CUCKOOS 



279 



The South African Cuckoo (Cuculus gularis) is slate-grey 

 above, throat, neck and upper breast pale grey, rest of 

 under surface white transversely and narrowly barred with 

 black. Length, about 12f inches. 



It is a migrant from Northern and Central Africa, being 

 found in South Africa between the months of October to 

 March. It does not inhabit the Cape and is scarce in Natal, 



Fig. 151. — Red-chested Cuckoo. 



but is otherwise fairly well distributed. It resides in open 

 bush country. 



Le Vaillant found its egg in the nests of several birds, 

 and describes it as olive- grey dotted with red. 



The European Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) resembles the 



