80 
ZOOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 
the former in the smaller extent of blue on the throat, and from the latter in 
having-' there no trace of black, and from both in the markings of the bill. J, 
Gould, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 24. 
BuCEROTIDAi. 
The Hornbills of India and Burma are carefully enumerated. E. Blyth, 
ibis, 1866, pp. 349-362. 
UPUPIDiE. 
U 2 )upa epopSy note on its habits when breeding, with reference to its sup- 
posed affinity to the Bucerotidce, D. Scott, Ibis, 1866, pp. 222, 223. 
CUCULIDAI. 
Altum, B. Warum briitet der Kuckuk nicht selbst? Journ. 
fur Orn. I860, pp. 165-171. 
The author answers this often-put question by alleging that Cuckoos 
require a great quantity of food, and accordingly individuals are necessarily 
widely dispersed during the greater part of the summer. Their function in 
the economy of nature is to check the increase of destructive caterpillars. 
As soon as these insects appear in any part of the country Cuckoos assemble 
there until the supply of food gets scarcer, Avhen they return to their normal 
state of dispersal. Nature especially requires this service in May, June, and 
July (that is to say, the height of the breeding-season) ; and to enable Cuckoos 
to perform it she has discharged them from their parental duties. 
Rowley, G. D. Tliatsaclien in der Hausbaltung des Kuckuks. 
Journ. fur Orn. 1866, pp. 172-181. Sur quelques faits 
' relatifs aux moeurs du Coucon. Bull. Soc. Orn. Suisse, 
1866, pp. 92, 93. 
German and French translations of the paper from ^The Ibis’ (1866, 
pp. 178-186) noticed by us last year (Zool. Ilecord, ii. p. 99). 
Ciiculiis canonis was seen by the author through a telescope to lay an egg- 
on the grass, take it in its bill, and deposit it in the nest of Motacilla alha. 
Adolf Mliller, Zoolog. Garten, 1866, pp. 374, 375. Bemarks on the breeding 
of the species, G. Brucklacher, ibid. pp. 232, 233 j V. Fatio, Bull. Soc. Orn. 
Suisse, 1866, pp. 107, 108. 
Oucidns striatiis and other Indian species of the family are considered at 
a great length. E. Blyth, Ibis, 1866, pp. 359-364. 
Cumins irifuscatus is a new species from tlie Feejees, belonging to the sub- 
genus Cacomantis, and certainly not the same as C. simus (Peale), which, again, 
is different from C. cincraceus, Vigors. G. Ilartlaub, Ibis, 1866, p. 172. 
Oxijlo 2 )Jius glandariuSy notes on its breeding in Spain. Lord Lilford, Ibis, 
1866, pp. 177, 178, 183, 184. 
Centropus lafresnayamis is a new species, from Eastern Madagascar, much 
resembling C. toluy but to be distinguished by its larger size and the blue 
reflexions on its head and body. J. Verreaux, Nouv. Arch. Mus. ii. pp. 23- 
26, pi. ii. Considered identical with C. tolu, as also C. sujierciliosns (llartl., 
Qiec Riipp.). G. Schlegel, P. Z. S. 1866, p. 424,^ 
Scythrops novce-hollandice, the head figured, S. Biggies, Orn. Austral, 
part iv. 
Chcdcites hicidus 'and Cumins cinemccus [sc. Jlahcllifonuis], the mode of 
