206 BIRDS 



not yet seen a specimen, or received very satisfac- 

 tory evidence of this bird's presence. 



Then there come the cuckoos, among which we 

 have the European {Cuculus canorus), the Didric, 

 Red-chested, Black and Grey, the loud-voiced 

 Burchell's {Centropus burchelU), and the variety 

 known as Klaas' Cuckoo. Without these birds, 

 especially the Centropus, Africa would lose an 

 immensely cheering influence. In my recollection 

 of journeys in the interior, the memory of the call 

 of the last-named connects itself irresistibly with a 

 sweltering afternoon sun, the sweet, dry smeU of 

 heated grasses, and a heat radiation which lent a 

 trying, tremulous movement to aU distant sur- 

 rounding objects. Then from some neighbouring 

 clump of bush would come pealing forth the sweet, 

 beU-like call of the Centropus Cuckoo, descending 

 the scale for seven or eight notes a semi-tone at a 

 time, to be answered probably by some distant 

 acquaintance in complete accord with the senti- 

 ments he expressed, and couched in precisely 

 similar terms. They are handsome birds with their 

 dusky heads, yeUowish white breasts, and pale 

 cinnamon wing feathers. I understand that their 

 bullying, domineering habits render them ex- 

 tremely unpleasant neighbours to the smaller 

 members of the bird creation. 



Smith's Grey Lourie and the purple - crested 

 variety are the principal members of the Musco- 

 phagidae. Livingstone's Lourie is alleged to exist, 

 but I do not think conclusive proof of its presence 

 north of Southern Rhodesia is forthcoming. These 

 birds, though possessed of attractive plumage, and, 



