COUCALS 37 



is also suffused with red on the sides of the face and 

 lower breast. 



It is also not uncommon in the region on the Crocodile 

 Kiver mentioned above, and its habits do not differ 

 from those of other Barbets. 



GOUCAL8. 



The Coucals (Centropodince) form a subfamily of the 

 CuoculidcB, but differ in several structural characters, 

 besides the important fact that whereas the latter birds 

 are parasitic upon other birds, the Coucals build their 

 own nests and incubate their own eggs. 



There are seven species in South Africa, only three of 

 which need concern us here. Two of these are the 

 closely allied Black-headed Coucal (Centropus burchelli), 

 and the White-browed Coucal (C. supercilioms). Both 

 birds are called the " Vlei Lourie " by the Boers. 



Both are rufous-brown above ; the tail greenish-black 

 narrowly tipped with white, (this is not always apparent 

 in worn specimens) ; below buff-white. Burchelli has 

 a glossy black head, with sometimes a few white 

 feathers in front of the eye, forming the commence- 

 ment of an eyebrow ; there are generally a few white 

 shaft streaks on the neck. Superciliosus has a dull 

 brown head with a distinct whitish eyebrow ; the nape, 

 upper back and sides of neck are profusely streaked with 

 white shaft lines, many of the feathers being also edged 

 with black. 



Professor Keichenow does not include South Africa 

 within the geographical range of the White-browed 

 Coucal, treating this bird as a tropical species, but 

 we think the evidence of its occurrence in South African 

 territory conclusive enough. 



