186 SENEGAL LARK-HEEL. 



its flesh is coarse and rank, and the contents of the 

 stomach, when killed, very fetid." Short as is this 

 notice, it is interesting and valuahle on several ac- 

 counts. In the first place, it shews that the birds 

 of this genus approach the Crotophaga, or Anoo's of 

 Brazil, as much in their manners as they do in their 

 general structure ; and it explains in a great mea- 

 sure the reason why the feathers of the Lark-heeled 

 Cuckoo are so peculiarly stiff and rigid, namely, 

 that they should protect the bird from the injury it 

 might otherwise receive from the " thorny bushes" 

 it frequents, and upon which, no doubt, those pecu- 

 liar insects are found which constitute, its principal 

 food. We are yet in ignorance, however, of that 

 part of the economy of these birds which renders it 

 necessary that they should be provided with such an 

 unusually long and straight claw on one of their 

 hinder toes. 



We need only add, to our specific character, a 

 few additional particulars. The greater scapular 

 and the tips of the lesser quills are banded with 

 dusky black, and faint indications of the same are on 

 the thighs and tail-covers. The upper covers and the 

 tail are brown glossed with green, and are darkest 

 beneath. All the quills have blackish tips, the fifth 

 and sixth being the longest ; the legs are very strong 

 and dark greenish. 



Total length, 11^ inches ; bill, from the gape, 1 j% ; 

 ditto from the front, T 6 G ; wings, 7 ; tail, beyond, 

 5| ; ditto from the base, 8| ; tarsus, 1^ ; hind heel 

 and claw, 1^; middle ditto, 1 T V 



