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Show 578 MR. R. B. SHARPE ON THE CUCULIDAE [June 17, Obs. Species a praecedentibus ventre grisescente et fasciis alarum ochraceis distinguenda. After a critical examination of many specimens of this bird, I have come to the conclusion that there is only one species of wide distribution. The original Mexican skin of Camptostoma imberbe is much worn and faded and has an injured bill. But Mr. Salvin's Central- American skins can hardly be distinguished from Brazilian skins except by their rather smaller size. The specimens from Western Ecuador have a paler rump; but this is perhaps attributable to immaturity. 4. ORNITHION OBSOLETUM. Muscicapa obsoleta, Temm. Pl. Col. 275. fig. 1 ; Lafr. et D'Orb. Syn. Av. i. p. 52. Elainea obsoleta, Burm. Syst. Ueb. ii. p. 480. Myiopatis obsoleta, Cab. et Hein, Mus. Hein. ii. p. 5 8 ; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 106. Simile preecedenti, sed major, et supra, nisi in pileo, olivaceo per-fusum : long, tota 4, alee 2*2, caudce 1*8. Hab. S. Brazil; San Paulo, Parana and Goyaz (Natt.). 7. On the Cuculidce of the Ethiopian Region. By R. B O W D L E R S H A R P E , F.L.S., F.Z.S., Senior Assistant, Zoological Department, British Museum. [Received June 3, 1873.] Africa is especially rich in scansorial birds. Besides monopolizing the Musophagidae, she constitutes the metropolis of the Indica-toridce, and has likewise a large number of the Capitonidae peculiar to herself. But her Cuculidce are not exclusively her own; for Europe, Asia, and Australia claim some representatives of the same genera: indeed all the forms of Cuculine birds found in Africa are represented by the same or by closely allied genera in other parts of the Old World; and in the case of the Cuculidce Africa exhibits no Neogaean affinities. Setting aside the typical genus Cuculus, which is found over the greater part of the Old World, the affinities of the African Cuckoos unquestionably incline to those of the Indian and Australian regions, through the genus Centropus, being more particularly connected with the former in the genera Coccystes and Ceuthmochares. The Mascarene Islands exhibit decidedly Indian affinities; for a Cuculus occurs within their limits which is almost indistinguishable from a Himalayan species, and is considered by more than one naturalist of position to be absolutely inseparable from its Indian ally. Cochlo-thraustes is also a Centropodine genus ; but at the same time the large and important genus Sericosomus is entirely restricted to the Mascarene subregion. For present purposes it will be sufficient to make two divisions ot |