298 



THE YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. 



third longest, the primaries tapering. Tail long, graduated, of ten feathers, 

 which are rather narrow and rounded. 



Upper mandible brownish-black, yellow on the margin towards the base; 

 under mandible yellow. Iris hazel. Feet greyish-blue. The general colour 

 of the upper parts, including the wing-coverts and two middle tail-feathers, 

 is light greenish-brown, deeper anteriorly. Primary quills with the inner 

 webs brownish-orange. Tail-feathers, excepting the two middle ones, black, 

 the next two entirely black, the rest broadly tipped with white, the outer- 

 most white on the outer web. The under parts are greyish-white. 



Length 12^ inches, extent of 



wings 16; bill along the ridge 1, 

 along the gap 1^. 



Adult Female. 



The female differs very little 

 from the male in colouring. 



In a female of this species pre- 

 served in spirits, the length to the 

 end of the tail is llf inches; to 

 end of wings 9, to end of claws 8|; 

 extent of wings 15|; wing from 

 flexure 5 T 8 2-; tail 5-?%. 



The roof of the mouth is flat, 

 and covered with a transparent 

 skin, as in Goatsuckers and Owls; 

 the upper mandible very narrow 

 towards the end, and slightly 

 concave, with three longitudinal 

 ridges; the posterior aperture of 

 the nares oblong behind, linear 

 before, only 4 twelfths long; the 

 width of the mouth 7 twelfths; the 

 lower mandible channelled. The; 

 tongue is very slender, 10 1 - twelfth;; 

 long, emarginate at the base, with 

 long slender papillae, its breadth at 

 the middle only 1^ twelfths, horny 

 in the greater part of its length, 

 with the edges lacerated, the tip 

 rather acute and slight. (Eso- 

 phagus, a b c, 3 inches 7 twelfths 



