202 



CUCULID^ 



CENTROPUS 



Genus I. CENTROPUS. 



Type. 



Centropus, Illiger, Prodr. p. 205 (1811) C. senegalensis. 



Bill deep and strong ; nostril somewhat linear, partially closed 

 by membrane ; shafts of the feathers of the head, mantle and breast 

 stiffened and bristle-like ; wing very short and rounded, the 

 primaries iardly exceeding the secondaries in length ; tail long, 



Fig. 66. — Foot of Centropus btcrchelli. x 



broad and graduated ; tarsus strong and naked ; claws somewhat 

 strong and straight, that of the hind toe or hallux nearly twice 

 as long as the others and straight like that of a lark. Sexes 

 alike. 



This is a large genus containing more than thirty species which 

 are spread over the whole of Africa south of the Sahara, Egypt, 



