OCR Text |
Show 1873.] OF THE ETHIOPIAN REGION. 607 Confined to Africa, but evidently having direct affinity with Fig. 15. Head of Ceuthmochares a'eneus. Rhopodytes and its allies. It differs from all, however, in its bare horny face and lores, and in the downward direction of its nostrils. Genus 12. CARPOCOCCYX. Calobates, Temm. Pl. Col. iii. pl. 538 (1832, nee Type. Kaup) C. radiatus. Carpococcyx, Gray, List Gen. B. p. 56 (1840) .. C. radiatus. Not far removed from Sericosomus, from which it is chiefly distinguished by its long and somewhat differently shaped bill. The nostril is rather more exposed than in the other; but the resemblance is otherwise very close. Fig. 16. Head of Carpococcyx radiatus. Mr. Wallace tells m e that when alive this bird closely mimics a Pheasant in appearance and gait. Indeed the Cuckoos, being some of the weakest of birds, mimic stronger families. Every one is acquainted with the general resemblance of our common Cuckoo to a Hawk, a resemblance so perfect that even small birds appear not to appreciate the distinction, and pursue them indiscriminately. Again the resemblance of Surniculus dicruroides to a Dicrurus is |