CUCULID.l^:. 



FAMILY lY. 



CucuLiD^. The Cuckoos. 



Gejt. Chakac. — Bill of various lengths, generally slender, and more or less 

 compressed on the sides, the cuhnen curved to the tip, which is more or less 

 emarginated; the nostrils lateral, and placed in a membranous groove ; the 

 wings long and generally pointed ; the tail lengthened and rounded ; the 

 tarsi more or less long, and covered with broad transverse scales ; the toes; 

 long and unequal ; the claws moderate, and more or less curved. 



The Cuckoos have feet somewhat resembling 

 those of the Parrots, but there is no breadth of sole; 

 the tarsus is much more lengthened, and the toes, 

 instead of being thick and strong, are slender and 

 weak. These birds never climb, but as they sit 

 much, and often for a long time, upon branches, it 

 is necessary that their feet should be of such a form 

 as to enable them to maintain an equal hold on all 

 sides. 



The members of this family occur in both hemi- 

 spheres, and, indeed, in most parts of the world. 

 They are especially abundant in warm climates, and 

 those which are met with in cold or temperate 

 countries are generally only summer visitors. They 

 all feed principally upon insects. In their breeding 

 habits they exhibit a remarkable dissimilarity ; 

 for whilst many species build a nest and bring up 

 their progeny, others, amongst which are our own 

 Cuckoos, make over the labour of incubation and 

 the care of rearing their young to other birds, in 

 whose nests they deposit their eggs. With certain 

 exceptions, the Cuculidae have long and pointed 

 wings, and are distinguished by great powers of 

 flight. 



This family comprehends the Indicators, the Rain 

 Cuckoos, the Ground Cuckoos, the Anis, and the 

 Cuckoos properly so called. 



