PLATE XL VII. 



GENUS SCYTHROPS. {Latham^ 



r|)HE only known species of this remarkable bird inhabits Australasia, and is found dispersed over the whole 

 J_ continent, New Guinea, and Tasmania. It is parasitic and migratory in its habits. 



SCYTHROPS NOYiE HOLLANDIJL {Lath.) 



CM A NNEL -BILL. Genus : Scythrops. 



FOE- a time this unique bird was supposed by some to belong to the Toucans, while others regarded it as a 

 Horn Bill, but a thorough investigation has proved that it is a member of the Cuculidce. 



The Channel-Bill is an unfortunate instance of the unsatisfactoriness of a little general knowledge, 

 which is not comprehensive enough to deduce from it a scheme of the habits and peculiarities of this 

 singular species. We know that it is migratory, as it arrives in Xew South Wales in October and disappears in 

 January, whither going and whence coming we know not. It is insectivorous, like the other Cuckoos, in its 

 food, but prefers the larger kinds of phashi'ue and coleoptera to the smaller ones eaten by other species of its 

 family. Occasionally it feeds upon fruits. The changes in its plumage towards maturity are very similar. For 

 the rest we must fall back upon individual testimony. 



Latham, in his " General History of Birds," says : " It is chiefly seen in the morning and evening, 

 sometimes in small parties of seven or eight, but more often in pairs. Both on the wing and when perched it 

 makes a loud screaming noise when a hawk or other bird of prey is in sight. In the crop and gizzard the seeds 

 of the red gum and peppermint trees have been found ; it is supposed that they are swallowed whole, as 

 the pericarp, or capsule, has been found in the stomach ; exuviae of beetles have also been seen, but not in any 

 quantity. The tail, which is nearly the length of the body, is occasionally displayed like a fan, and gives the 

 bird a majestic appearance. The natives appear to know little of its habits or its haunts ; they consider its 

 appearance as an indication of blowing weather, and that its frightful scream is through fear. It is not easily 

 tamed, for Mr. White observes that he kept a wounded one alive for two days, during which it would eat nothing, 

 but bit everything that approached it very severely." 



The late Mr. Elsey made some notes for Gould on the subject of the Channel-Bill, when he accompanied 

 Mr. Gregory's Expedition. He says : " This bird appeared on the northern side of the ranges. It settled in a 

 tree close to our camp, and for five minutes at a time pumped out its awful notes. Sometimes it was quite 

 indifferent to our presence, but generally it was very shy. I have never seen it on the ground, but always at 

 the tops of large trees. One, shot by Mr. Gregory, and preserved, proved to be an incubating female ; it 

 contained several eggs, one nearly matured, and from the state of the oviduct another must have been recently 

 extruded. Its habits seem to indicate that it is parasitic." 



Dr. Bennett, of Sydney, wrote in June, 1858, to Gould : " I have much pleasure in telling you that 

 when the young Scythrops was introduced into Mr. Dennison's aviary it was placed in a compartment already 

 occupied by a Dacelo yiy«s, and doubtless feeling hungry after its journey, immediately opened its mouth to be 

 fed, and its Avants were readily attended to by the Dacelo, who, with great kindness, took a piece of meat, and, 

 after sufficiently preparing it by beating it about until it was in a tender and pappy state, placed it carefully in 

 the gaping mouth of the youug Scy tin-ops ; this feeding process continued until the bird was capable of attending 



