THE CUCKOOS 



The Cuckoos form a large and fairly homogeneous 

 group, although presenting considerable diversity in 

 size, colouration and general appearance. They are 

 divisible into no less than six sub-families, all of 

 which, however, possess the following characters in 

 common: a zygodactyle foot (two toes directed 

 forwards and two backwards), a bridged or des- 

 mognathous palate, a naked oil-gland, no after-shafts 

 to the feathers of the body, and the tail feathers 

 generally ten, but in two genera only eight, in 

 number. The Cuckoos are practically cosmopolitan 

 in their distribution. They are birds which present 

 much variation in the style and colouration of 

 their plumage, some being remarkably showy and of 

 brilliant hues, others very soberly arrayed. Although 

 the Cuckoos can make no claim to musical distinc- 

 tion — none of them being birds of song — their love 

 notes are both interesting and varied. Our own 

 Cuckoo's voice is such a popular feature in the 

 concert of the spring, that we feel to omit all mention 



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