cucuLiN^. 339 



nest of the F;in-tailed Flycatcher {RJilpidurd). The egg is clear 

 olive-brown, somewhat paler at the smaller end. 



Three more sj)eGies are recorded from Malay ana; one of which 

 (found also in S. Burmah) is of a beautiful amethystine colour 

 above, C. xanthorliynchos, Horsf. The other two are C. MoAayanus 

 and C. hasalis. 



The next birds belong to a peculiar section, with tlie plumage 

 mostly black or very dark, and it consists of two distinct genera, 

 one with the bill of Cuculas, but the head crested ; the other v/ith a 

 much stronger and deeper bill, and with the sexes permanently 

 diftering in colour. 



Gen. CoccYSTES, Goger. 



Syn. OxT/lophuf}, Swains : Edolius, Less. 



.Char. — Head crested; bill slender and Caculine, but more com- 

 pressed, slightly curving at first, suddenly bent down at the tip^ 

 which is entire ; nosti'ils bssal, lengthened and ovate, close to edge 

 of mandible ; wings moderate, slightly rounded ; 3rd and 4th quills 

 sub-equal, or 4th quill longest ; tail long, graduated ; tarsus 

 longer than in Cucuhis, not feathered ; feathers of the rump soft. 



The Cuckoos of this genus are found in Africa and India. They 

 are somewhat allied to the American Cuckoos by having a series of 

 small rudimentary plumelets as eyelashes, and by their wholly 

 unbarred plumage. They have an erectile pointed crest, and lay 

 o-reenish-l)lue e<'ifs, of laro-er relative dimensions than those of Cucu- 

 /us. The Indian species are parasitic and exclusively insectivorous. 

 One extends to the south of Europe, C. cjlandarius, and has been 

 killed in Ireland; and it is said, but I have no doubt erroneously, 

 to build its own nest. This has a longer wing than the Indian birds, 

 and belongs to a different section, having a much more Cuculine 

 aspect. . 



212. Ccccystes melanoleucos, Gmel. 



Cuculus, apud Gmelin — Blyth, Cat. 362— Horsf., Cat. 1014 — 

 Leptosomus apud Franklin — and Sykes, Cat. 120 — Oxylopiuis 

 eilolius, Swainson; and Jekdon, Cat. 220 — O. ater, and scrra- 

 tuide.-^, IIoDGSO.N — O. serratus, sipud GuAY—ropiiju, Hind, also 



