312 ZOOLOGY. 



I never heard or saw it above that elevation. It is 

 insectivorous to a considerable extent. 



Its note is quite different from that of the typical 

 Barbets, being a rapid repetition of two notes, and so 

 similar to that of the common grey Francolin of India, 

 F. (Ortygiornis) pondicerianus, that for a long time I 

 supposed it to be the call of a Partridge. In June, July, 

 and August it was constantly heard. This Barbet keeps 

 much to thick low bushes. 



Family CUCULID^E. 



40. Cuculus canorus, L. 



I heard a Cuckoo on the 1 7th May at Agula, about 

 half-way between Adigrat and Antalo. This, however, 

 scarcely proves that the bird breeds in Abyssiuia, for I 

 have heard the woods resounding with the well-known 

 note in the centre of India, near Sironcha on the 

 Godavery, at the same season. In the Anseba vaUey 

 Cuckoos made their appearance at the end of July, but 

 they were not then calling. I shot one, a male and 

 apparently a young bird, on the 4th August. 



41. Oxylophus afer (Leacli). 



Cuculus afer, Leach, Zooll Misc. i. p. 72. 



0. edolio^ Levaill. var. Salt, No. 12, App. p. xlvi. 



O. ater, Kiipp. Syst. Uebers. No. 355. 



0. Levaillantii, Ferr. et Gal. No. 29. 



Iris brown, bill black, legs dusky grey. 



This bird was occasionally seen, and four specimens 

 in beautiful plumage shot, in the Upper Lebka and the 

 Anseba valleys in July. They were then evidently 



