CUCUIJD.E. 



CUCULW^E. 



Coccystes glandarius (Linnaeus*). 



THE GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOW. 



Cuculus glandarius. 



Cocctstes, Ologer\. — Bill moderate, compressed towards the tip, culmen 

 decurved, cutting edge smooth ; lower mandible slightly decurved beneath ; gape 

 moderate. Nostrils basal, oval, the upper part closed hy a membrane. Head 

 crested. Wings moderate, with ten primaries, the first short, the third longest, 

 but the fourth nearly its equal, the ninth as long as, and the tenth shorter than, 

 the first. Tail long, of ten feathers, the outer three pairs graduated, the middle 

 two nearly equal. Tarsi strong and long, bare behind, slightly feathered in front 

 above ; toes two before, two behind. 



The late Mr. R. Ball in 1843 briefly noticed (Ann. Nat. 

 Hist. xii. p. 149) the occurrence in Galway of an example 

 of this species, which he had seen, then the property of 



* Cuculus glandarius, Linna-us, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 169 (1766). 

 f Vollst. Handb. der Naturgesch. der Viig. Eur. p. 44!) (1834). 



