CUCULUS. nigricans. 
African Black Cuckow. 
— nr 
Family Cuculide. 
GENERIC CHARACTER.—See Lesson. Man. 2. 119. 
Specific CHARACTER. 
Black glossed with blue; quills internally white, with blackish 
bands ; tips of the lateral tail feathers whitish ; bill and legs 
black. 
rene ae 
Tue genus Cuculus, even as now restricted, contains a 
number of species, dispersed over the continents and islands 
of the Old World. In America they are not known: but 
the genus Coccyzus, which there represents the group, is 
one of those few which are common to both hemispheres. 
The specific distinctions of birds having a uniform black 
plumage, is at all times difficult; and more so, when we 
attempt to identify them with the descriptions of authors. 
Of the black Cuckows of Africa, our bird comes nearest to 
the Coucou criard of Levaillant, (Ois. d’ Af. pl. 204-5,) but 
differs in having the bill and feet black instead of yellow: 
it cannot be the Cuculus Indicus niger of Brisson, as that 
has the quills, internally, “tout 4 fait noir:” neither is it 
the black Indian Cuckow of Edwards, pl. 58, (Cuculus 
niger Lin.,) whose bill and feet are red. We were inclined 
to think that the second species of Buffon’s Coukeels might 
be our bird, notwithstanding the difference of their locality ; 
but Commerson’s original description decides the question ; 
his words are “‘ Cuculus cristatus mindanensis coeruleo 
nigricans totus,” (Buff. ed. Son. 54. p.54.) Our bird has 
no crest. We have here consulted only original writers ; 
for subsequent transcribers have so blended these birds 
under one name, that it is scarcely possible to disentangle 
their synonyms. M. Vieillot has increased the confusion, 
by transposing the specific names of Linneus: the true 
C. niger, L. being his Orientalis (Kn. Meth. Orn. 1331). 
Our bird was sent to us for examination by Mr. Ward. 
It is a genuine Cuckow: the nostrils being round, the third 
quill longest, and the second shorter than the fourth. It 
came from Western Africa. 
Total length, 124; bill, 1; wings, 63; tail, 64. 
