162 CHARACTERS OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS 



and Persia. The other two are the Great Spotted Woodpecker 

 (Dendrocopus major) and the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (D. 

 minor). 



2. Toucans are South American birds, distinguished by ex- 

 ceedingly gay plumage and an enormous flattened bill, which 

 also is brightly coloured. Their feet are zygodactyle. 



3. Cuckoos are long -tailed birds, with feet like those of 

 woodpeckers, the fourth and first toes being turned backwards. 



Fig. no. Cuckoo 'Cncnlus canorus] 



They range over most of the globe, but their head-quarters are 

 in tropical regions. Most of the Old World species lay their 

 eggs in the nests of other birds, but the New World species 

 build nests of their own. 



The Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus] (fig. no), which is 

 a British resident from April to August (though the young birds 

 may stay later), somewhat resembles a hawk in appearance, and 

 is often taken for such not only by human beings but also by 

 small birds. The familiar cry is uttered by the male only, the 

 note of the female being quite different. It may be interesting to 

 remark that the " cuckoo " call is only possessed by this species 

 and by a South African form (Cuculus gularis). The common 

 cuckoo ranges over most of Europe, Africa, and Asia. 



