304 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



pensate for their lack of brilliant attire. The wings are 

 short and round, but the rather long tail, broad and rounded 

 at the free extremity, is their most remarkable feature, and 

 a fairly good example of perpetual motion. 



In confinement they are fed on the usual " insectivorous 

 birds' food," dry crumbled biscuit and seed. Raw and 

 cooked meat is mixed with the first, as well as a little pre- 

 served yolk of eg^. 



THE CUCKOOS. 



Wherever they are found, the Cuckoos are a mysteri- 

 ous race, and Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea 

 have each their own members of the 



Fam 1 ly — CnculidiC. 

 Genus — 



1. Eiidynamis. E. taitensis. Long-tailed Cuckoo. 



2. Ccntropus. C. pJiasianus. Pheasant Coucal. 



Long-Tailed Cuckoo. — A native of New^ Zealand 

 and a true parasite, laying an Q,gg here and there in the 

 nest of some other bird, such as the grey warbler, which is 

 uot more than quarter of its size. It is a handsome and 

 rather peculiar-looking creature. The long tail is brown, 

 barred with black, and the wings are the same, but marbled, 

 in addition wuth white and yellowish brown ; the breast 

 and under parts are creamy white, with long black spots, 

 the thin end of which is directed upwards ; the iris is 

 yellow, and the strong legs and feet of a yellowish grey 

 colour. 



The sexes are alike in outward appearance, but the 

 young are more spotted than their elders. 



