USE OF THE TABLES. 25 



back-toe, and that the fore-toes are united "by a membrane; 

 he rightly, therefore, concludes that it belongs to the order 

 Palmipedes, or Web-footed ; and he is directed for further 

 particulars to Table XX' VI. Thus he perceives, that as his 

 specimen has only three front-toes, that its beak is not toothed, 

 or serrated like a file or saw, and that its wings are very short, 

 it must be of the tribe Brevipennes, and he is referred to Table 

 XXX. Then, as the wings are feathered, and it has no back- 

 toe, it must be of the genus Alca ; and he will have little 

 difficulty, on referring to its colours, size, and a few other 

 particulars, to ascertain its species. 



In the above references, the birds for consideration were a 

 Sparrow-hawk and Puffin, species more or less known to most 

 of our readers. One more, however, shall be added, entirely 

 foreign. Its colour a brilliant green, beautifully mottled and 

 variegated on the upper part, the lower of the breast and leg- 

 feathers being of a delicate lemon-colour; the size, rather 

 smaller than a Thrush. On looking to Table I., the hind-toes 

 are found to be two, and two before ; it is therefore of the 

 order Scansores, or Climbers, and reference is made, to Table 

 XIV., when, as its beak is not very large at the base, and not 

 toothed, it must be of the Cuneirostral tribe, Table XV. On 

 examining its beak, and finding it rather curved, with mandible 

 rounded, and nostrils projecting, there can be no hesitation in 

 pronouncing it to be a Cuculus, or Cuckoo. And so it is : 

 the Golden Cuckoo, one of the most splendid ornaments of 

 the South African forests, and not uncommon at the Cape of 

 Good Hope; and in such a gorgeous garb, little likely to be 

 taken by an ignorant observer for a bird belonging to the 

 family of the grey and sober livery-clad class of Cuckoos, 

 peculiar to our northern latitudes. 



