Page:The Emu volume 3.djvu/116

 December, and was particularly numerous on the Lower Gascoyne River.

(82.) (Fawn-breasted Kingfisher, Pooka).—Plentiful on the Gascovne and Lyons Rivers, where their loud cackling notes could be heard in the early day and evening. They remain in the shade during the mid-day heat. On 4th October, 1902, I heard their well-known note when crossing the bed of the Minilya River, where they were never previously known to occur. Possibly the fact that small fish are now plentiful in the pools there, as recorded by me in the Zoologist, may have something to do with their extending their range. The aborigines' name, Pooka, signifies stinking.

(83.) (Red-backed Kingfisher).—Fairly common about inland creeks, where their mournful whistle may be heard all day. One specimen shot contained several fair-sized scorpions. This bird was never noted on the coast.

(84.) (Sacred Kingfisher).—This species was only noted on two occasions, and on the coast, both times in February. Possibly they were migrating.

(85.) (Mangrove Kingfisher).—These birds were not uncommon on the coast, especially in the summer months (December to April), and were probably migrating. I did not succeed in finding eggs. Shot a bird on the beach, 15th June, 1900, and saw a pair 1st September, 1901, which was probably breeding in some sandstone cliffs.

(86.) (Pallid Cuckoo).—A common visitor to the coast and inland as soon as winter rains commence. Their peculiar cry may be heard all day, and very often all through the night. Female birds were rarely seen. An immature young one was shot 14th November, 1900.

(87.) (Black-eared Cuckoo).—A scarce visitor, two specimens only being seen and secured, viz., one on the range near the coast, 19th May, 1898, and one inland, 16th April, 1900.

(88.) (Narrow-billed Bronze-Cuckoo).—A fairly common winter visitor, arriving usually in June, but occasionally seen after summer rains. An egg of this species was found in a nest of the Tricolored Chat (Ephthianura tricolor), 4th March, 1898, and another in a nest of the Field-Wren (Calamanthus campestris), 1st June, 1887.

(89.) (Coucal).—A specimen of this bird was shut in thick scrub near a pool at Minilya station in 1887. It occurs sparingly on the Ashburton River.

(With Plates.)

(Honorary Ornithologist, Perth Museum, W.A.)

(Long-billed Magpie), sp. nov.

During the course of a systematic examination of the bird-skins of the Western Australian Museum, Perth, my attention was attracted to five Magpie-skins which had been obtained by