COUCAL. 



239 



GENUS XXIII —COUCAL. 



1 Giant Coucal 



A Var. 



12 Lark-heeled 



2 Pheasant 



7 Chestnut 



13 Lathamian 



3 Kindred 



8 Dusky 



14 Rufous 



4 Bubut 



9 Long-heeled 



15 Variegated 



5 Lepid 



10 Strait-heeled 



16 New-Holland 



6 Egyptian 



11 Antiguan 



17 Negro 



A HE beak in this Genus is strong, and slightly curved. 



Nostrils strait, elongated. 



Feet with two toes placed forwards, the exterior the longest ; and 

 two behind, the interior furnished with a very long claw. 



In the greater part of the species the feathers of the head and 

 neck are narrow, and remarkably stiff in their texture. — M. Levaillant 

 has discriminated this Genus, having characters differing from the 

 true Cuckows, in which I readily agree with him. In this we are 

 joined by Mr. Stephens, in his General Zoology. There are, how- 

 ever, several species which do not entirely correspond with this Genus, 

 or that of the Cuckoo, about which each describer will have his 

 sentiments. 



1— GIANT COUCAL. 



Polophilus Gigas, Gigantic Coucal, Gen. Zool. ix. p. 45. 

 Centropus Gigas, Tern. Man. Ed. ii. Anal. p. lxxiv. 

 Le Coucou Geant, Levail. Afr. v. p. 86. pi. 223. 



THIS is probably the largest species known, being thirty inches 

 in length. The bill brown, thick at the base, and curved towards 

 the point ; top of the head, neck behind, back, and wing coverts 

 rufous brown, tinged with olive ; and a trace of rufous white down 

 the middle of each feather; on each side marked with dusky black 



