170 



RETROSPECTIVE REMARKS. 



BY EDWARD BLYTH. 



From a comparison of the original coloured drawing of the cuckoo 

 (or rather Coccyzus) 3 mentioned at page 7 of the Field Naturalist's 

 Magazine for January, 1833, with Wilson's figures and descriptions of 

 the Coccyzus carolinensis and C. erythropthalmus , I am inclined to 

 dissent from the opinion expressed by Mr. Fennell (at page 61 of the 

 present volume), that Mr. Ball's bird will most likely prove identical 

 with one of these American species. I entirely concur with Mr. Fennell 

 in placing but little dependence on coloured representations of animals, 

 as they are but too generally executed ; but the drawing now in ques- 

 tion bears such evident marks of the most scrupulous accuracy, that I 

 hesitate not to assert, judging from it alone, that the species which it 

 represents is distinct from either the C. erythropthalmus or C. carolinen- 

 sis. In size and general proportions it approximates more to the former, 

 but differs, in being about an inch shorter, in the very dissimilar colour 

 of the bill, and in wanting the characteristic space of bare wrinkled skin, 

 of a deep red colour, which encircles the eye of the American bird. 

 From C. carolinensis it differs, in the much smaller comparative size 

 of the bill (in this resembling C. erythropthalmus), in being about two 

 inches shorter, and in the different colour of the whole under parts, 

 which in the Carolina coccyzus are pure white. Various minor diver- 

 sities might also be mentioned ; but after stating the above, I conceive 

 it hardly necessary to describe them, as the differences just related, I 

 think, are sufficient to show that this is a distinct species. Indeed, it 

 is far from being likely that so many specimens of an American bird, 

 possessing no greater powers of flight than the common cuckoo of this 

 country, should have been met with east of the Atlantic ; to me it 

 appears more probable, that, when the natural productions of the inte- 

 rior of Rarbary, at present but very partially known, shall have fallen 

 more under the observation of Europeans, this coccyzus will be found 

 to range, perhaps extensively, in that vast but almost unexamined 

 region. It is remarkable that no mention is made of this bird in the 

 late edition of Mr. Selby's work. 



Since writing the notice to which Mr. Fennell refers (page 65), of 

 the brilliant night-shining eyes of certain moths, I have observed this 

 phenomenon in a great variety of instances. It can never be observed 

 when the moth is quite at rest ; but when flying, or when about to fly, 



