84 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



*FAN-TAILED CUCKOO 

 (Gacomantis fiabelliformis, Lath.) 

 Male. — Upper surface blue-grey; upper tail coverts similar, 

 with white edges to outer feathers; tail blue-black, all feathers 

 tipped and notched with white, greater on outer feathers, forming 

 incomplete bars; scapulars and wing coverts slightly glossed with 

 green ; patch of white on pinion joint ; ' ' quills dark brown, with a 

 white patch on their inner webs, forming a diagonal white bar" 

 (B. M. Cat.); sides of the head and chin grey, becoming rufous 

 on the throat; rest of under surface similar, only slightly paler; 

 under wing coverts rufous-buff; irides pale brown; bill black, save 

 base of lower mandible, which is yellowish ; legs and feet yellowish. 

 Dimensions in mm. : — Length, 280; bill, 16; wing, 145; tail, 155; 

 tarsus, 20. 



Female. — Upper surface similar to male; lower surface paler; 

 narrow faint dusky bars on throat and breast. Dimensions in mm. : 

 —Length, 275; bill, 16; wing, 143; tail, 151; tarsus, 20. 



Young. — Upper surface dark brown, mottled with rufous; 

 upper tail coverts tipped with rufous; tail feathers notched with 

 rufous-buff on outer webs and white on inner ; wings rusty ; throat 

 and chest dusky-white, shaded with rufous; rest of under surface 

 lighter, barred with dark brown. 



Eggs. — Stout oval in shape; texture fine; surface glossy; 

 colour dull white, thickly freckled with minute specks of reddish- 

 brown and purplish-brown; round the upper quarter is a distinct 

 band of similar markings. Dimensions in mm. of odd examples : — 

 (1) 21.5 X 17, (2) 22.5 x 17.5. 



Breeding Season. — Septem.ber to December. 

 Oeographical Distribution. — Tasmania, King Island, and the 

 whole of the mainland. 



Observations. — This bird is, perhaps, the most plentiful species 

 of Cuckoo frequenting our shores. Its rather mournful whistling 

 notes may be heard almost everywhere from early spring to late 

 autumn. It is the first to come and the laat to go — in fact, on 

 several occasions I and other observers have seen individuals during 

 the depth of winter. One July I had a specimen brought me, 

 which on skinning proved to be very fat ; its stom.ach was full of 

 the remains of hairy caterpillars. When perching the Fan-tailed 

 Cuckoo may be observed moving its tail, more or less spread, up 

 and down every few seconds. 



The foster-parents of this Cuckoo, as far as I know, are: — 

 Tasmanian Tit {Acanthiza diemenensis) 

 Scrub-Tit (Acanthornis magna) 

 Blue Wren (Malurus gouldi) 

 Brown Scrub-Wren {Sericornis huviilis) 

 Black-headed Honey-eater (M eliihreptus melanocephalus) 

 Wood- Swallow (Artamus sordidus) 

 Dusky Eobin (Petrceoa vittata). 



