184 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Other species or varieties. 



woods, but their nests have never yet been found, 

 from which one should be induced to think, that 

 they were indebted to other birds for the rearing 

 their young, in the manner of the common cuc- 

 koo. In another species or variety, common in 

 Jamaica, the feathers on the throat appear like 

 a downy beard, whence, probably arose the name 

 of old man rain-bird, given there, and by Ray, 

 .Sloane, &c. 



THE SHINING CUCKOO 



IS the size of a small thrush ; the bill is bluish; 

 the upper part of the body green, with a rich 

 gilded gloss; the under parts are white, trans- 

 versely waved with green and gold ; the under 

 tail-coverts almost white ; the quills and tail dusky 

 brown ; the legs are bluish. This inhabits part of 

 New Zealand, where it is called poops-arowro. 



Thirty-nine other species are enumerated in 

 various parts of the world, the most particular of 

 which is the Cayenne cuckoo, which is the size 

 of the blackbird, and in that country goes by the 

 name of the devil. The natives consider it as a 

 bird of ill omen : and will not touch its flesh, which 

 is certainly very bad and lean ; it is remarkably 

 tame, and will suffer itself almost to be touched^ 

 without offering to escape. 



