oily green, the two middle feathers having a slight shade of bronze;
sides of face, throat, and fore part of chest whitish, with a yellowish
shade ; lower part of belly greyish, the under tail-coverts metallic
green ; bill yellow, with brown mark at base of cnlmen ; iris beautiful
dark red. Total length, 13-5 inches; culmen, T2 ; wing, 4'9;
tail, 8 ; tarsus, IT 5.
145. C entropus sen eg al en sis . Lark-heeled Cuckoo.
Centropus burchelli, Layard,B. S. Afr. p. 146.
This Cuckoo is found all over Africa, and although specimens from
the southern part of the Continent are brighter in colour than those
from West Africa, we cannot see any real grounds for their separation.
We have received several specimens of this lark-heeled
Cuckoo. One was shot in “ Grootevadersbosch,” near Caledon, by
the Hon. T. H. Yigne; another near Swellendam, by Mr. Caim-
cross. Specimens have also been shot near Graham’s Town and
other places.
Mr. T. B. Buckley informs us : “ It was first observed on the
Crocodile River, but was also found in all suitable places as far into
the Matabili as I went. Being fond of hiding itself, it is not often
seen unless accidentally flushed, but its loud note betrays its presence.
It inhabits the thick reeds and bushes wherever there is water, far
from which it is never found.”
Dr. Kirk says that it was very common in all the grassy borders
of rivers, but is looked upon by the natives with disgust, and never
eaten.
The following note is given by Mr. Andersson: “ This species is
found abundantly at Lake N’gami, but I have observed it nowhere
else. It occurs singly or in pairs, and perches on lofty trees—but
also frequents reedy thickets, to the interior of which it usually
retreats when alarmed or pursued. Its flight is heavy and clumsy.
Its food consists of insects, and it is partial to locusts and grasshoppers.”
Le Vaillant states that he first met with this species near the
Gamtoos River, and that it makes its nest in holes of trees, laying
four eggs, of a reddish-white colour. Mr. Atmore says, “ it inhabits
palmiet vleys and feeds on locusts and large insects of all kinds.”
Mr. H. Bowker writes, “ The Yley Lourie builds its nest in the centre
of a thick bushy tree or amongst the shoots from a cut forest tree
(Pollard ?) It is about three feet in length by a foot in diameter
with an opening in the middle cavity in the inside rather flat. The
young may be perceived from the outside. I never saw but two
nests, one with a single young bird in it, the other an old one made
of small sticks. This bird is called the ‘ Rain bird’ by the Kaffirs,
and is said to call before a change in the weather. N.B. Inside of nest
daubed with mud.’’ His note contained a sketch of an oblong oval
nest made of twigs with a flattened oval opening near the centre.
Head dull black, with a greenish tinge when viewed from the
light, the shafts glossy black; interscapulary region, scapulars, and
wing-coverts dull brownish rufous, the shafts glossy chestnut; greater
coverts and quills bright rufous, with dusky tips, the inner secondaries
dull brownish rufous with an olivaceous gloss; lower back
and rump dusky, minutely barred with dull ochre; upper tail-
coverts and tail dull greenish, inclining to oily green, the former
generally with obsolete bars of ochro; feathers under the eye and
ear-coverts black, like the head; entire sides of face and neck, as
well as the under surface of body, more or less deep ochre, inclining
to white on the centre of abdomen, the shafts glossy fulvous,
especially distinct on the throat and sides of neck, the flanks with
remains of dusky cross bars; under wing-coverts pale buff, inner
surface of wing dull rufous ; bill and feet black.
Young.—More dingy above and paler below than the adult; head
dull brownish; upper surface barred across with dusky black, with
remains of dusky bars on the sides of the breast and flanks; upper
tail-coverts and tail barred more or less distinctly with pale ochre;
beak horn-brown, the lower mandible yellowish.
Fig. Levaill. Ois. d’Afr. v. p. 72, pi. 219.
146. C entropus su per c il io su s .
White Eyebrowed Lark-heeled Cuckoo.
By many people the present bird has been considered to be the
young of C. senegalensis, but it may be distinguished at once by its
broad white eyebrow.
A fine specimen of this bird was sent to us in the flesh,
during the winter months, from j Swellendam by the Hon. R.
Southey; its stomach contained insects. Mr. Rickard has obtained
it both at Port Elizbabeth and Bast London : near the latter