38 CUCULID^E. 



272. COCCYZUS MELANOCORYPHUS, Vieill. 

 (BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO.) 



Coccyzus melanocoryphus, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl p. 108 ; Durnford, Ibis, 

 1877, p. 186 (Buenos Ayres) ; Barrows, Auk, 1884, p. 28 (Entrerios) ; 

 Withington, Ibis, 1888, p. 468 (Lomas de Zamora). Coccyzus seniculus, 

 Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 444 (Parana, Tucuman). 



Description. Above pale greyish brown ; head cinereous ; a black stripe 

 through the eyes : beneath white, more or less tinged with ochraceous ; tail 

 black, tipped with white ; two central rectrices like the back ; bill black : whole 

 length 11-5 inches, wing 4-7, tail 5'7. Female similar. 



Hab. South America. 



The " Coucou," so called from its note, is the commonest species of 

 the genus in the Argentine Republic, and has an extensive range in 

 South America. In September it migrates south, and a pair or a few 

 individuals reappear faithfully every spring in every orchard or planta- 

 tion on the pampas. At intervals its voice is heard amidst the green 

 trees deep, hoarse, and somewhat human-like in sound, the song or 

 call being composed of a series of notes, like the syllables cou-cou-cou, 

 beginning loud and full and becoming more rapid until at the end they 

 run together. It is a shy bird, conceals itself from prying eyes in the 

 thickest foliage, moves with ease and grace amongst the closest twigs, 

 and feeds principally on large winged insects, for which it searches 

 amongst the weeds and bushes near the ground. 



The nest is the flimsiest structure imaginable, being composed of a 

 few dry twigs, evidently broken by the bird from the trees and not 

 picked up from the ground. They are laid across each other to make a 

 platform nest, but so small and flat is it tbat the eggs frequently fall 

 out from it. That a bird should make no better preparation than this 

 for the great business of propagation seems very wonderful. The 

 eggs are three or four in number, elliptical in form, and of a dull sea- 

 green colour. 



273. COCCYZUS CINEREUS, Vieill. 



(CINEREOUS CUCKOO.) 



[PLATE XIII.] 



Coccyzus cinereus, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 108 ; Hudson, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 88 

 (Buenos Ayres) ; White, P. Z. S. 1882, p. 620 (Buenos Ayres) ; Barrows, Auk, 

 1884, p. 28 (Entrerios) : Withington, Ibis, 1888, p. 468 (Lomas de Zamora). 



Description. Above cinereous, wings blackish ; tail above blackish, beneath 



