288 
Birds of Gambia^ 
C. cafer. LEVAILLANT'S CUCKOO. 
Range. Tropical Africa. (H.L.) 
Also a resident in the Gambia and the commonest of our 
three Coccystes. They are generally found in pairs in fairly open 
but bushy country, especially along the borders of the swamps, 
where they obtain the greater part of their food, which is the same 
as lliat of the other species, large insects and small reptiles. Like 
our other Coccystes it is parasitic in its nesting habits. It's 
Mundingo name is "Kuuchu-kulung". Above it is black more or 
less glossed with green ; the wings are crossed by a broad white 
band. Tail tipped with white, more broadly on the .feathers. Below 
white, strongly streaked with black on the throat, chest and under 
wing-coverts. Iris hazel; bill black; legs dark ashy. Length 14.5 
iiichcb 
Cnculus yularis. LINEATED CUCKOO. 
Ranye. Senegambia; North-east, Central and South Africa. 
(E.L.) 
C. canorus. COMMON CUCKOO. 
Ranye. Europe, Asia; Africa in winter. (H.L.) 
Both these species occur in the Gambia and on one day in 
iMarch, l'J07, 1 shot a specimen of each. They are very alike in 
plumage, the only difference being that C. yularis has the outer 
1 ail -feathers completely barred with white only forming scallop -shaped 
iiatches, which do not cross the whole web. C. canorus is also 
slightly larger than yularis, 13 inches as against 12.5. 
1 suppose that one can safely say that the cuckoo -note com- 
monly heard here is that of C. yularis, as I have never heard 
it before April, by which time the Common Cuckoos must iiave all 
left for the north. The earliest dates on whicli I have heard tlie 
Cuckoo during the last few years are, 1904, May 5, Lamin Koto; 
iyO(i, May 17, Kwinella; 1907, May 11, Sujuka; 190'), April iU 
Eogniadd; 1910, April 26, Niumi. 
C. clamosHs. BLACK CUCKOO. 
Range. Tropical Africa. (H.L.) 
A very rare bird which however I believe I have seen once 
or twice. Above and below it is black glossed with dark green; quills 
brown barred with whitle, tail tipped with white. Length 12.5 inches. 
Clirysucoccyx sinaraydineus. EMERALD CUCKOO. 
Ranye. West and .Soutji Africa. (H.L.) 
Male, a lovely emerald green above, below, throat green like 
the back, remainder of under surface yellow; tail, the four central 
feathers wholly green, the others tipped with white and the outer 
pair barred as well. Female, head ashy, mantle and wings green 
mottled with rufous, below white barred with green. Bill black at 
base, olive green towards tip; legs bluish grey. Iris dark brown. 
Length 8 inches. 
C. klaasi. KLAAS' GOLDEN CUCKOO. 
Range. Tropical Africa. (H.L.) 
