214 
AVES. 
took flight]. Herissant attributed the phenomenon to the position of the gizzard, which in fact is 
placed further backward in the abdomen, and is less protected by the sternum (fig. 101) than that of 
other birds [in general, but not of the Moth-hunters, which the Cuckoos closely resemble in their 
internal anatomy, and particularly in the singularly diminutive size of the brain : the young are 
exceedingly slow in learning to take their own food, and ai-e fed by their foster parents till they have 
nearly attained the full growth of their feathers. i 
Of various species, all peculiar to the eastern hemisphere,] there is one 
in Europe, 
The Common Cuckoo (C. canorus, Lin.) — Of an ash-grey colour, the 
belly whitish, rayed with dusky black across, and tail-feathers laterally 
spotted w ith white : the young barred all over with rufous. [It feeds 
principally on caterpillars, and is sometimes seen to hawk for insects on 
the wing, also devours cherries and the smaller fruits. Is well known 
for its cry, which is common to both sexes, and is sometimes uttered on 
the wing; as is also another particularly melodious sound, which it 
generally emits as it takes flight ; it often congregates many together on 
the same tree, attracted by each others’ notes ; but never flies in society, II 
except when migrating. It does not pair; is particularly shy and re- ‘ | 
tiring in disposition, and is often buffeted by the small birds on whose “ 
domain it encroaches.] 
Africa [and the islands of the Indian Ocean] produce several small spe- I 
cies, the plumage of which is more or less gilded, [or brilliant emerald- " 
green, bronzed, or purple]. Their beak is rather more depressed than 
in the preceding, [and they compose the Chalcites, S-waiftson, which, 
however, are scarcely separable either from structure or habit]. ~ 
A crested, spotted species is occasionally found in southern Europe, H 
the cry of which is more sonorous (C. glandarius, EdM'ards). [This, with : 
various others from Africa, pertains to the distinct group Oxylophus of Swainson, which, with the following, has g 
longer and naked tarsi.] ■ 
Others inhabit America [all of which build nests and rear their offspring, constituting the Erythrophrys, Swain- ' 
son : these are well known to feed much on the eggs of other birds, which it is generally believed the true Cuckoos 
do also : some of them descend much on the ground, and prey on snails like a Thrush, in addition to berries and 
caterpillars. The young resemble the adults]. 
Others again, with generally spotted plumage, have the beak deep vertically. 
The Couas {Coccyzus, Vieillot) — 
Merely differ from the Cuckoos by their elevated tarsi. They nestle in the holes of trees, and do not 
entrust their eggs to the charge of strangers : this is at least true, with respect to those species of | 
which the propagation is known. 
There is one in America that requires to be distinguished, — ! 
Fi)f. 101. — Sternum of Cuckoo. 
The Lizard-seeker (Saurothera, Vieillot), — 
Which has a long beak, curved at the tip only, [and feet adapted for running swiftly on the ground, as n 
is the case with the American Cuckoo tribe generally]. 
It is the Cuculus vetula of Temminck. | 
Le Vaillant has already separated, with good reason, 
The Coucals (Centropus, Illiger), — J 
Birds of Africa and India, the thumb-nail of which is long and pointed as in the Larks, [and the 
plumage in general singularly rigid and spinous]. All the known species are natives of the eastern ; 
hemisphere, and nestle in the holes of trees, [producing white eggs. They feed chiefly on Grasshop- 
pers, and run about with celerity among reeds and other herbage, from which they are slow to take I 
wing : their flesh is particularly rank ; and the eyelids are fringed with lashes, as in most of the 
Cuckoo tribe which rear their own offspring. ^ 
The species are very numerous, and grade into the true Couas and Malkohasj. 
The same naturalist has rightly separated ' ^ il 
The CouROLS Vieillot), — , 
Madagascar birds, the beak of which is thick, pointed, straight, and compressed, with the tip of the , ] 
