a mottled surface above, and beneath uniform pale brown.
The feet are early well-developed, being, when the feathers
begin to grow, nearly as long as those of the adult. At this
age the claw of the middle toes is not serrated. The first
plumage much resembles that of the parents; but the males
have the spots on the wings and tail buff, more or less
mottled with brown, instead of pure white.*
* Mr. Hancock recorded (Ibis, 1862, p. 39) the occurrence, October 5th,
1856, at Killingworth in Northumberland, of a Red-necked Nightjar, Oapri-
mulgus rujicollis,—& South-European species, much resembling our own, but
distinguishable by its larger size, its lighter grey head and rufous collar. Other
examples may possibly have visited this country, and been mistaken for those
of the common species, but 0. ruficollis has a range so far to the southward that
its only known appearance in England, especially when the season of the occurrence
is considered, seems at present not to justify its being regarded as a “ British
Bird” . I t has not been recognized in any part of Germany, or even in central
France.
PICA UI/E. CUCULID^E.
C u c u l u s ca no ru s , Linnaeus*.
THE CUCKOW.
Cuculus canorus.
Cuculus, Linnmus f.—Bill short and subcylindrical, culmen somewhat de-
curved, upper mandible slightly notched near the t ip ; lower mandible nearly
straight beneath; gape wide. Nostrils basal, circular, with a prominent membranaceous
rim. Wings with ten primaries, the first short, the third longest,
the innermost three shorter than the first. Tail of ten feathers, the outer three
pairs graduated, the middle two nearly equal. Tarsi short, feathered for nearly
half their length ; toes two before, two behind.
# Syst. Nat. i. p. 168 (1766).
f Loc. cit.