one day surprise a female didric in the act of depositing its egg in the nest of another bird; but having been disappointed in this respect, I began to imagine that my ignorance on this point would never be removed, when one day having killed a female of this species, and wishing to introduce into its throat a plug of hemp, according to my custom, after bringing down a bird, in order to prevent the blood from staining its plumage, I was not a little surprised on opening its bill for this purpose, to find in its throat an entire egg, which I knew immediately from its form, size, and beautiful whiteness to belong to the didric. Delighted at length after so many useless efforts, at having obtained a confirmation of my suspicions, I loudly called my faithful Klaas, who was only a few paces distant from me, to whom I imparted my discovery with much pleasure, as he had used his best exertions to second my views. Klaas, on seeing the egg in the bird's gullet, told me, that after killing female Cuckoos, he had frequently observed a newly broken egg lying upon the ground near where they had fallen, which he supposed they had dropped in their fall, being at that moment ready to lay. I recollect very well that when this good Hottentot brought me the fruits of his sports, he frequently remarked, as he pointed to the Cuckoo, This one laid her egg as she fell from the tree.' Although I was convinced from this circumstance, that the female Cuckoo deposits her egg in the nests of other birds, by conveying it in her beak, I was desirous to collect what facts I could on the subject. Klaas and I therefore began to shoot as many Cuckoos as we could meet with, which accounts for the great number of this species we procured. However, among all the specimens there occurred only one instance similar to that which I have just mentioned, namely, that of a second female, which was transporting her egg in her mouth like the former."

In length the Gilded Cuckoo is about seven inches; the plumage above is rich glossy green with golden reflexions; the head is marked with five small stripes of white, with which the secondary quills and many of the

wing-coverts are tipped; under parts white; tarsi yellow. In the female, the golden green is changed for a reddish gold colour, and the stripes on the head are more obscurely marked. Besides the present species, Africa produces several others, some of which are even more rich and intense in the metallic hues of their plumage.

The singular conduct of the Cuckoo in depositing its eggs in the nests of other birds, appears to be common to all the genuine Cuckoos, that is, to all those which truly constitute the genus Cuculus, but within the precincts of that group it seems to be limited, at least as regards the present family; for in the genus Coccyzus, closely allied to the former, we find the different species constructing their own nests and rearing their own brood.

As an example, we select the Yellow-billed CUCKOO of the United States of America, (Coccyzus Americanus, BONAPARTE.) Among the thickest foliage of the woods, during May or June, the voice of this shy and solitary bird may be often heard, resounding in guttural accents through the glade, and not unlike those of the young bullfrog. These accents consist of a repetition of the word cow, eight or ten times, with increasing rapidity; hence its common name of Cow-bird, in almost every part of the Union. Wilson states that this species "arrives in Pennsylvania, from the south, about the 22nd of April, and spreads over the country as far at least as Lake Ontario; is numerous in the Chickasaw and Chactaw nations, and also breeds in the upper parts of Georgia, preferring in all these places, the borders of solitary swamps, and apple orchards. It leaves us, on its return southwards, about the middle of September."

They pair and build in May; "the nest is usually fixed among the horizontal branches of an apple tree; sometimes in a solitary thorn, crab, or cedar, in some retired part of the woods. It is constructed with little art, and scarcely any concavity, of small sticks and twigs, intermixed with green weeds, and blossoms of the common maple. On this almost flat bed, the eggs, usually three or four in number, are placed; these are of a uniform

greenish blue colour, and of a size proportionable to that of the bird. While the female is sitting, the male is generally not far distant, and gives the alarm, by his notes, when any person is approaching. The female sits so close that you may almost reach her with your hand, and then she precipitates herself to the ground, feigning lameness, to draw you away from the spot, fluttering, trailing her wings, and tumbling over in the manner of a woodcock, partridge, and many other birds. Both parents unite in providing food for the young. This consists for the most part of caterpillars, particularly such as infest apple trees. The same insects constitute the chief part of their own sustenance. They are accused, and with some justice, of sucking the eggs of other birds, like the crow, the blue jay, and other pillagers. They also occasionally eat various kinds of berries. But from the circumstance of their destroying such numbers of very noxious larvæ, they prove themselves the friends of the farmer, and are highly deserving of his protection." On the ground the cow-bird is very awkward, owing to the shortness of its tarsi; hence it seldom alights, except occasionally to pick up a tempting snail or insect; among the branches it is however active, and its flight is rapid, silent, and arrowlike.

The bird, as characteristic of the genus, is long, compressed, slightly arched, acute, and slender. The tarsi are short; the claws are arched and slender. Tail long and graduated; wings ample. The upper mandible is brown at the tip, but its base, and the whole of the lower mandible are yellow. General colour of the upper surface light greenish brown. Tail feathers, except the two middle, black, the outer ones on each side being tipped with white. Under parts grayish white. Length twelve inches and a half.

To the family of Cuculida, belongs, amongst others, that interesting bird, the Honey-guide of South Africa, belonging to the genus Indicator. This genus is characterized by the beak being short, high, and almost conical, like that of a sparrow; and by the form of the

tail, which consists of twelve feathers, and is at the same time both a little graduated and a little forked. The skin is remarkably tough, so as to be proof against the stings of bees, insects which the birds of this genus harass incessantly; yet it is said they often lose their lives, being wounded by the stings of numbers in their eyes.

The HONEY-GUIDE (Indicator Vaillanti,) is a sober coloured bird, of moderate size, being barely seven inches in length; the general tone of colouring on the upper parts is rusty gray; of the under surface, dirty white. Its food is said to consist of honey, which it obtains by robbing the natural hives of wild bees, situated in hollow trees, or the clefts of rocks. We should be much inclined to think that the bees themselves formed no little portion of its sustenance. Le Vaillant however states, that on opening the stomach of one, nothing was found but wax and honey, not the vestige of any insect; and that the skin was so thick as scarcely to admit of being pierced with a pin. Morning and evening are the times in which this bird begins the search for its luscious food, a food equally coveted by the Hottentot; who avails himself of the instinct of the Honey-guide, in order to obtain a share of the treasure. Directed by its shrill cry, the hunter follows the bird, endeavouring always to keep it in his sight, and tracks its course wherever it may lead. Having discovered the stores, the bird redoubles its cries, flutters around, and seems to invite the hunter's aid, who presently destroys the swarm, and secures the honey, leaving his guide a portion for its pains. On account of its services, this bird is held in great esteem and veneration by the Hottentots, who dislike its being killed, and even resent its destruction. "Dr. Sparrman,' says Latham, "assured me that he has several times been at the taking of wild bees in this manner, but could only obtain two female birds, from which the description was taken." The male and female are said to be seldom far apart; they breed, according to most accounts, in the holes of trees.

Besides the genera already alluded to, the present family

contains several others, departing in many points from the typical form; among them we may mention the CouCALS, or Lark-heeled Cuckoos, (Čentropus, ILL.) characterized by a strong and slightly curved beak, and especially by the claw of the inner of the two hind toes, being long, straight, and pointed like the hind claw of the lark. They appear to be solitary and recluse in their habits; feeding on insects, larvæ, and even small reptiles, and breeding in the holes of trees. They are peculiar to the hotter portions of the Old World.

Of these birds we may take the EGYPTIAN COUCAL Centropus Egyptius) as an example. In length it

is about fifteen inches. The feathers of the head and neck are stiff in their texture, (as is usually the case with these birds,) and of a polished metallic greenish blue. The general tone of the upper surface is greenish brown, passing into rufous brown on the upper tail-covers. Tail shining steely green. Under surface generally white. Thigh and under tail-coverts dull olive green. This species is common in Egypt, and is frequently seen in the Delta; it is called Hou-hou, by the Arabs, from its note, which is a repetition of those syllables. It is usually seen in pairs, and is said to feed, to a great extent, on locusts. Le Vaillant, who met with this bird in southern Africa, in the forests of Caffreland and other districts, mentions that it has a peculiar habit of perching lengthwise on a branch, and not transversely, a habit which we have seen to be the case in our European goatsucker. It begins its monotonous call at daybreak, continuing it till the sun is high, when it ceases, recommencing an hour or two before sunset.

Among others, Latham notices a Chestnut Coucal from India, called Cuco by the Bengalese, and Pheasantcrow by the Europeans. He observes, on the authority of Dr. Buchanan, that it is very common every where on the banks of the Arawady; is somewhat larger than a magpie, to which, except in feet and colour, it has a strong resemblance. It is said to be a solitary bird, and is generally seen hopping about, near some thickset