COCCYZUS PUMILUS. 



39 



cinereous 



lateral rectrices tipped with white : beneath, throat and breast pale 

 cinereous, passing into white in the middle of the belly ; under wing-coverts, 

 flanks, and crissum ochraceous ; bill black : whole length 9-0 inches, wing 4-5, tail 

 4*5. Female similar. 



Hab. Paraguay and Argentine Republic. 



The Cinereous Cuckoo is smaller than the preceding species, and 

 also differs in having a square tail and a more curved beak. The beak is 

 black, and the irides blood-red, which contrasts well with the blue-grey 

 of the head, giving the bird a bold and striking appearance. 



This species is not common, but it is, I believe, slowly extending its 

 range southwards, as within the last few years it has become much 

 more common than formerly. Like other Cuckoos, it is retiring in its 

 habits, concealing itself in the dense foliage, and it cannot be attracted 

 by an imitation of its call, an expedient which never fails with the 

 Coucou. Its language has not that deep mysterious, or monkish quality, 

 as it has been aptly called, of other Coccyzi. Its usual song or call, 

 which it repeats at short intervals all day long during the love-season, 

 resembles the song of our little dove (Columbula picui), and is composed 

 of several long monotonous notes, loud, rather musical, but not at all 

 plaintive. It also has a loud harsh cry, which one finds it hard to 

 believe to be the voice of a Cuckoo, as in character it is more like the 

 scream of a Dendrocolaptine species. 



The figure (Plate XIII.) is taken from a specimen of this species 

 obtained by Mr. Frank Withington in the Lomas de Zamora, and now 

 in Sclater's collection. 



274. COCCYZUS PUMILUS, Strickl. 



(DWARF CUCKOO.) 

 Coccyzus pumilus, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 108 ; Barrows, Auk, 1884, p. 28 



(Entrerios). 



Description. Above brownish cinereous, head grey ; tail like the back, but 

 tail-end black with narrow white tips : beneath, throat and breast chestnut-red ; 

 abdomen white ; under wing-coverts and crissum ochraceous : whole length 9'0 

 inches, wing 4-0, tail 4'2. Female similar. 



Hab. South America. 



Of this little Cuckoo, the smallest of the genus Coccyzus, specimens 

 were obtained by Mr. Barrows at Concepcion in Entrerios, in the month 

 of December. The species was only previously known to occur in 

 Venezuela and Colombia. 



