166 BIRDS 



among the forests and patches of bush on the islands, but 

 there are differences from the mainland in the propor- 

 tions of the species. Their liquid gurgling notes, descend- 

 ing and ascending again, have earned for them the native 

 name " E'tutuma " and the English " Bottle Bird," the 

 latter name because of the resemblance to the noise 

 made by water being poured *out of a bottle with long 

 narrow neck. 



Generally speaking, they are skulking birds, avoiding 

 the open and concealing themselves among bushes, under- 

 growth or papyrus, whence they fly heavily away with 

 broad tail outspread. 



Heavily built, with large stout beaks, they cannot be 

 considered attractive, though their rich brown, black 

 and white or yellowish plumage is often beautiful. 



A species that was unusually abundant on Bugalla 

 (Ceuthmochares ceneus) was of a dark greenish black all 

 over, with the large bill bright yellow. Its note also was 

 somewhat different from that of most coucals, being a 

 harsh screech. I saw one fly away from a clump of bush 

 with a butterfly held in its beak, but another that I shot 

 had fed largely on hairy caterj^illars, as is the cuckoo 

 custom. So much less common is this species elsewhere 

 that I cannot remember having noticed it on other islands 

 or the mainland. On the other hand, a certain large 

 species, whose deep booming call is heard in mainland 

 forests, was absent from the islands. 



Next to be mentioned are the Cuckoos. I am familiar 

 with the notes of only two species of cuckoo on the islands, 

 one of which {Cuculus solitarius) is very common and from 

 its cry has been named " Sekoko " by the natives. The 

 frequently reiterated call is a descending sequence of 

 three notes, and during the rainy season is very noticeable, 

 the bird sitting perched in a conspicuous place and calling 

 again and again as does our English species. 



Though its colouring is different from that of the latter 



