(CINEREOUS CUCKOO.)
[Plate XIII.]
[Illustration: COCCYZUS CINEREUS.]
+Coccyzus cinereus+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 108; _Hudson, P. Z.
S._ 1870, p. 88 (Buenos Ayres); _White, P. Z. S._ 1882, p. 620
(Buenos Ayres); _Barrows, Auk_, 1884, p. 28 (Entrerios);
_Withington, Ibis_, 1888, p. 468 (Lomas de Zamora).
_Description._--Above cinereous, wings blackish; tail above
blackish, beneath cinereous; lateral rectrices tipped with white:
beneath, throat and breast pale cinereous, passing into white in
the middle of the belly; under wing-coverts, flanks, and crissum
ochraceous; bill black: whole length 9·0 inches, wing 4·5, tail 4·5.
_Female_ similar.
_Hab._ Paraguay and Argentine Republic.
The Cinereous Cuckoo is smaller than the preceding species, and also
differs in having a square tail and a more curved beak. The beak is
black, and the irides blood-red, which contrasts well with the blue-grey
of the head, giving the bird a bold and striking appearance.
This species is not common, but it is, I believe, slowly extending its
range southwards, as within the last few years it has become much more
common than formerly. Like other Cuckoos, it is retiring in its habits,
concealing itself in the dense foliage, and it cannot be attracted by an
imitation of its call, an expedient which never fails with the Coucou.
Its language has not that deep mysterious, or _monkish_ quality, as it
has been aptly called, of other _Coccyzi_. Its usual song or call, which
it repeats at short intervals all day long during the love-season,
resembles the song of our little dove (_Columbula picui_), and is
composed of several long monotonous notes, loud, rather musical, but not
at all plaintive. It also has a loud harsh cry, which one finds it hard
to believe to be the voice of a Cuckoo, as in character it is more like
the scream of a Dendrocolaptine species.
The figure (Plate XIII.) is taken from a specimen of this species
obtained by Mr. Frank Withington in the Lomas de Zamora, and now in
Sclater's collection.