CUCULID.E: CUCKOOS. 



603 



important one. It comprehends quite a number of leading forms showing certain modifications 

 of the syrinx or syringes, of the pterylosis, of the hind claw, and even of the myological for- 

 mula. These correspond in 



great measure with certain 'g^^^^s^- ^a^!*^ ^^^=7- ^. ^^ir-^ 



geographical areas of faunal 



distribution, and are generally r~Tf^ ^^^^^ - ■*,/!?*.. 



held to constitute subfamilies. 

 But the subdivision of the 

 family is still in such an un- 

 satisfactory state, that I am 

 furtunate in being required to 

 treat critically of only the 

 North American forms, which 

 include representatives of 

 three indisputably distinct 

 subfamilies ; among them are 

 Cnculince, or typical Cuckoos _ -s J , 



allied to the European G. ^ - , ''^;^ ^ ^, 



canorus (fig. 414), famous, -; **- ' ■^^^^^^^ jL 



like our Cowbird, for their ^ ---^^P^^'-it/' ^^Sfc" -4- 



parasitism. None of the (7(«- - ^__ ' il^^^k // .yi '-{"f-ir 



culinre proper have an acces- 

 sory femorocaudal, their syrinx 



is tracheobronchial, and the Fm. 4U.- European Cuckoo, C«^«/«.. c««.nu. (From Dixon.) 



ventral pteryla gives off no lateral branches, though it is more or less split in two lateral halves 

 by a median space. The Oltl World genera Eudynamis and Phccnicophaes rej)resent a group 

 in which tlie muscle just named is present, the syrinx tracheobronchial, and the ventral pteryhi 

 branched on each side. The very large Old World genus Centropus represents yet another 

 group, whose characters are much the same as the last said, but they are terrestrial, with long 

 straight hind claws, being the so-called " Lark-heeled " or Spurred Cuckoos, or Coucals. In these 

 the syringes are pseudo-bronchial. The Neotropical genera Diplopterus and Dromococcyx have 

 peculiarly elongated upper tail-coverts; the Couince &rG a peculiar Madagascan type. Each one 

 of the groups thus indicated may possibly be regarded as a subfamily, as is certainly the case 

 with the groups represented by Geococcyx and Crotophaga respectively (see below). There 

 are altogether over 40 genera and some 150 good species of the family. Many of them, be- 

 sides the one instanced, lay eggs in other birds' nests. The American Cuckoos have been 

 declared free of suspicion of such domestic irregularities ; but, though i)retty well behaved, 

 their record is not quite clean : they do sometimes slip into the wrong nest. The curious infe- 

 licity seems to be connected in some way with the inability of the 9 to complete her clutch 

 of eggs with the rapidity and regularity usual among birds, and so incubate them iu one batch. 

 The nests of our species of Coccyzus commonly contain young by the time the last egg of the 

 lot is laid. 



We have four very distinct genera, representing three subfamilies. 



Analysis of Siib/nmilies and Genera. 



Crotophaoin*;. Terrestrial. Tail of eight feathers. 



Bill compressed, crested. PlumaRe lustrous black Crotophaga 



NEO.MouPHiNiK. Terrestrial. Tail of 10 feathers. Feet ambulatorial, with long tarsi. Wings short, concavo-convex. 



1-lill long, slender. Plumage highly variegated Geococn/x 



Cuci'LiN*. Arl)i>reiil. Tail of 10 feathers. Feet insessorial, with short tarsi. Wings long, flat. 



Cluiuagf plain. I'ropcrly Anicricaii (forcyzinw) I'i>rry:us 



Plumage variegated. Properly Old World ('k<-m/u4 



