INSESSORES. 



247 



with the body almost perpendicular, its subcrest frequently raised after 

 the manner of some of the hawks and tyrant flycatchers." 



2. Genus COCCYZUS, Vieillot, Analyse, p. 28 (1816), 

 1. CoccTZUS MINOR [Gmelin). 



Cuculus minor, GrM. Syst. Nat. I, p. 411 (1788). 

 Ciicuhis sciiiculus, Lath. Ind. Ora. I, p. 219 (1790). 



Buff. PL Enl. 813. 



This species, of which a single specimen is in the collection of the 

 Expedition, but of which we have seen many others, is quite distinct 

 from the bird regarded as G. seniculus, and figured by Audubon in 

 Birds of America, Plate CLXIX (octavo edition, IV, Pl.'cCLXXVII). 



Latham's name senicuhis, is, however, a synomye for the bird now 

 before us, having been avowedly applied to it after it had been named 

 by Gmelin, as above cited. The description by Latham, in Synopsis 

 of Birds, I, p. 537 (Mangrove Cuckow),is compiled from Buflfon, Hist. 

 Nat. Ois. VI, p. 401, and from PI. Enl. VI, p. 464, PI. DCCCXIII. 

 Gmelin's description is copied from Latham. It will be found that 

 the original description is by Buffon, whose plate is cited by both of 

 the authors mentioned, and is sufficiently accurate to serve for the 

 identification of the species. It is of no consequence what errors may 

 have been made by naturalists in referring other species to the descrip- 

 tions of Gmelin and Latham, or in applying the names proposed by 

 them to other birds than that figured and described by Buflfon, as 

 above; it is and must be regarded to the end of time as Cuculus minor, 

 Gmelin, and Cuculus seniculus, Latham. 



The bird figured by Audubon, as above cited, and regarded as C, 

 eeniculus, is probably Cuculus ridibundus, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 414, a 

 point which it is not within our province to determine at present, but 

 which we shall examine in a future work. 



According to Mr. Peale, the specimen of this bird in the collection 

 of the Expedition, was shot near Callao, Peru, and is a female. " Irides 

 brown ; eyelids margined with yellow ; bill black ; total length, ten 

 and a half inches ; extent of wings, thirteen and a half inches." 



