CUCULIDZ. 139 
appears to come between these and Coccyzus ; while the 
> latter are closely connected with the true cuckows by the 
two North American species forming our subgenus 
Erythrophrys.* The ground cuckows (Centropus) do 
not materially differ from the above, except by the re- 
markable length of their hind claw, which is similar to 
that ofalark. The nearest approach we yet know of to 
the creepers, is made by the African honeyguides, whose 
bill is not unlike Orthonyx ; and these birds are said to 
climb in a more perpendicular manner than any others 
of this family: the affinity, indeed, of Indicator to Bu- 
phaga has already been pointed out T, and it seems to us 
too strong to be questioned ; an inspection of their bills 
alone (fig. 157.) will sufficiently indicate their affinity. 
(157.) The union of the scansorial tribe with the 
rasorial order of birds may now claim our attention ; 
because, as the Cuculide are the most aberrant family 
of the first, it consequently follows, that among the most 
aberrant forms of this family we must look for the 
nearest approach to the rasorial structure. Rasorial 
birds have many peculiar characters: their size is gene- 
rally very large ; their bill compressed ; their feet strong ; 
and their wings short, convex, and rounded. Now, there 
are two or three very large cuckows, possessing all these 
characters ; yet, from having the toes arranged in pairs, 
would seem to enter within the confines of this family, 
although at its utmost limits. The Coccyzus Geoffroyi 
of Temminck (Pi. Col. 7.), as well as the C. Delalandi 
of the same work (PI. Col. f. 440.), are clearly of this 
description, and nothing would induce us to place them 
among the cuckows but the particular disposition of 
their toes. Not, however, having the immediate oppor- 
tunity of examining these two rare birds, (the only spe- 
_ cimens which we have seen are in Paris,) we shall bring 
forward another discovered in Mexico by Mr. Bullock, 
and which is now, or lately was, in the possession of 
the Zoological Society.{ This bird, which we consider 
* Magazine of Botany and Zool. i. ¢ Vol. I. p. 144. 
t The reason I have heard against throwing open the museum of the 
Zoological Society to the free use of naturalists, is, that rules and regu- 
