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Show 934 MR. A. J. NORTH ON THE HABITS OF A [Dec. 1, In conclusion, I may take this opportunity of mentioning that in the Park at Woburn there is a small herd of Wapiti-like deer from the Altai, which I believe to be referable to C. eustephanus of the Thian-Shan. Unfortunately, their antlers have been so damaged by the voyage, that they are valueless for purposes of comparison ; but the general appearance of these animals leads one to think that they belong to the species in question. The big Deer of the Altai have been generally referred to the so-called Cervus moral, probably owing to the use of the term " Maral" by the natives of Central Asia. Mr. W . L. Sclater1 has, however, already pointed out that the Altai deer is in all probability identical with the Thiau-Shan stag. Accepting this identity, and also that C. luehdorfi is specifically inseparable from C. eustephanus, the range of the latter species will extend from the Altai to Amur-land, aud will thus lead ou towards the habitat of the Wapiti. These Altai deer appear to be distinctly different from C. becl-fordlanus. Next year I hope to be able to give some further observations on the Altai deer at Woburn. 5. O n the Habits of a Cuckoo in the Gilbert Islands. B y A L F R E D J. N O R T H , C.M.Z.S., Ornithologist to the Australian Museum, Sydney. [Eeceived August 19, 1896.] At a meeting of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, in September 1894, I exhibited a male and female of the Long-tailed Cuckoo, Eudynamls taitensls, which had been recently presented to the Trustees of the Australian Museum by the Hon. C. R. Swayne, H.B.M.'s Resident at the Gilbert and Ellice Groups. These birds bad been obtained by Mr. Swayne on Big Makin Island or " Butari-tari" of the natives. A short note was also contributed relative to the distribution of this species, and to the tradition current among the natives of the Gilbert Group, that the female deposited her egg ou a piece of palm-leaf placed on a cloud, and left it to be incubated by tbe sun2. During June of this year Mr. Swayne, who was in Sydney for a short time while on his way to London, informed m e that he had seen this Cuckoo oust a Noddy Tern (Anous stolldus) from its nest and take possession of it. As the habits and food of these birds are so entirely different, and as I had never previously heard of so remarkable an instance of appropriation on the part of a Cuckoo, Mr. Swayne, prior to his departure, kindly sent me the following notes :- 1 Cat. Mamm. Indian Mus. pt. ii. p. 184 (1891). 2 See Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W . ser. 2, ix. p. 584. |
