101 



EMERALD CUCKOO. 



Chalcites smaragdineus, SWAIN. 



Upper plumage, with the neck and breast, shining emerald- 

 green ; body beneath, flanks, and under tail-covers, bright 

 yellow, unspotted. 



OF all the gorgeous species in this splendid group of 

 birds, the Emerald Cuckoo of Western Africa is the 

 most sumptuous. It is, indeed, one of the brightest 

 gems of the feathered creation, for its colours are 

 more akin to those of the mineral than to the animal 

 kingdom. The feathers of those parts of its plu- 

 mage which are green, equal the emerald in richness, 

 and assume more of the form of scales than of ordi- 

 nary feathers ; they also have an appearance of 

 thickness and of softness very unusual among birds, 

 so that in these respects they may be compared to 

 velvet. When the bird is held to the light, the 

 green is of the most intense brightness and purity, 

 the middle of each feather being darker than its 

 edgings; but when it is held from the light, with the 

 spectator between, the green becomes more golden, 

 with a very slight gloss of copper, but not near so 

 strong as in the shining cuckoo of the Cape ; it is 

 further distinguished from that species by the full 

 and bright yellow colour of its body and belly, which 



