CUCULUS LUGUBRIS. 
observed. Its habits are very different from those of the Cuculus orientalis and the 
Cuculus flavus, which are both very abundant in Java. The former, although it 
delights in shady woodland tracts, gladly seeks the confines of villages, and is univer- 
sally known by the cry of Tuhu-tuhu, from which the native name is derived. The 
Cuculus flavus descends into the plains and cultivated tracts, where it is heard in 
the morning from almost every tall tree. It lias three distinct notes, which it 
repeats in great regularity with a loud but not unpleasant voice, although by 
many natives it is considered as ominous of evih 
But although our bird differs from the Cuculus orientalis in its habits, it greatly 
resembles it in the external covering. It has a slender, somewhat lengthened form ; 
the tail is of moderate length, and wedge shaped, though in a less degree than in 
many other Cuckows. It is slightly forked, and the divisions are rounded at the 
extremity ; this organ consists of ten feathers, of which the two exterior ones reach 
scarcely to its middle. The others are of equal length, have very broad internal 
vanes, and are disposed at the sides in two series, capable, to appearance, of being 
divaricated at the pleasure of the bird. In the form of the bill, the peculiarity of 
the nares which occurs in this genus, and in the structure of the feet and claws, it 
agrees with the true Cuckows. The general colour of our bird is deep greenish 
black; but a strong lustre is spread over the plumage, which varies, according to its 
position towards the light, from green, with a yellow metallic reflection, to purple 
and blue. This colour is darkest on the head and back. The wings underneath are 
brown. The quills are marked on the internal vane with a white spot, and col- 
lectively exhibit, when the wings are expanded underneath, a large transverse band. 
The two short exterior tail-feathers are obliquely banded w-ith white, the bands 
being distinct at the extremity, and gradually evanescent towards the base. The 
plumes of the vent have likewise delicate white bands : on the thighs the plumage 
is thick and somewhat lax, and a few white filaments appear among the black 
feathers. The bill and feet are black : the irides dark coloured. 
