352 CUCULIFORMES 



or wedge-shaped tail is nearly always long, and has ten feathers, 

 except in the Crotophaginae, which have eight ; it is forked in two 

 species of Surnicuhis. Dijplopterus has the upper coverts half as 

 long as the rectrices, Dromococcyx has them of the entire length. 

 The impervious nostrils, usually pierced in a swollen membrane, 

 are hidden by bristly plumes in Dasi/lophtis and Lejpidogrammus. 

 The furcula is Y-shaped, the tongue is sagittate with retro verted 

 spines on the posterior margin, the syrinx is tracheo-bronchial or 

 occasionally bronchial. Distinct eyelashes are often visible, the 

 after-shaft is rudimentary or absent, the nestlings are naked, and 

 down is only found in adults on the unfeathered spaces. 



The plumage of the more typical Cuckoos is brownish or grey, 

 usually with barred under parts, the long flank-feathers cover- 

 ing half the metatarsi ; Chrysococcyx, however, contains several 

 beautiful emerald-green forms ; while Chalcococcyx is scarcely less 

 brilliant ; but Surmculus and Guculus clamosus are black. Croto- 

 fliaga is also black. Coccystes, and several species of Coua, have 

 well-developed crests, while Lepidogrammus has a rounded tuft, 

 Gtdra one of long narrow plumes, and Gcococcyx mcxicanus an 

 erectile patch. Fork-tipped feathers on the head and neck are 

 not uncommon. The colour of the bill, feet, and iris varies much ; 

 the cheeks and orbits are often naked, and may be bright red, 

 blue, or greyish, as in the Phoenicophainae and Centropodinae. 

 Strong glossy feather-shafts, often with filiform extremities, are 

 found in Coua, Taccocua, Phoenicopha'es, Wiopodytes and elsewhere, 

 on the head, neck, mantle and chest ; Crotophaga has stiff, scale- 

 like borders, and Lepidogrammus metallic horny tips, to the 

 feathers of the first two of these ; Basyloplius has fine crimson 

 hair-like tufts springing from above each eye. The beak may 

 be black, green, yellowish, or even, as in Rhamphococcyx, chiefly 

 red. The sexes are alike in most cases. 



The Ethiopian and Indian Eegions are richest in Cuculidae. 

 New Zealand possesses only two species ; but Madagascar, besides 

 other forms, claims the entire genus Coua. In all there are more 

 than a hundred and sixty species of some forty-two genera. 



Sub-fam. 1. Cuculinae. — Cuculus canorus, the familiar Cuckoo 

 of Britain and nearly all the Old World, is greyish-brown above 

 and on the throat, the lower parts being white barred with 

 dusky, and the wings and tail shewing a few white markings. 

 A chestnut-brown or " hepatic " phase is sometimes met with. 



