THE FIN-FOOT— THE COUCAL. 391 



The Coucal Gigantic, ( 57 ) Australia's own; — 

 The ash-grey Cereopsis; ( 5S ) there also well known; 



sists of two species ; the bill is moderately curved and 

 elongated ; nostrils linear ; body depressed ; tail somewhat 

 cuneiform; legs short; toes four, three before, one behind, 

 and furnished with an indented or scolloped membrane. They 

 areas follow: The Africanus, or African Fin-foot, is the 

 size of a coot; length eighteen inches ; bill formed like that of 

 a diver ; plumage above brown, with several burf coloured 

 spots, margined with black, chin and throat white, beneath 

 rufous; inhabits Africa. The Surinamensis, or American Fin- 

 foot, Surinam- Darter, Surinam-Tern, or Sun-bird, is the size of 

 a teal ; inhabits Surinam ; known there by the name of Sun-bird ; 

 from its frequently expanding the tail and wings, at the same 

 time, it has been thought to resemble that luminary. See a 

 further description of this bird under Darter, note (21), page 343. 



( 57 ) Order, Vicm, (Lath. )Cov cm, the Giant, the Pheasant. 



The genus Polophilus, or Coucal, of Dr. Latham, is allied 

 to the cuckoo tribe, and consists of seventeen species ; the beak 

 is strong and slightly curved ; nostrils straight, elongated ; toes 

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

 The G'gas, Giant, or Gigantic Coucal, is thirty inches long; 

 inhabits New Holland. The Phasianus, Pheasant-Colcal, 

 Pheasant-Cuckoo, or Pheasant, inhabits also New Holland ; it is 

 about eighteen inches long. 



( 58 ) Order, Grall^e, (Lath,) Cereopsis. 



The genus Cereopsis, (Lath.) consists of one species only, 

 the Novcb Hollundirz, or New Holla nd-Cereopsis ; it has a 

 short convex bill, bent at the tip ; head wholly covered beyond 

 the ears with a rough yellow skin or cere ; at the bent of the 



