396 INSESSORES. CUCULUS. 



phaus (ViEiLL.), belonging to the warmer regions of the 

 ancient continent, with the bill very large and arched, form- 

 ing the medium by which this family becomes immediately 

 connected with the Ramphastidee^ the family with which the 

 circle of the tribe commences ; Leptosomus (Vieill.) repre- 

 sented by Cucidus afer (Auct.). The genus Crotophaga 

 (Linn.), also appears to stand upon the confines of the Cu- 

 culidse, and to connect them with the Musophagida, a fami- 

 ly, according to Mr Swatnson, belonging to the Conirostral 

 tribe, but included in the present one by Mr Vigors " On 

 the Arrano-ement of the Genera of Birds."" 



In Britain we find but one species of the genus Cuculus^ 

 as now restricted, a periodical summer visitant, well known 

 from its peculiar cry, and as being the harbinger of spring. 



Genus CUCULUS, Linn. CUCKOO. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill rather compressed, slightly curved, of mean length. 

 Gape wide. Lower mandible following the curve of the up- 

 per. Nostrils basal, round, margined by a naked and pro- 

 minent membrane. Wings of mean length, acuminate, the 

 first quill-feather short, the third being the longest. Tail 

 more or less wedge-shaped. Feet with two toes before, and 

 two behind, the outer hind-toe partly reversible ; the anterior 

 toe joined at the base, those posterior entirely divided. Tarsi 

 very short, feathered a little below the knee. 



The members of this genus are natives of the warmer 



regions of the Old Continent. They construct no nest, but 



deposit their eggs in the nests of small birds, to whom they 



consign the care of hatching and rearing their young. They 



are fierce in disposition, and live solitary. The food of the 



genus is principally composed of the larvae of the lepidopte- 



vous order of insects. 



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