178 Zoological Society : — 



yellow ; bill dark purplish-black, the under mandible clouded with 

 yellow ; legs and feet yellow. 



Total length, 16|^ inches; bill, 3; wing, 9i; tail, 4^; tarsi, If. 



Hab. New Zealand. 



Remark. — This is by far the handsomest species of the genus. 



Descriptions of Two New Species of true Cuckoos 



(Genus Cuculus as restricted). 



By John Gould, F.R.S. 



Cuculus strenuus, Gould. 



Crown of the head, back of the neck, cheeks and chin dark grey ; 

 all the upper surface, including the upper tail-coverts, olive-brown, 

 with shining purplish reflexions ; tail olive-brown, crossed by four 

 bands of darker brown, and tipped with huffy white ; throat white, 

 passing into the chestnut, which forms a band across the lower part 

 of the chest, each feather also has a double mark of black and chest- 

 nut down the centre ; breast and upper part of the abdomen white, 

 crossed by semicrescentic bands of very dark brown bordered with 

 pale chestnut-red ; edge of the shoulder, lower part of the abdomen, 

 vent and under tail-coverts white ; upper mandible olive ; lower 

 mandible yellow ; irides and feet rich yellow. 



Total length, 15^ inches; bill, 1^; wing, 9f ; tail, 9. 



Hab. Manilla. 



Remark. — In outward appearance this species so nearly resembles 

 the Cuculus sparverioideSy that one description would nearly serve 

 for both ; but in size it so far exceeds that bird, as well as every 

 other true Cuckoo I have yet seen, that I have no doubt of its being 

 distinct, and I have therefore assigned it a separate specific appel- 

 lation, and have selected the term strenuuSy as indicative of its great 

 size and strength. 



The specimen from which the above description was taken now 

 forms part of the collection at the British Museum. 



Cuculus hyperythrus, Gould. 



Crown of the head, all the upper surface and wings dark slate- 

 grey ; spurious wings white ; lores, ear-coverts, moustache, and a 

 spot on the chin black ; throat white, with a fine line of brown down 

 the shaft of each feather ; under surface dull rusty-red ; tail grey, 

 crossed by two narrow irregular bands of black bordered with brown, 

 and by a very broad band of black near the extremity, the tip being 

 reddish-brown ; upper mandible black ; lower mandible and feet 

 yellow. 



Total length, 11| inches; bill, 1|^; wing, 8; tail, 6^. 



Hab. China. 



Remark. — In size this species is rather less than the Cuculus 

 canorus of Europe, and is altogether less elegant in its general con- 

 tour. The rufous colouring of the breast and under surface, and the 

 black marks on the cheeks and throat, characters seldom seen among 

 the CuculidtPy are the features by which it may be distinguished. 



The specimen described, like the preceding, is deposited in the 

 National Collection. 



