second volume of the ‘Student and Intellectual Observer/ on
‘Turacoes and their distribution/ there occurs the following passage ;
‘Although some of these birds—the false Turacoes (Schizorhis)—are
provided with a crest; I doubt whether that organ is ever erected and
depressed after the manner of the true Turacoes.’ With regard-
to 8. concolor, I have had frequent opportunity of noticing the
elevation and depression of the crest as one of the most common
habits of the bird. In travelling through the Bechuana country
one often comes upon a party of five or six of these birds, hiding
from the mid-day heats under the sheltered portions of denser
foliage near the centre of a large tree. Whilst yet undisturbed, the
crest lies flat on the head, and can only be seen as a tuft projecting
from the occiput. But their first act on becoming aware of an intruder,
is to run along the branches, either to the summit of the tree or to the
extremity of a branch commanding a good look-out, where, with
crest fully erected and well thrown forward, they keep up a constant
reiteration of their note. If but little alarmed they move rapidly
from branch to branch, frequently jerking up the crest, and assuming
an attitude of attention. Again, after flight from one tree to another,
on alighting they first rest on a branch, with the body somewhat
horizontal, and the tail drawn nearly to the perpendicular, as if
assuring themselves of their equilibrium, and then raising the body,
elongating their neck and at the same time elevating the crest, they
seem to take an observation as to the security of their new position.
So much is this a habit of the bird, that during the conversational
difficulties of my earlier intercourse with the Bechuanas, when inquiring
for the nest of Schizorhis (the native name of which is
‘ Ma-quaai/) as soon it dawned upon the mind of a native what bird I
meant, he has imitated its note, accompanied by a sudden jerking up
of the hand, with his fingers extended to their utmost, as if at the
same time to mimic the elevation of the crest. In the same paper
Mr. Sclater mentions that ‘ Mr. J. J. Monteiro, speaking of the grey
False Turaco (8. concolor), as observed in Benguela, expressly states
that the crest feathers are always carried erect.’ In my own experience,
the observation of Schizorhis was an every-day occurrence;
and, as I have stated, when undisturbed (also when in flight), very
little of the crest is to be seen; but it is invariably carried erect on
the least alarm. I may here mention a peculiar scream of 8. concolor.
I was one day walking along a low ridge of rocks, from which I
flushed an Owl, the common Bubo maculosus, that flew to some
distance to a clump of trees. Presently I heard an agonized scream,
such as is made by a young antelope when just seized by a dog ; and
so exact a repetition of the sound was it, that even my dogs were
deceived by it, and rushed off in the direction whence it came. I
also sent off a Kafir boy, and presently followed myself, when I discovered
it was the frightful scream of Schizorhis, of which a party
were collected around the Owl I had previously disturbed, and whose
presence appeared to be the exciting cause. At a later period I had
a second opportunity of verifying this observation.”
Forehead with a long crest, which, with the entire plumage, is
greyish; quill-feathers dark-brownish; tail very long, hoary grey,
with a deep greenish gloss, particularly towards the tip ; legs purplish
black; iris brown. Length, 19 inches; tail, 10; tarsus, 1' 4 ;
wing, 9.
Fig. Schl. and Westerm. Monogr. Toerak, pi. 13.
Fam. CUCULID2E.
133. C u c u l u s C A N O R U S , European Cuckoo.
The European Cuckoo visits Africa during the northern winter,
but, as it has been more than once confounded with the ordinary
Cuckoo of the Cape (0. gularis), we have not at present any specific
details as to its range in the colony. It may be distinguished from
the last named bird by having the upper mandible black as well as
the nostrils, and by not having bars across the tip of the outer tail-
feather. Mr. Ayres has shot it in Natal, but considers it very rare
there. Our friend Mr. F. A. Barratt, has also, killed it at a farm
about sixteen miles north-east of Bloemfontein: elsewhere in South
Africa, it has not been recorded, but Mr. Andersson says it is
occasionally observed in Damara Land. Specimens were in his last
collection also from Ondonga, and Senor Anchieta has likewise procured
it at Biballa in Mossamedes.
Adult Male.—Above ashy grey, much darker on the back, where it
is glossed slightly with greenish; the head, rump, and upper tail*
coverts much paler grey; wing-coverts dark grey, with scarcely any
d 2