214 



AVES. 



took flight]. Herissant attributed the phenomenon to the position of the gizzard, which in fact is 

 placed further backward in the abdomen, and is less protected by the sternum (fig. 101) than that of 

 other birds [in general, but not of the Moth-hunters, which the Cuckoos closely resemble in their 

 internal anatomy, and particularly in the singularly diminutive size of the brain : the young are 

 exceedingly slow in learning to take their own food, and are fed by their foster parents till they have 

 neaily attained the full growth of their feathers. 



Of various species, all peculiar to the eastern hemisphere,] there is one 

 in Europe, 



The Common Cuckoo (C canorns, Lin.) — Of an ash-grey colour, the 

 belly whitish, rayed with dusky black across, and tail-feathers laterally 

 spotted with white : the young barred all over with rufous. [It feeds 

 principally on caterpillars, and is sometimes seen to hawk for insects on 

 the wing, also devours cherries and the smaller fruits. Is well known 

 for its cry, which is common to both sexes, and is sometimes uttered on 

 the wing; as is also another particularly melodious sound, which it 

 generally emits as it takes flight ; it often congregates many together on 

 the same tree, attracted by each others' notes ; but never flies in society, 

 except when migrating. It does not pair; is particularly shy and re- 

 tiring in disposition, and is often buffeted by the small birds on whose 

 domain it encroaches.] 



Africa [and the islands of the Indian Ocean] produce several small spe- 

 cies, the plumage of which is more or less gilded, [or brilliant emerald- 

 green, bronzed, or purple]. Their beak is rather more depressed than 

 in the preceding, [and they compose the Chalcites, Swainson, which, 

 however, are scarcely separable either from structure or habit]. 



A crested, spotted species is occasionally found in southern Europe, 

 the cry of which is more sonorous (C. glandarius, Edwards). [This, with 

 various others from Africa, pertains to the distinct group Oxylophus of Swainson, which, with the following, has 

 longer and naked tarsi.] 



Others inhabit America [all of which build nests and rear their offspring, constituting the Erythrophrys, Swain- 

 son : these are well known to feed much on the eggs of other birds, which it is generally believed the true Cuckoos 

 do also : some of them descend much on the ground, and prey on snails like a Thrush, in addition to berries and 

 caterpillars. The young resemble the adults]. 

 Others again, with generally spotted plumage, have the beak deep vertically. 



The Couas (Coccysus, Vieillot) — 

 Merely differ from the Cuckoos by their elevated tarsi. They nestle in the holes of trees, and do not 

 entrust their eggs to the charge of strangers : this is at least true, with respect to those species of 

 which the propagation is known. 



There is one iu America that requires to be distinguished, — 



The Lizard-seeker (Sanrothera, Vieillot), — 

 Which has a long beak, curved at the tip only, [and feet adapted for running swiftly on the ground, as 

 is the case with the American Cuckoo tribe generally]. 

 It is the Cuculus vetula of Temminck. 



Tig. 101. — Sternum of Cuckoo. 



Le Vaillant has already separated, with good reason, 



The Coucals {Centropus, Illiger), — 

 Birds of Africa and India, the thumb-nail of which is long and pointed as in the Larks, [and the 

 plumage in general singularly rigid and spinous]. All the known species are natives of the eastern 

 hemisphere, and nestle in the holes of trees, [producing white eggs. They feed chiefly on Grasshop- 

 pers, and run about with celerity among reeds and other herbage, from which they are slow to take 

 wing : their flesh is particularly rank ; and the eyelids are fringed with lashes, as in most of the 

 Cuckoo tribe which rear their own offspring. 

 The species are very numerous, and grade into the true Couas and MalkohasJ. 



The same naturabst has rightly separated 



The Courols (Leptosomus, Vieillot), — 

 Madagascar birds, the beak of which is thick, pointed, straight, and comnressed, with the tip of the 



