CUCUL1D.E. 247 



upper tail-coverts transversely lineated with greyish- white 

 and black ; tail black, with greenish reflections, tipped with 

 white, the feathers lineated at their basis. Length, IG" 6'" ; 

 wing, 7" 9'" J tail, 9" T". 



Le Vaillant has evidently, in his description of " Le Coucal MoU' 

 hou," confounded the Egyptian species (C, JE</vptiusJ with this one ; 

 his figure, indeed, better accords with our bird than with the Egyptian. 



I have received but two specimens of " Burcheli's lark-heeled 

 cuckoo." One was shot in " Grootevadersbosch," near Caledon, by 

 the Hon'ble T. H. Vigne; the other near Swellendam, by Mr. Cairn- 

 cross. 



Le Vaillant states that he first met with this species near the Gam- 

 toos Eiver, and that it makes its nest ia holes of trees, laying four 

 eggs, of a reddish- white colour. 



488. Oentropus ^thiops, Cuv. ; Vol. 2, p. 46 1. 



and Regn. An. 1, p. 426 ; Xe Comical Negre, Le Vail., 

 No. 222 ; Coi'ydonix Nigerrimus, Vieil. ; Polophilus 

 Maurus, Stephens; Shaw, Vol. IX,, Pt. 1, p. 57. 



All black ; the female being sooty-black on the belly. 

 Length, U". 



Le Vaillant states he discovered this species in Kaffraria, and 

 describes its nest in a hollow tree, and its egg as white. Sundevall, in 

 his critique on Le Vaillant's work, denies its existence, and stated that 

 it is a manufactured species. 



The Sub-Family, CROTOPHAGIN^, or Anis, 



have the bill more or less lengthened, with the culmen 

 arched, and the sides much compressed ; the nostrils basal, 

 lateral, and pierced in the substance of the bill ; the wings 

 short and rounded ; the tail lengthened, broad, and gradu- 

 ated ; the tarsi long, and covered with broad transverse 

 scales ; the toes long, placed two and two, and the two outer 

 ones the longest; the claws short and curved. 



Genus ZANCLOSTOMUS, Swainson. 

 Bill much compressed its whole length ; gonys curved 

 downwards ; culmen and upper mandible greatly curved ; 

 basal margin considerably dilated ; tarsus and middle too 

 equal ; lateral fore toes nearly equal ; claws short. 



489. Zanclostomus Aereus, vieii. ; Harti. w. 



Af, 187 ; Z. Flavirostris, Swain., Nat. Lib., Vol. 11, p. 



183, PI. 19 ', Le Coucou Gria Bronz^, Le Vail, No. 2 15. 

 Body above, wings, and tail, glossy violet-purple ; head, 

 neck, and body, beneath cinereous ; tail, beneath, with lilac 



