106 
CUCKOO FALCON. 
of a Cymindis, except in tlie bill, which is of the 
true falconine structure, and at once shews us under 
which of the primary divisions of the family this 
remarkable bird should be placed. 
We may now describe the colours. The general 
tint of the upper plumage, including the wings and 
tail, is of a very dark cinereous, almost approaching 
on the wings to blackish ; the middle of the back, 
however, and the scapulars, are dark -brown ; the ash 
colour being more clear on the head and tail. The 
under plumage from the throat to the breast is of a 
light ash, which there changes to a cream-coloured 
white, banded with broad bars of blackish-brown, of 
which there are two on each feather. These bands 
disappear on the thighs, belly, and under tail-covers, 
which are deep buff or ferruginous, and without any 
markings. The inner shafts of the quills are cinere- 
ous-white, those of the primaries only having from 
five to six remote black bars, most conspicuous on 
their upper surface ; the inner wing-covers are fer- 
ruginous, without any markings. The tail has a very 
broad band of black at its tip, and a few irregular 
half bars at the base of the outermost feather ; cere 
and feet yellow. Total length about 16 inches ; bill, 
from the gape, lj 1 ^; wings, 13; tail beyond, 2,]- ; 
from the base, 8 ; tarsus, 1^. 
