DASYLOPHUS SUPERCILIOSUS.
(Hairy-browed Cuckoo.)
Phcenicophaus superdliosus, Drap., Diet. Class. d’Hist. Nat. x. p. 55 (1826, ex'Cuv. MS.) ; Less., Man. d’Orn. ii.
p. 127 (1 828) ; Guérin-Ménev., Iconogr. Règne Anim. Cuv. pi. 33. fig. 1.
Melias superciUosus, Less., Tr. d’Om. p. 133 (1831),
Dasylophus superciliosus, Swains., Classif. B. ii. p. 324, fig. 2 86« (1 8 3 7 ); Gray & Mitch., Gen. B. ii. p. 459,
pi. 116 (1 8 4 5 ); Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. A. S. B. p.*75 (1849) ; Bp., Consp. Gen. A t . i. p. 98 (1 8 5 0 );
Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. iv. p. 70 (1862) ; Gray, Hand-1. B. ii. p. 206 (1870) ; Sharpe, P. Z. S;
1873, p. 603, fig. 7 ; Wald., Trans. Z. S. ix. p. 162 (1875).
Phcenicophaus ornatus, Blyth, J. A. S. B. 1842, p. 925.
T he genera of the subfamily Phoenicophaince seem to possess, one and all, well-marked structural characters;
but in none is this more distinctly the case than in the present beautiful bird, which is,|he typical and only
species of the genus Dasylophus. Many of the allied genera show striking differences in the form of the
nostril; but in this bird there is nothing in particular to observe with respect to this organ, excepting that
it is completely hidden by a large tuft o f bristly plumes. No other CuckoOj however, exhibits the extraordinary
well-developed tufts of red hair-like feathers which stand out in bold relief on either side o f the
head, resembling in a slight degree the fantastic head-dress o f an Indian chief.
As far as we yet know, this singular Cuckoo is only found in the island of Luzon, and is perhaps confined
to that locality. Dr. Meyer shot some in the above-named island; and I myself have received it from the
vicinity of Manilla. Of its habits and economy jye know literally nothing. Lord Walden, who examined
Dr. Meyer’s specimens, states that the bill o f a male bird is higher and stouter than that of a female.
Adult.—Black, glossed with green, the wings also green like the back, the quills more or less inclining
to steel-blue; tail glossy green or black, with steel-blue reflexions, all the feathers broadly tipped with
white; head black all round, rather shaded with olive on the side of the neck; sides of face bare round the
eye ; lores and nasal bristles black; over the eye a narrow line of white surmounted by a long eye-brow of
scarlet bristles, arranged' in tufts and extending from above the lores to the sides o f the occiput; rest of
under surface dull olive green, washed with steel-blue on the flanks and under tail-coverts. Total length
15-7 inches, culmen 1*5, wing 6-3, tail 9 ‘5, tarsus 1*45.
The description and figure are taken from a fine adult skin in my collection from Manilla,— whence also I
have a second bird, rather more oily-green in tint than the one described; this specimen is also represented
in the Plate. The figures are of the natural size.