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Show 5y8 MR. R. B. S H A R P E O N T H E CUCULIDAE [June 17, Cuculus jacobinus, Bodd. Tabl. Pl. Enl. p. 53 (1783, ex Month.). Cuculus melanoleucus, Gm. S. N. i. p. 416 (1788, ex Montb.). Le Coucou Edolio (femelle), Levaill. Ois. d'Afr. v. pl. 208 (1806); Sundev. Crit. om Levaill. p. (1858). Cuculus serratus $, Steph. Gen. Zool. ix. p. 114, pl. 23 (1815). Coccystes melanoleucus, Jerd. B. Ind. i. p. 339 (1862). Coccystes pica, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. iv. p. 46 (1862); Gray, Hand-1. B.ii. p. 220(1870). Coccystes jacobinus, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. iv. p. 45 (1862); Schl. Mus. P.-B., Cuculi, p. 44 (1864); Gray, Hand-1. B. ii. p. 220 (1870); Sharpe, Cat. Afr. B. p. 13 (1871). ' Coccystes hypopinarius, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. iv. p. 47 (1862); Gray, Hand-1. B. ii. p. 220 (1870). Oxylophus melanoleucus, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 252 (1867) ; Ayres, Ibis, 1871, p. 261. Oxylophus serratus, Bocage, Jorn. Acad. Lisb. ii. p. 46 (1868). Oxylophus jacobinus, Finsch, Tr. Z. S. vii. p. 286 (1870) ; Blanf. Geol. & Zool. Abyss, p. 313 (1870) ; Heugl. Orn. N. O. Afr. p. 788 (1871) ; Gurney, ed. Anderss. B. Dam. Ld. p. 225 (1872). Adult. Head, which is ornamented with a long crest, and entire upper surface glossy greenish black, the tail tipped with white; primaries brown, white at the base both internally and externally, forming a large white alar spot; sides of face black ; under surface entirely dull white, with a yellowish tinge on the throat and breast; under wing-coverts yellowish white, the lower ones greyish; flanks shaded with dusky grey ; bill and feet black ; iris yellow. Total length 13*6 inches, culmen 1, wing 6*4, tail 8, tarsus 1*15. Young. Brown, the quills paler ; tail brown, tipped with white, the centre feathers glossed with greenish ; a white alar spot as in adults ; under surface of body entirely yellowish white, the lower under wing-coverts brown ; bill horn-brown. I cannot find any real difference between Indian and African specimens of this Cuckoo ; and the measurements show that there is only one species. Hab. N.E. AFRICA : probable migrant-Bogos in August, Senaar in September, Chartum and Berber in November {Von Heuglin) ; Anseba valley (Blanford) ; Autrub on the Blue Nile (Antinori) ; Ambukol in Nubia (Ehrenberg). E. AFRICA : Mombas (Wakefield). S.AFRICA: Tette (Livingstone) ; Natal, Transvaal (Ayres); Eland's Post (Atmore) ; Lake N'gami (Andersson). S.W. AFRICA : Damara Land (Andersson) ; Biballa (Anchieta). The adult specimen described was a Damara skin; and it is from this and the adjoining region that the largest specimens come. The difference in general bulk and in length of tail is very great, even in specimens from the same locality. |