AFRICAN BLACK CUCKOO. I3l 



The whole upper and under plumage of this bird 

 is of a deep black, glossed with blue ; the greater 

 quills are dark brown and very pale at their base, 

 while their inner webs are banded with white : there 

 appears to be a few whitish bands on the thigh- 

 feathers, and the lateral tail-feathers, as well as their 

 under covers, are tipt with whitish ; there are also 

 some white spots at the edge of the shoulders. 



Total length, 12 \ inches ; bill, from the gape, 

 IY\J; wings, 6f ; tail, beyond, 3^; ditto, from the 

 base, 6. 



RUFOUS-BREASTED CUCKOO. 



Ouculus rubiculuS) SWAINS. 



Wings six inches and a half long ; breast and sides of the neck 

 rufous ; body beneath fulvous white, with broad black bars ; 

 tail black, with three white spots down the shaft ; the tips 

 white. 



THIS Cuckoo is at once known from the last by the" 

 colour of its tail and the greater breadth of the 

 black bars on the body. A young specimen, in a 

 state of moulting, which is in possession of Mr. War- 

 wick, has obviously been prepared by the Senegal 

 bird-stuffers ; but what we consider as the adult 

 bird is a specimen sent, as we were informed, from 



