on a neighbouring bough, both invariably asleep ; that the male participates in the duty of incubation I 
ascertained by having accidentally shot a bird on the nest without being - aware it was so occupied, which 
on dissection proved to be a male. The eggs are generally two in number, of a beautiful immaculate 
white, and of a long oval form, one inch and ten lines in length by one inch and three lines in diameter. 
The sexes so closely resemble each other both in size and plumage, that a separate description is unne- 
cessary. Like the other species of the genus, it is subject to considerable variation in its colouring ; the 
young, which assume the adult livery at an early age, being somewhat darker in all their markings. 
The night-call of this species is a loud hoarse noise, consisting of two distinct sounds, which cannot be 
correctly described. 
The stomach is thick and muscular, and is lined with a thick hair-like substance like that of the Common 
Cuckoo. 
All the upper surface brown, speckled with greyish white and darker brown, the feathers of the crown 
having a blackish brown stripe down the centre terminating in a minute spot of white ; wings similar to 
the upper surface, but lighter and with bolder black and buff spots, the coverts having an irregular spot of 
white and tawny on the outer web near the tip, which, as they lie over each other, form indistinct bands 
across the wing ; primaries brownish black, with light-coloured shafts, and with a series of whitish spots 
on the outer webs, between which they are margined with tawny ; their inner webs irregularly barred with 
the same ; tail tawny brown, sprinkled with lighter brown, and crossed with a series of irregular bands of 
blackish brown, sprinkled with dusky white, each feather having a spot of brownish black near the extremity, 
and tipped with white ; face and all the under surface greyish white, crossed by numerous narrow and irre- 
gular bars of tawny, and with a stripe of brown down the centre of each feather, the latter colour being 
most conspicuous and forming a kind of semilunar mark down each side of the chest ; bill light brown, 
tinged with purple ; inside of the mouth pale yellow ; tongue long, transparent, and of the same colour 
with the inside of the mouth ; irides brownish orange ; feet light brownish olive. 
In some the rich tawny colour predominates, while others are more grey. 
The bird is represented of the natural size, asleep, in the position it is usually seen during the day. 
