SCANSORES. CUCULTD.E. 



species, the plumage of which is radiant with 

 emerald-green, purple, and bronzed reflections. 



GENUS CUCULUS. (LiNN.) 



Of this extensive genus the distinctive charac- 

 teristics are the following : the beak is broad and 

 rather depressed at the base, with the culmen 

 curved, and the sides compressed towards the tip, 

 which is entire and acute ; the nostrils are placed 

 on each side of the base, in a short, broad, mem- 

 branous groove, with the opening round and ex- 

 posed ; the wings comparatively long and pointed, 

 the third quill longest ; the tail long, usually 

 graduated, the outmost feather on each side much 

 shorter than the rest ; the tarsi are very short, 

 feathered below the heel, the exposed part covered 

 with broad scales. 



The species are confined to the eastern hemi- 

 sphere, over the warmer parts of which they are 

 extensively and numerously distributed : two only 

 occur in Europe, the one as a constant, the othef 

 as an occasional summer migrant from the sunny 

 regions of Africa : most of the species, indeed, 

 are more or less migratory. Their habits are re- 

 cluse and solitary, frequenting woods, or at least 

 places where thick trees abound; and they are 

 wary and jealous of the approach of man. They 

 do not fly with much apparent power, but con- 

 tent themselves, in common, with gliding on steady 

 wing from one tree to another. At the season of 

 migration, of course, they must be able to sus- 

 tain a flight protracted for many leagues. The 

 food of these birds consists largely of caterpillars, 

 especially the thick hairy larvae of the greater 



