BIRDS OF THE OPEN FOREST 
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8. Pallid Cuckoo Cuculus pallidus Latham 
Cu-cu'-lus— L., cuculus, cuckoo: pall'-id-us— L., pallidus, pallid. 
distribution. Australia generally, and Tasmania. 
notes. Also called Grasshopper Hawk, Harbinger-of-Spring, Storm- 
bird, Semitone-bird, Scale-bird, and Brain-fever bird. Usually met 
singly; arrives in August and departs during February. It has an 
undulating and rapid (light with the true cuckoo habit of elevating 
its tail when alighting. Call, a series of loud crescendo notes, ascending 
the scale, varied occasionally with a few harsh notes. One of the most 
useful of birds, destroying large numbers of insects and their larvae. 
Caterpillars form the chief article of diet, especially those covered 
with hair-like bristles which few species of birds eat. 
parasitic. Known foster-parents number about eighty-four species 
(chiefly Honey-eaters). Usually selects as foster parents species that 
build open nests. 
egg. Uniform flesh colour; some have a few dots of a darker hue 
scattered over the shell. Breeding-season: September to January (New 
South Wales). 
9. Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus optatus Gould 
op-ta'-tus— L., oplatus , wished for. 
distribution. Northern Australia, and accidental to south-eastern 
Australia; also found in Siberia, India, to New Guinea. 
notes. Very little is known of this Cuckoo, except that it is seldom 
found far from the coast. It is remarkably shy and solitary in habits, 
and its call it not unlike that of the Pallid Cuckoo. 
parasitic. Recorded foster-parent Phyllergates coronatus (Omston). 
egg. White; a very perfect elongated oval, a shade narrower at one 
end, measuring 0-8 in. by 0-55 in. (Allan Omston). 
10. Sacred Kingfisher Halcyon sanctus Vigors and Horsfield 
Hal'-cy-on— Gk, alcyon , a sea-bird, later the kingfisher; hal, the sea; 
cyon, breeding: sam/dus— L., sanctus, sacred. 
distribution. Australia (except central Australia and Tasmania); 
occurs also in Sumatra, Borneo, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, and 
New Zealand. 
notes. Also called Wood Kingfisher, Forest Kingfisher, Tree King¬ 
fisher, and Green Kingfisher. Usually in pairs, arrives in August or 
early September, departs in March. Odd pairs often remain through¬ 
out the year. It has a peevish note usually utteied four times, frequently 
during the night; it emits harsh cries if one approaches its nest, and 
will attack an intruder. Food: small lizards, fish, crabs, and larger 
insects and their larvae. 
nest. In a hollow limb of a tree, in a bank, or in a termites’ (white 
ants’) nest in a tree. The birds drill a hole in the termites’ nest by 
piercing it with the tips of their closed bills. After the enuance is 
