44 



RUFOUS COUCAL. 

 (Polophilus rufus.) 



Po. corporc nifo; ungue postico interna elongato, recto. 



Coucal with the body reddish; and the interior hinder claw 



long and strait. 

 Le Coucal rufin. Le Vail. Ois. d'Afriq. 5. 82.pl. 121. 



This very rare species of Coucal was discovered 

 by Le Vaillant, and is described by him in his 

 work on the birds of Africa. 



The general colour of the plumage is rufous, 

 all the feathers of the superior parts of the body 

 having a dash or streak of light red or white : the 

 wings are reddish, w T ith the last feathers barred 

 with fuscous, as are those of the upper part of the 

 tail, excepting that the colour is more dark on 

 the outer feathers : tail reddish : the two inter- 

 mediate feathers with transverse lines of brown : 

 the outer margins of the other quill-feathers line- 

 ated with the same colour : the beak and feet 

 brownish yellow : eyes light red. 



The length of the male is about eleven inches ; 

 that of the female much less. 



The recent bird smells strongly of putrid wood, 

 from whence it is supposed to nidificate in dead 

 trees. Inhabits Africa. 



