378 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



more than one egg, even as many as four, in a foreign nest, and that it usually selects 

 the nest of some member of the crow family. 



Our next figure represents one of the small golden cuckoos peculiar to the African, 

 Oriental, and Australian regions. The species are not larger than a sparrow, and 

 remarkable for the metallic green reflections on the back, and in some species the 

 neck anteriorly also, in richness ami brilliancy eijualling the radiant hues of hiuiiming- 

 birds and trogous. The species figured is the .South African golden cuckoo {Lmiipro- 

 coccijx cupreus), by the colonists called 'ditlric,' in imitation of its voice. It is 

 migratory in the Cape Colony and adjacent countries, and is said to be parasitic in its 

 breeding habits, like most otlier Olil Worhl Cucnlina?. 



Flo. 181. — Lamprococcyx cupnut, golilon cuckoo. 



The gigantic Australian species and type of a separate genus, the channel-bill, or 

 horn-bill cuckoo of the colonists (Sc>/(/irojis noriT-hoUnniUa) is another form figured. 

 The character of the bill and its whole structure is well re])resented in the cut ; the 

 coloration is similar to that of the European cuckoo, but the orbits and lores are bare 

 and scarlet red. In flight, aiul in the posture when resting, it is saiil to be <|uite 

 hawk-like, and is jirobably parasitic. Mr. G. ISennett tells of a young liird which was 

 takt'ii alive and jjlaced in an aviary with a ' laughing-jackass ' {Davdo gigantea): 

 "Doubtless feeling hungry .after its journey, it immediately o|iened its mouth to be 

 fed ; and its wants were readily attended to by the Dacdo, who, with great kindness, 

 took a piece of meat, and after sufficiently prei)aring it by beating it about until it 



