CUCULIFORMES. 
The range of Cuculus is given in the Catalogue of the Birds in the British 
Museum as “ the whole of the Old World, excepting Polynesia,” but the genus 
there recognised covers three groups, Cuculus, Penthoceryx and Heteroscenes. 
The range of the first name is practically that given, but it only ranges into 
North Australia ; Penthoceryx is Indo-Malayan not reaching Australia ; while 
Heteroscenes is confined to Australia and is another of the peculiar endemic 
Austrahan groups. 
The genus Cacomantis is Indo-Malayan, and this group may be divisible 
into sections, as three species occur in Australia which differ in detail, though 
of similar general appearance. 
Under the name Misocalius a genus is recognised with the distribution 
“ Austraha, Aru, Kie and Batchian Islands.” I have renamed this genua 
Owenavis and it is certainly a peculiar endemism practically confined to Australia 
and unlike any of the other species. Then come the Bronze Cuckoos, which 
were classed under the name Chalcococcyx and are Indo-Malayan in range. 
These are so similar in form and their movements so unknown that the specific 
relations are more or less doubtful. I divided this genus into three, allowing 
Chalcococcyx to remain for its type species, quite unlike the rest of the series 
which I divided into two, Lamprococcyx and Neochalcites, the majority of the 
species being referable to the first named of these two. The migrations of 
these species are more or less local, and probably many races will later be 
distinguished, but the islands to the north of Australia, as well as New Guinea, 
shelter birds which differ in so many items in such confusing manners that little 
reliance can be placed upon any conclusions arrived at the present time. 
I am recording the results of a careful study of these little birds and am 
not dogmatic on any point ; but, dealing solely with facts, consider it advisable 
to withhold speculation. I, however, see little relationship with the Bronze 
Cuckoos of Africa and suggest those have evolved quite independently. 
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