The Plate represents a male of the natural size. [Illustration: CUCULUS INORNATUS: _Vig. & Horsf._ _J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._ ] CUCULUS INORNATUS, _Vig. & Horsf._ Unadorned Cuckoo. _Cuculus inornatus_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 297. —— _albostrigatus_, Ib., p. 298. young. _Dju-dȕr-run_, Aborigines of Western Australia. _Greater Cuckoo_ of the Colonists. The southern portion of Australia generally, and the island of Van Diemen’s Land, are inhabited by this species of Cuckoo; to the latter country, however, it is only a summer visitant, and a partial migration also takes place in the adjacent portion of the continent, as is shown by its numbers being much fewer during winter. Its migratory movement seems to be regulated, as in most other instances, by the more or less abundant supply of food necessary for its sustenance. It arrives in Van Diemen’s Land in the month of September, and departs northward in February. During the vernal season it is an animated and querulous bird, and it may then be seen either singly, or two or more males engaged in chasing each other from tree to tree. Its ringing whistling call, which consists of a succession of running notes, the last and highest of which are several times rapidly repeated, is often uttered while the bird is at rest among the branches, and also occasionally while on the wing. Its food consists of caterpillars, _Phasmidæ_ and coleopterous insects, which are generally procured among the leafy branches of the trees, and in searching for which the bird displays considerable activity, and great power of traversing the smaller limbs. When desirous of repose after feeding, it perches on the topmost dead branches of the trees, on the posts and rails of the fences, or any other prominent site whence it can survey all around. It is however by no means a shy bird, and but little caution is required to approach within gun-shot. Its flight is straight and rapid, and not unlike that of the _Cuculus canorus_, to which it bears a close resemblance in everything except its note; occasionally it mounts considerably above the tops of the trees, and it is capable of sustaining a long-continued flight.