans was not Latham's C. jxiUwhtns. The fact that 

 Grould misused tlie genus name does not make it valid and 

 as Misocalus was given to Lathams species, wliich may yet 

 be rediscovered, it cannot be used for any other species. 



In this case it is quite obvious that Latham drew up his 

 description from a painting very similar to the one here re- 

 produced, as the description of the legs is delightful, " dusky 

 bluish- wliite, dotted with black," the black dots being the 

 artist's method of showing the nature of the leg covering, 

 viz., coarsely reticulate. 



It is possible that the species may not be AustraUan, but 

 the feet sliow it to be a Cuckoo, and tlierefore it should be 

 easily recognisable. 



