coucal. 249 



black, with narrow, transverse, somewhat interrupted, whitish bands; 

 shape cuneiform in respect to the outer feathers, but the four middle 

 are longer than the side ones, and equal in length in regard to each 

 other ; legs black ; inner hind claws long, bent. 



A specimen of this in the British Museum ; but from whence is 

 unknown. 



14— RUFOUS COUCAL. 



Le Coucal rufin, Levail. Afr. v. 82. pi. 221. 

 Polophilus Coucal, Gen. Zool. ix. p. 44. pi. 8. 



LENGTH eleven inches. The bill seven-eighths of an inch, 

 somewhat stout, yellowish brown ; irides light rufous ; general colour 

 of the plumage rufous, in different shades ; the head, neck, back, 

 and wing coverts brownish rufous ; down the shaft of each feather a 

 pale, or rufous white streak, in the manner of the Quail ; the colour 

 of the wings more bright, and barred on the sides with dusky brown ; 

 under parts of the body paler ; tail pale rufous, half the length of 

 the bird, rounded ; the two middle feathers crossed with brownish 

 lines, and the rest of the feathers the same on the outer webs ; legs 

 yellowish brown ; inner hind claw strait, one inch long ; the wings 

 rounded, and reach just beyond the rump. The female is a trifle 

 smaller, and has the hind claw shorter. 



Inhabits the inward parts of the Cape of Good Hope. M. 

 Levaillant found it on the borders of the Great Fish River, and not 

 elsewhere ; is not observed to have any note ; though Mr. L. could not 

 find the nest, has not a doubt of its rearing its own young, and 

 that in the holes of trees ; and supposes this from the peculiar smell, 

 which all birds that breed in hollow trees have. He further observes, 

 that in consequence of this bird having the bill less in proportion 



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