210 CUCULHLE. 



The beak is as long as the head ; both mandibles slightly 

 curved, the upper one brownish black inclining to yellow at 

 the base ; the under mandible yellow, except at the extreme 

 point, which is nearly black ; the irides hazel ; the top of the 

 head, back of the neck, the back, the wing-coverts, quill- 

 feathers, and the two central tail-feathers, yellowish brown; 

 the inner webs of the primary quill-feathers chestnut ; the 

 tail-feather on each side of the central pair black; the 

 others black, broadly tipped with white ; the outer feather 

 white on the external web ; the tail graduated ; chin, 

 throat, neck in front, breast, belly, and under tail-co- 

 verts, greyish white ; the flanks and thighs pale brown ; 

 legs, toes, and claws, greyish lead colour. 



The whole length of the bird about twelve inches. 

 From the carpal joint to the end of the wing, five inches 

 and five-eighths ; the first quill-feather more than an inch 

 shorter than the second ; the second shorter than the third 

 or fourth, but equal to the fifth ; the third feather longer 

 than the fourth, and the longest in the wing. 



The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is an elegantly formed bird. 

 The figure and description here given were taken from 

 the specimen killed in Wales. 



The female differs very little from the male in colour. 



