141. C occystes ca fer. Levaillant’s Cuckoo.
Oxylophus afer, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 253.
This large Crested Cuckoo is distinguished by its black-striped
throat. It is not of frequent occurrence in South Africa, and we
have only seen two specimens, from Swellendam, where they were
procured by Mr. Cairncross. Wahlberg shot it on the Limpopo.
“ Like the rest of the Cuckoos found in Damara Land,” writes Mr.
Andersson, “ this species is only a periodical visitant during the
rainy season, and takes its departure long before the return of the
dry weather. I have heard its note on the river Okavango as early
as September, but it is a scarce bird in that district, and very rare
in Damara Land. It always appears in pairs, and is of a rather shy
and retiring disposition.”
Adult male.—Above shining greenish black, the head deeper black
and ornamented with a long crest of lanceolate feathers; lores and
ear-coverts dull black; quills brown, the inner webs white at the
base, the primaries also externally white at the base, causing a large
alar speculum, the inner secondaries greenish black like the back,;
tail greenish black like the rest of upper surface, broadly tipped with
white, the inner webs showing somewhat of a purple tinge; under
surface of body bufly white, the feathers of the throat, breast, and
under tail-coverts, black in the centre, giving a thickly striped
appearance, the flanks also somewhat mottled with black centres to
the feathers; under wing-coverts white, streaked with black, the
•lower ones entirely black; bill black; feet brown, tinged with lead-
colour; iris dark olive. Total length, 15'5 inches; culmen, IT ;
wing, 7T ; tail, 10-2 ; tarsus, 1'05.
Fig. Levaill. Qis. d’Afr. v. pi. 209.
142. Ooccystes ja co b in u s . ' Black and White Ouckoo.
Oxylophus melanoleucus, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 252.
This species inhabits the same country as C. serratus, and was
mistaken by Levaillant and Verreaux for the hen of that bird; it is
however quite another species. Like G. glandcurius it has a whitish
breast, but can be told by the absence of spots on the wing, and by
its black upper surface. From 0. cafer it is distinguished by its
smaller size, and by the absence of black streaks on the throat and
breast.
In a letter to the author, Mr. H. Bowker observes : “ There is
another Cuckoo which I cannot quite make out from your book, but
I think it is 0. melanoleucus, very common in Albany and appearing
early in October. It lays its eggs in the nest of the black forked
tail Spreo (Ficrurus musious), and also in that of the Woodpecker.
It looks after its young to see that the foster parents are attentive to
them. I once watched a Wbodpecker’s nest, and when the nurses
brought food to the nest they were always followed by one of these
birds, who, after the Woodpeckers left, always looked into the nest to
see if all was right and then sat near until the return of the Woodpeckers,
when the same thing was repeated ; on examining the nest
I found four fine young Cuckoos in it.”
Mr. T. C. Atmore’s collections made near Elands5 Post included
examples, and Mr. Ayres has procured it in Natal and the Transvaal.
Mr. F. A. Barratt informs .us that he has shot the bird near Pochef-
stroom and also at Eustenburg in January, 1875. Mr. T. E. Buckley
collected it on the Limpopo and in the Transvaal territory, where he
found it abundant: as he only saw it on his way down from the
Matabili he considers it to be a summer visitant.
Mr. Andersson says :—“ This is about the most common Cuckoo
in Damara Land, the first to arrive with the rainy season; I have
also received specimens of it from Lake N5gami. I believe it breeds
in Damara Land, having seen young birds barely able to fly. This
species has a true Cuckoo’s note, and is very swift of flight and
quick in its movements.” Anchieta has found it on the Eiver
Cunene, and at Huilla, Biballa and Gambos in Mossamedes.
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, 1'5.
Young.—Brown, the quills paler; tail brown, tipped with white,
the centre feathers glossed with greenish; a white alar spot as in