1 92 1.] collected in Southem Cameroon. 93 



exactly the same changes of plumage are apparent in the 

 ten birds from Nyasaland. 



In dealing with examples of the Black Cuckoo from north- 

 east and north-west Africa the problem is considerably 

 complicated by the occuirence in Uganda, British East 

 Africa, southern Abyssinia, and northern Angola of the bird 

 known as Cuculus jackso7ii Sharpe, immature examples of 

 Cuculus clamosus having l)een confused by many workers 

 with the young of C. jackso7ii. Unfortunately both forms 

 occur side by side in many districts — even in the same 

 forests ; and the very variable plumage exhibited by im- 

 mature birds of C. clamosus has made the status of the two 

 forms and the range which they occupy a difficult task to 

 unravel. 



From northern central Africa we have examples of the true 

 Black Cuckoo from Uganda, British East Africa, southern 

 Abyssinia, eastern Belgian Congo, tlie Galla country, Niam- 

 Niam country, northern Angohi, Gohl Coast, and Sierm 

 Leone. The adult black birds are indistinguishable fi-om 

 those from South Africa, and the immature .s])ecimens exhibit 

 the same remarkable variety in the colouc of the plumage — 

 from the indistinctly barred birds with an indication of 

 rufous appearing amongst the feathers of the breast to a 

 curious grey bird in the collection of Sir Frederick Jackson. 



Cuculus jacksoni. 



\_Caculus jachsuni Sharpe, Bull. B. O. C. xiii. 1902, \). 7 — 

 Type locality : Toro, Uganda.] 



At first glance typical examples of C. jacksoni look like a 

 very distinct Cuckoo, but the type is not quite adult. The 

 upper parts are glossy blue-black as in C. clamosus, but the 

 underparts are very dissimilar to any phase of plumage 

 exhibited by South African specimens in the National 

 Collection, and resemble much more nearly C. y. gabonensis. 

 The breast is dark chestnut, the throat greyish, and the 

 rest of the underside, Irom the chest to and including 

 the under tuil-coverts, is strikingly banded with black 



