ID4 



CUCULID.E. 



licad, buck of tlic neck, tlie back, wing-coverts, qiiill-featlicrs, 

 and the two central tail-feathers, yellowish brown ; the inner 

 webs of the primary qui 11 -feathers chestnut ; the tail-feather 

 on each side of the central pair black ; the others black, 

 broadly tipped with white ; the outer feather white on the 

 external web ; the tail graduated -, chin, throat, neck in front, 

 breast, belly, and under tail coverts, greyish white ; the 

 flanks and thighs pale brown ; legs, toes, and claws, greyish 

 lead colour. 



The whole length of the l)ird about twelve inches. From 

 the carpal joint to the end of the wing, five inches and five- 

 eighths ; the first quill-feather more than an inch shorter than 

 the second ; the second shorter than the third or fourth, but 

 equal to the fifth ; the third feather longer than the fourth, 

 and the lonq-est in the wins'. 



The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is an elegantly-formed bird. 

 The figure and description here given were taken from the 

 specimen killed in Wales. 



The female differs very little from the male in colour. 



The vignette below is a representation of the breast-bone 

 and the foot of our common Cuckoo. 



