110 
AN AUSTRAXIAN BIED BOOK. 
5 233 Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo, Chalco coccyx hasalis, 
15 Mai. Pen., Java, Cel., to A., T. Mig. c. open, timher 6.2 
Upper beautiful bronze-green; under barred brown, white; 
like 234 but bill narrower; lighter brown head; paler 
back; outer tail feathers strongly barred blackish- 
brown, white; centre abdomen not barred; base tail 
much chestnut; f., duller. Insects, caterpillars. 
it is called the Scale Bird. At other times, after three running 
notes, it repeats one note strongly. So persistent is it in calling 
that it is called in places the Brain-fever Bird. Last Septem- 
ber, in Castlemaine, it called all night in the street trees. Pew, 
however, seemed to notice it, and fewer still knew what was 
uttering the persistent call. 
Possibly other birds recognize the Cuckoo as an enemy, or pos- 
sibly its remarkable superficial resemblance to a Hawk causes 
birds to chase it. However, in some cases, possibly, the male 
Cuckoo does not object to being chased. He draws the birds 
away, while the female Cuckoo quietly places an egg in a con- 
venient nest, and retires unmolested. 
The Fan-tailed or Ash-colored Cuckoo is not so conspicuous, 
as it keeps to more secluded places, and is a solitary bird. Its 
flight is heavy and labored. It also has a habit of elevating 
and lowering its tail several times both before and after flight. 
Its frequent, plaintive, trilling note often reveals its presence, 
which would otherwise be overlooked. 
