Introduction.

The subspecies of Bronze Cuckoo breeding in New Zealand is Chalcites lucidus lucidus (Gmelin 1788), commonly called in this country the Shining Cuckoo or Pipiwharauroa. It is migratory as also is the Tasmanian subspecies C. l. plagosus (not found in New Zealand), while two other subspecies are non-migratory tropical cuckoos. Comparatively little co-ordinated work has been done on the problems of the migration of either of the former subspecies. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a recent investigation of the movements of the New Zealand subspecies while at the southern end of its range, together with a survey of what is known of its annual movements as a whole.

Although certain of the early Maoris are said to have believed that the Shining Cuckoo is a migrant, returning every winter to Hawaiki, the first scientific records of its migratory habit are due to Yate (1835) and Gray (1843). Colenso (1844) also supported this view.

Wallace (1876) considered the theory untenable, as it would involve an ocean flight of at least 900 miles to the nearest land beyond New Zealand, and at that period such flights were unknown. Wallace suggested that a partial migration might occur within New Zealand itself, which would be sufficient to account for the observed facts. Buller (1872), however, adduced evidence to show that after the birds first appeared in New Zealand in the spring they would subsequently be reported at Chatham and Macquarie Islands farther to the east, and he inferred, together with other New Zealand ornithologists, that migration overseas occurred.

Hutton and Drummond (1904) stated that the bird appears in the north of New Zealand regularly in the latter half of September and that early in October it is found in Wellington and in the South Island. After breeding, the birds depart from the southern portions of the country in the first and second weeks of January and do not leave the north until the end of January or perhaps later. They also give some data on the occurrence of the bird other Pacific Islands. It should be noted here that Hutton and Drummond did not give sources for these clear-cut statements, and, in fact, their discrepancy in regard to other data led to the investigation to be described.

Fulton (1910), in the course of his extensive paper on the subspecies, made a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the bird, but did not discuss its migratory behaviour in any detail beyond indicating his general acceptance of Hutton and Drummond's views.

Mathews (1918) disputed the point once more, considering as had Wallace, that only partial migration within New Zealand occurred. He pointed out that cuckoos have been reported in New Zealand when the birds were supposed to be absent from the country. In more recent years, circumstantial reports have appeared in the press and elsewhere of the arrival of cuckoos on the coast singly or in groups, while other data summarised by Mayr (1932) left little room for doubt that the species occurs overseas during the months it is not seen in New Zealand. It came to the writer's knowledge that birds were commonly to be found in New Zealand at times outside the limits specified by Hutton and Drummond, so that it seemed desirable to subject the New Zealand records to a more careful scrutiny. At the same time opportunity has been taken of checking at their sources reports of the arrival on the coast of birds flying inland from the sea.