  Eudynamys Orientalis, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 304. —— Flindersii, Lath. MSS. Ibid., p. 305, young. Flinders’s Cuckoo, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iii. p. 308. Cuculus cyanocephalus, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. xxx.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. ix. p. 110. Blue-headed Cuckoo, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 137.—Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. iii. p. 310. Eudynamis Australis, Swains. Anim. in Menag., p. 344. This species differs from the Eudynamys inhabiting Java, which may be the true Orientalis in having a more slender bill, and in being a less robust and powerful bird; the young of the first year also exhibits changes not quite in accordance with those of the young of the species from the Indian islands. It will be seen by the list of synonyms quoted above, that the young and the adult have been considered as distinct species, and that the name of Flindersii, which I have retained from its priority, has been applied to the bird in one of the earliest stages of its existence after leaving the nest, when the prevailing tints of its plumage are rufous brown, with transverse markings of dark brown; from this state until the bird attains maturity, many parti-coloured changes of plumage occur; but whether the sexes when fully adult are alike in colouring, I have not been able to ascertain; I am inclined to think they are not, and that the specimens having the upper surface regularly spotted with white on a bronzed olive ground, and with zigzag marks or bars on the buffy white of the under surface, are adult females; of this state I have given a figure on the annexed Plate, as well as a representation of the old male. The portions of Australia inhabited by this bird are the eastern, northern, and north-western; it is very abundant in all the brushes of the east coast, from the river Hunter to Moreton Bay, and thence round to Torres Straits; it was also found in considerable abundance by His Excellency Governor Grey on the north-west coast. I did not meet with it myself, and I regret to say that no information has yet been obtained respecting its habits and manners. If it be parasitic or not, is a point I would gladly know; it is consequently one of those objects to which I would especially direct the attention of persons residing in the localities frequented by it. The adult male has the entire plumage deep glossy greenish blue-black, the green tint predominating on the back and wings; irides red; bill yellowish olive; feet purplish black. The adult female has the head and neck glossy greenish black; back, wings and tail bronzy brown, with numerous oblong spots of white on the back and wing-coverts, the remainder of the wing crossed by irregular bars of white stained with rufous; tail regularly barred with white stained with rufous, and slightly tipped with white; line from the angle of the mouth and all the under surface white stained with buff, spotted with black on the sides of the throat, and crossed on the abdomen and under tail-coverts with narrow irregular lines of blackish brown. The young has the head and upper surface mingled bronze and buff, disposed in large patches; wing-coverts reddish buff, crossed by narrow bands of brown; remainder of wings and tail bronzy brown, crossed by bands of rufous; under surface rufous, crossed by narrow bars of blackish brown; tail-feathers longer and more pointed than in the adult. The Plate represents an adult male and female of the natural size. CENTROPUS PHASIANUS. |
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