BES 
POLOPHILUS. 
Cucutus, Latham. 
CHARACTER GENERICUS. 
Rostrum robustum, subincurvatum. 
Nares recte, elongate. 
Pedes simplices ; digztis duobus anticis, exteriore lon- 
giore: digitis duobus posticis, interno* breviore 
ungue longissimo instructo. 
COUCAL. 
GENERIC CHARACTER. 
Beak strong, slightly incurved. 
Nostrils strait, elongate. 
Legs simple ; two toes pointing forward, the exterior of 
which is the longest ; two toes turning backwards, the in- 
terior toe fnrnished with a very long claw. 
Le Vaillant was very well acquainted with the characters 
distinguishing this genus (which he named Cowca/) from 
Cuculus. ‘The tail consists of ten feathers; the wings are 
short and rounded, and the feathers of the neck and upper 
part of the body are generally stiff, with shining edges. 
The Coucals dwell in woods, feed on insects, and con- 
struct their nests in trees. They bring up their young, 
from whence the name Polophilus-} is derived, 
* Digito postico vero. 
t A waros pullus, et Oirew amo. 
