304 Mr. ViGOKs's a7id Dr. Horsfield's Description of the 



feathers. The group which we have just characterized deviates 

 from these characters, which may be considered typical in the 

 family, by the greater strength of all these members. The bill 

 is powerful, the under mandible more particularly, which is 

 marked by a strong ascending gomjs. The nostrils are wide and 

 oval, and covered only on the upper part by a membrane. The 

 tnrsi and feet are particularly strong: the former are much 

 compressed on the external side, exhibiting by this conforma- 

 tion a nearly flattened surface in front. The wings also are 

 much rounded, and comparatively shorter than in the typical 

 Cuckoos. In many of these particulars the group agrees very 

 nearly with the neighbouring genera Centropus, 111., and Fhœni- 

 cophaiis, Vieill., which have equally been separated from the 

 typical species of the family. But it may at once be distin- 

 guished from Centropus by the absence of the lengthened nail 

 to the /lallux ; and it will be seen equally to differ from Fhœnico- 

 pliaus in its stronger, shorter and less arcuated bill ; in the 

 winos being longer, and the tail rounded, not graduated. The 

 compressed formation of the sides of the tarsi in our group is 

 also wanting in Phmiicophaus. The species of this genus seem 

 very widely distributed over the East. The Cuculus punctatus, 

 Linn., the Coucou tacheté des Indes Orientales (PL Enl. 771.), 

 appears to be referable to this group. 



1. Orientalis. Eud. metaïlicè niger, rostro flavescente. 



Cuculus orientalis. Linn. i. l68. no. 2. 



Coucou des Indes Orientales. P/. Enl. 274. /. 1. 



Eastern black Cuckoo. Lath. Gen. Hist. iii. p. 282. no. 26. 



Fcem. sup)rà nitidè virescenti-fusca albo-tnaculata, rectricibus albo- 



fasciatis ; subtus albida, virescenti-fusco transversim undu- 



lata. 



Cuculus Mindanensis. Linn. i. 169- no. 3. 



Coucou 



