RUFOUS-BREASTED BRONZE CUCKOO, 
in the presence of the russet on the sides of the neck. All the Cape York 
birds have this russet on the breast, in some cases extending across as a 
band, while in the type of C. poecilurus and other specimens from near the 
type locality, which I refer to C. poecilurus^ there is no indication of this russet 
coloration. At present I am unable to feel myself justified in referring 
G. russatus subspecifically to C. poecilurus.^^ Since then many specimens 
have been secured, and while the russet lower-throat band is not so constant, 
the form is very easity recognisable. It does not, however, belong to the basalis 
group, though its tail recalls that in coloration. The tail formation as well 
as the bill and general coloration prove it a Lmnprococcyx, though the latter 
again recalls that of basalis. Broadbent in the Emu (Vol. X., p. 240, 1910) very 
definitely states : “ At the Herbert River, North Queensland, this bird stays 
aU the year. I have shot specimens at all times, but in the springtime it is 
more common. It is a noisj^ bird in the breeding time, and is always about 
the edges of scrubs. I have seen this bird in scores at Cape York in March.” 
The consideration of the Cape York birds has led to some curious results 
which are perplexing and inconclusive. The fixed item is the inner primary 
lining which is deeper than in minutillus, while the wing is longer. However, 
the young birds appear to be more narrowly barred underneath, lack the 
russet on the sides of the breast, have the tail more russet, the back greenish, 
and the wing apparently longer. The full plumaged birds have the wing 
shorter, the upper-surface coppery-bronze, the under-surface closely barred, 
while a russet tinge pervades the lower throat and is seen on the outer edges 
of the primaries. These two forms are not easily connected in my series, but 
I conclude they are the immature or first year plumage and the adult. The 
russet wing lining is present in both but is not so pronounced in the adult as 
in the immature. 
The tail, however, differs considerably in coloration in these two stages. 
In the immature the pale russet predominates and the two outer feathers 
show a lot of white. In the adult deep russet is present and no white is seen 
in the outer feathers save at the tip. (See plate 359.) 
This conclusion necessitates the acceptance of my C. barnardi as the 
immature of this species and, therefore, I attach the original description as 
follows. 
“ General coloration above, pale green with little bronze coloration ; white 
eyebrow ; primaries dark brown ; under-surface white with narrow green 
crossbars on the throat and wide bronze bars on the abdomen distant and 
separate ; inner-wing distantly barred. The outer tail-feathers have the 
outer web spotted alternately with white and brown, the inner alternately 
barred with black and white, the latter broader ; the next pair have the outer. 
367 
