after careful examination we liave not been able to recognize the
specific distinctness of tbe two birds, and as we know from tbe
writings of Yon Heuglin and Dohrn that the Emerald Cuckoo
migrates from Abyssinia and from Western Africa and only appears
in South Africa during the summer months, it is more likely that
there is only one species throughout the Continent.
The Emerald Cuckoo is abundant at the Knysna, and throughout
all the forest regions to the eastward along the sea-coast. The males
are killed in a proportion of at least ten to one female, from their
habit of perching on the topmost branches of trees, and from thence
uttering their loud call of love or defiance. This is easily imitated
by a whistler, and the bird will answer the whistle, and remain on
the look out for its supposed foe, until the shooter creeps up within
range.
Captain Shelley found them fairly plentiful about Durban and Pine-
town, where they frequent the thick forest. Mr. Ayres also writes
respecting the species in N a t a l T h e s e splendid birds, though
not by any means plentiful, are easily obtained in consequence of
their loud call, which they make at short intervals. They will remain
on the same tree, and nearly the same bough, for hours together; they
feed principally on caterpillars, but sometimes catch the winged
females of the white ant as they rise from the ground, darting upon
them similarly to the Flycatchers or Drongo Shrikes. It has a swift
dipping flight, similar to that of the Wagtails, and when disturbed
generally flies to a good distance. It frequents bushy country near
the coast.'”
It has not occurred to Mr. Andersson in Damara Land (though he
believes he saw it), nor to Senor Anchieta in South Western Africa,
but is met with in the interior of Angola proper.
Adult male.—Above brilliant metallic emerald-green, the plumage
having somewhat of a scaly and velvety appearance; wings and tail
of the same metallic green as the head, this colour likewise extending
over the sides of the face and throat as far as the fore neck; rest
of under surface bright golden yellow, the under tail-coverts broadly
barred with metallic green; the quills and tail glossed underneath
with metallic green, the bases of the primaries whitish, the outer
tail-feather also spotted on the outer web and tipped with white;
under wing- coverts golden yellow, the outer ones green; bill greenish
grey, blackish along the fine of gape and a t tip, malachite-green at
angle of mouth; feet and bare orbits lead-colour; iris, sometimes
brown, sometimes greyish {Heuglin).
Female.—Different from the male. Above metallic green, thickly
barred with rufous, the quills similarly marked, excepting on the primaries,
where the bars are more or less obsolete, leaving the groundcolour
brown, the quills brown underneath, very distinctly notched
with rufous or rufous white; under surface of body metallic green
barred with white, a little more narrowly on the under wing-coverts;
tail brown, the middle feathers glossed with metallic green, and
washed with rufous, the outer feathers white internally washed with
rufous, and spotted near the tips and on the inner web with metallic
coppery green.
Fig. Vieill. et Oud. Gal. Ois. i. p. 33, pi. 42.
138. C h r y s o c o c c y x c u p r e u s . Golden Cuckoo.
Ghalcites auratus; Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 250.
This is the commonest of the metallic Cuckoos, and it is to be distinguished
from C. smaragdineus by its white abdomen and banded
flanks. In this respect it resembles G. Maasi, but is larger than
that species and has the tail metallic greenish-blue, spotted with
white.
This beautiful little Cuckoo, knoym by the name of “ Didric,”
from its oft-repeated mournful cry of “ Di-di-di-didric,” is extremely
abundant throughout the Karroo. At Nel’s Poort, near Beaufort,
we have frequently seen a dozen or more in a morning, while their
loud notes were incessantly ringing in our ears; they are, however,
so shy that we only procured three specimens in as many months.
When calling, they perch on the summit of some dead branch, ready
to do battle with any male, or engage in an amorous chase after any
female that comes within their ken. They pursue each other with
great ardour, turning, twisting, and dashing about with much rapidity.
The stomachs of those examined contained nothing but small
insects chiefly swallowed whole.
We also obtained specimens at the Knysna, and from still farther
to the eastward. It appears in Mr. Chapman’s collection and has
been sent from Colesberg.
In Natal, Captain Shelley found it the rarest of the three metallic
Cuckoos about Durban, where he only saw it in collections. Mr.