178 



LINEATED CUCKOO. 



Cuculus lineatuS) SWAINS. 

 PLATE XVIII. 



Grey; breast and body beneath white, varied with nar- 

 row transverse lines ; exterior tail-feather white, with six 

 obliquely transverse bars of black ; slightly confluent in the 

 middle ; base of the bill red. 



WE make no doubt that this Cuckoo, which appears 

 to us a distinct species, has been hitherto confounded 

 with that so common in Europe, or has been looked 

 upon as merely one of its numerous supposed varie- 

 ties. There is, in truth, a strong general resem- 

 blance between the two birds, as there always is 

 where two or more species immediately follow each 

 other ; but the ornithologist, who places them side 

 by side, will readily perceive that they should be 

 kept separate. 



In size and general cast of colouring the Lineated 

 Cuckoo resembles that of Europe : that is to say, 

 the upper plumage, as well as the under, as far as 

 the breast, is cinereous, the latter parts paler and 

 more delicate than the former; but in this the 

 greater wing-covers are narrowly tipt with white ; 

 the breast, body, and thighs are white crossed by 



