114 cassell's book of birds. 



grey, each feather tipped with blackish brown ; the hinder parts are indistinctly striped with greyish 

 brown ; the tail-feathers deep grey, the four outermost tipped with white, and decorated with a broad, 

 black stripe, besides other more delicate lines. The eye is brown, the bare patch by which it is 

 surrounded light scarlet, the beak yellowish grey, and the foot olive-brown. The female is somewhat 

 smaller than her mate. The latter e.xceeds two feet in length ; the wing measures thirteen, and the 

 tail ten inches. 



The Channel-bill, according to Gould, is a migratory bird in New South Wales, arriving in 

 October and departing again in January ; whither it proceeds is not known. 



" This bird," says Latham, " is generally seen in the morning and evening, sometimes in small 

 parties of seven or eight, but more often in pairs. Both on the wing and when perched, it makes a loud, 

 screaming noise when a Hawk or other bird of prey is in sight. In the crop and gizzard the seeds 

 of the led gum and peppermint trees have been found; it is supposed that these are swallowed whole, 

 as the pericarp, or capsule, has been also found in the stomach ; exuviae of beetles have also been 

 seen, but not in any quantity. The tail, which is of nearly the length of the body, is occasionally 

 displayed like a fan, and gives the bird a majestic air. The tiatives seem to know but little of its 

 habits and haunts ; they consider its appearance as an indication of blowing weather, and that its 

 frightful scream is produced by fear. It is not very easily tamed, for Mr. White informs us that he 

 kept one alive for two days, during which time it would eat nothing, but bit at every one who 

 approached it very severely. The habits of this sfiecies are probably parasitic, for a young bird 

 given me by Lady Bowling was one of two taken from a branch while being fed by birds not of its 

 own species. The eggs I have seen were of a light stone-colour, marked all over, particularly at the 

 broad end, with irregular patches Of reddish brown j many of these were of a darker hue, and appeared 

 as if beneath the surface of the shell." 



A young Scythrops introduced into Dr. Bennett's aviary was, he tells us, " placed in a compart- 

 ment already occupied by a Dacdo gigantca, or Laughing Kingfisher. Doubtless feeling hungry after 

 its journejf, it immediately opened its mouth to be fed, when its wants were regularly attended to 

 by the Dacelo, which, with great kindness, took a piece of meat, and, after sufficiently preparing it by 

 beating it about till it was in a tender state, placed it carefully in the gaping mouth of the young 

 Scythrops. This feeding process was continued until the bird was capable of attending to its own 

 wants. In the morning it used to perch on the most elevated resting-place in the aviary, occasionally 

 raising itself, flapping its wings, and then quietly settle down again; after the manner of Hawks when 

 in confinement, and presenting much the appearance of that tribe of birds." 



THE BUSH CUCKOOS (PhKnicophai) possess a slender body, long tail, and small tarsi ; 

 the wings are short, the beak of moderate size and very powerful ; the region of the eye is bare, and 

 the magnificently tinted plumage of a hairy texture. These birds occupy India and the neighbouring 

 islands, one species alone being met with in Africa. We are, unfortunately, btit little acquainted with 

 their habits, and as yet have only ascertained that they frequent the inmost recesses of the forests, 

 and subsist upon insects. 



THE KOKIL, OR LARGE, GREEN-BILLED MALKOHA. 

 The KoKiL, or Large, Green-Billed Malkoha {Zanclosiomzis tristis), an Indian species, is 

 recognisable by its compressed and curved beak, moderate-sized feet, short toes armed with sharp 

 claws, small, rounded wings, and a long graduated tail ; the mande is deep greyish green, the head and 

 nape of a pure grey; the quills and tail are shaded wth green, the feathers of the latter tipped with 

 white ; the throat and upper breast are pale grey, the lower breast and an outer circle around the eye 



