THE BIRDS OE AUSTRALIA. 
species. When Vigors and Horsfield described the Australian birds in the 
Linnean Society’s Museum they admitted two species thus : Guculus lucidus. 
“ Mr. Caley met with these birds but sparingly, and after the interval of some 
years. He conjectured that the period of their migration into the colony was 
not regular, or that few arrived. The species was first discovered in New 
Zealand, whence they probably migrate into the adjoining continent.” As a 
new species they added Guculus metallicus^ writing : “ The chief difference 
between this bird and the preceding species lies in the colours of the upper parts 
inclining more to a metaUic red than to green, in the head and adjacent parts being 
more saturated, and the fascice on the abdomen being less brilliant ; while the 
marks of the tail-feathers also are distinct. In G. lucidus the outer feathers have 
four white spots on each barb, while in the present species they have five white 
spots marked with ferruginous. The other tail-feathers of the latter bird are 
also alternately fasciated with fuscous and ferruginous, while those of G. lucidus 
are free from spots, except a single fuscous band near the apex. We have met 
with many specimens of G. lucidus, all of which accorded in these markings with 
the bird in our collection ; but we have not seen any other specimen of the 
G. metallicus besides the bird before us. This bird differs also from G. chalcites 
111., which has been described as a New Holland Guckoo, in having the abdomen 
fasciated, which in both sexes of the other bird is pure white and free from 
markings.” 
In 1865 Gould distinguished the two species as named above, writing : 
“ The New Zealand Lamprococcyx lucidus being now considered distinct from 
the species found in New South Wales, it becomes necessary to determine which 
specific appellation was first applied to the latter ; this I believe to be G. plagosus 
of Latham, which I therefore adopt, and reduce the G. metallicus of Vigors and 
Horsfield, and the G. versicolor of Mr. G. R. Gray’s Genera of Birds to the rank 
of synonyms. 
“ The Lamprococcyx plagosus is very widely dispersed over every part of the 
Australian continent, and if it be not migratory in New South Wales, the greater 
number certainly retire in winter to the northward, where insect-food is more 
abundant. I have, however, seen it in the Botanic Garden at Sydney in the 
month of March. Its food consists of insects of various orders, the stomachs 
of those examined containing the remains of Hymenoptera, Goleoptera and 
caterpillars. While searching for food, its motions, although very active, are 
characterised by a remarkable degree of quietude, the bird leaping from branch 
to branch in the gentlest manner possible, picking an insect here and there and 
prying for others among the leaves and the crevices of the bark with the most 
scrutinising care. Its flight is quick and undulating, and when passing from 
one tree to another on a sunny day, the brilliant green colouring of the male 
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