272 cuckow. 



the bill to the eye, on each side, a slender black line ; irides orange ; 

 back, rump, scapulars, upper wing and tail coverts, bright grey ; 

 greater quills blackish ; the lesser dull green, with a fine green 

 and copper gloss ; tail even, composed of twelve feathers, above 

 copper and green gold, beneath black ; legs yellowish red. 



Cuculus Madagascariensis major, Bris. iv. 162. t. 15. f. 1. 7rf.8vo.ii. 86. female. 

 Femelle du grand Coucou de Madag. PL enl. 588. Buf. vi. 396. Gen. Syn. ii. 532. 

 30. A. 



This is bigger than the male. Length seventeen inches and a 

 half; bill two inches and three-quarters long, brown ; irides orange ; 

 head, throat, and neck behind, transversely striped brown and 

 rufous ; back and rump brown ; upper tail coverts, fore part of the 

 neck, breast, belly, sides, and under tail coverts, pale rufous, with 

 a blackish spot near the end of each feather ; thighs and under wing 

 coverts plain ; lesser wing coverts brown, tipped with rufous ; quills 

 as in the male, but duller ; tail fine brown, somewhat rufous at the 

 tip ; legs reddish brown. 



This species inhabits Madagascar, where the male is called Vou- 

 roug-driou, and the female Cromb ; they differ so much as to be 

 taken by the natives for distinct species. The Vouroug-driou in 

 manners approaches to the Jay and Roller, but in feet to the Cuckow; 

 and these being long and strong, more so than in the true Cuckow, it 

 comes nearer to the Coucal, Coua, and Touraco. 



M. Levaillant would have this kind called Courol, by way of 

 distinction, a convenient one, in case others could be found of similar 

 make, to join it as a new Genus. * In the General Zoology it is 

 ranked with the Barbets, but it wants one leading character, as it is 

 destitute of hairs at the base of the bill. 



* M. Temminek has formed a Genus out of this single Species. 



