1 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
At Mungi I only saw one of these birds, but they are very numerous in the 
wet season in Kimberley At Melville Island only two birds seen, 
on Jan. 13, 1912, the other, an immature, the next day.” 
In the Ibis, 1917, pp. 186-223, Meiklejohn has furnished “ Some Reflections 
on the Breeding-habits of the Cuckoo {Cuculus canorus)” These were based 
more or less on the results given by a German observer Dr. Eugene Key, 
after many years’ consideration, and the conclusions read : 
“ 1. The Cuckoo is probably polygamous. 
2. The eggs vary more in colour and markings than those of any 
known {Palcearctic) species. 
3. Their main distinctive features are the comparatively greater 
weight, thickness and strength of shell. 
4. Most Cuckoos’ eggs resemble the normal type of those of a certain 
number of the species which are usually selected as foster-parents ; 
resembling the general type .... some 45 per cent. 
7. The explanation .... is probably that the nest is selected after the 
egg is laid. 
8. The prevalence of certain distincture types of eggs in certain 
localities can be assigned to the law of adaptation. 
9. Most female Cuckoos return to the same locality as that in which 
they were themselves reared. 
11. The number of eggs laid yearly is probably nine to twelve. 
12. Laying appears to take place at irregular intervals. 
15. Each female lays eggs of the same type all her life. 
16. The eggs are probably laid on the ground amongst vegetation or 
the forks of trees. 
17. Only one egg is placed in any nest, and if two or more are found 
in the same nest they belong to different females. 
18. When placing its egg in a nest the Cuckoo usually removes one 
or more of those of the foster-parent. 
19. At times a vigorous resistance is met with from the owners of the 
nest, resulting in the Cuckoo’s eggs being destroyed. 
22. Shortly after being hatched the young Cuckoo ejects all its 
companions from the nest. 
23. The female Cuckoo, appears, at least at times, to take some interest 
in the future development of her eggs — assisting on occasions 
in the process of ejection and even in feeding her young.” 
The results modify those arrived at by Link and summarised in the Emu^ 
Vol. V., p. 93, 1905, and well show the difficulty of gaining accurate knowledge 
of the exact habits of a peculiar bird like the Cuckoo. 
304 
