CUCKOOS.— TOUCANS, 73F 



19. The European Wryneck, — Yunx torquilla, — is of the size 

 of a lark ; it is brown above, streaked in little blackish waves, 

 and longitudinal meshes of fawn colour and black; beneath it is 

 whitish with transverse blackish stripes. This bird, which is 

 solitary in its habits, loves the mountain woods, and makes its 

 appearance in France, in May, and departs again in September ; 

 without making a nest, it lays in holes in trees soon after its 

 arrival. The Wryneck derives its name from a habit, which is 

 peculiar to it, of twisting and turning the neck to one side, and 

 behind, while the head is turned towards the back and the eyes 

 half closed. 



20. The Cuckoos, — Cuculus, — have a moderate beak, well cleft, 

 and slightly arcuate ; the tarsi are short, and the tail long, com- 

 posed of ten quills. (Plate 4, Jig. 6.) They are birds of passage, 

 and live on insects. The female makes no nest, and takes no 

 care of her young ; she deposites her eggs in the nests of other 

 birds, most frequently in that of the Fauvette. The strange 

 nurse, to whom the Cuckoo confides her eggs, becomes not only 

 the best of mothers for the young progeny that does not belong 

 to her, but to take care of them she neglects her own eggs, and 

 only hatches a part of them. It is remarked that the young 

 Cuckoos raise up the young ones of the Fauvette, and push them 

 out of the nest, that they may not share the attentions of their 

 common nurse. These birds remain in the nest more than three 

 weeks after their birth, and for five weeks longer their adopted 

 mother supplies them with food. The American species, on the 

 contrary, are faithfully paired, and take care of their young. 

 The Yellow-billed Cuckoo, or Rain Crow, — Cuculus americanus, 

 — is dark grayish-brown, with bronzy reflections, and white 

 beneath. 



21. The To\icA-^s,~ Ramphastos, — (Plate i, fig. 10.) are easily 

 recognised by their enormous beak, which is almost as large and 

 as long as the body ; internally it is light and cellular, arcuate 

 towards the end, and irregularly dentate on the edge; their 

 nostrils, which are surrounded "by a membrane, are concealed 

 behind the horny mass that sheathes the front. Their tongue is 

 long, narrow, and furnished on each side with barbs, like a 

 feather. These singular animals inhabit only the hottest parts of 

 America ; they live in troops, and feed on fruits and insects. 



19. What are the characters of the European Wryneck ? What are its 

 habits ? From what circumstance docs it derive its name ? 



20. What are the characters of Cuckoos ? What are the habits of the 

 female ? How does the American differ from the European species? 



21. How are Toucans characterised ? What are their habits ? 



