THE ZOOLOGIST 



No. 225.— September, 1895, 



ON THE "HEPATIC" PLUMAGE OF THE CUCKOO. 



By Frederick Coburn. 



On May 4th and 17th, 1895, I received two specimens of 

 Cuculus canorus in the "hepatic," or liver-coloured, phase of 

 plumage. 



The first was shot by Mr. F. C. Clare in his garden, and the 

 bird was so curious in appearance that Mr. Clare did not know 

 that he was shooting a Cuckoo. 



The second specimen Mr. Clare found on May 17th on his 

 garden-path, and, to use his own words, " it appeared dazed, and 

 allowed itself to be picked up." A post-mortem disclosed a bruise 

 on the skull, which might have been caused either by a stone 

 thrown at the bird, or by its having accidentally come in contact 

 with a post or bough of a tree while endeavouring to elude the 

 pursuit of the male. This would account for its dazed and help- 

 less condition. 



On dissection both birds proved to be females, with well- 

 developed ovaries. These birds are in that most interesting 

 state of plumage, the change between the " hepatic " and the 

 adult, and a careful examination of them, also of males and 

 females in the nestling plumage (August 6th, 1895), will enable 

 me, I think, to clear up the mystery which Mr. Harting, in his 

 excellent article (p. 257), seems to think surrounds this hepatic 

 stage of plumage. 



Selby was quite right in remarking that " the young females 

 have more of the reddish brown disposed over their plumage," &c; 

 for all young males I have dissected are much darker in colour 



ZOOLOGIST, THIBD SERIES, VOL. XIX. — SEPT. 1895. 2 G 



