The GIANT CUCKOO, or CHANNEL-BILL (_Scythrops Novæ Hollandiæ_), the only
species with which we are acquainted, is grey upon the head, throat, and
breast; the mantle, wings, and tail are greenish grey, each feather
tipped with blackish brown; the hinder parts are indistinctly striped with
greyish brown; the tail-feathers deep grey, the four outermost tipped
with white, and decorated with a broad, black stripe, besides other more
delicate lines. The eye is brown, the bare patch by which it is surrounded
light scarlet, the beak yellowish grey, and the foot olive-brown. The
female is somewhat smaller than her mate. The latter exceeds two feet in
length; the wing measures thirteen, and the tail ten inches.
The Channel-bill, according to Gould, is a migratory bird in New South
Wales, arriving in October and departing again in January; whither it
proceeds is not known.
"This bird," says Latham, "is generally seen in the morning and evening,
sometimes in small parties of seven or eight, but more often in pairs.
Both on the wing and when perched, it makes a loud, screaming noise
when a Hawk or other bird of prey is in sight. In the crop and gizzard
the seeds of the red-gum and peppermint trees have been found; it is
supposed that these are swallowed whole, as the pericarp, or capsule, has
been also found in the stomach; exuviæ of beetles have also been seen,
but not in any quantity. The tail, which is of nearly the length of the
body, is occasionally displayed like a fan, and gives the bird a majestic
air. The natives seem to know but little of its habits and haunts; they
consider its appearance as an indication of blowing weather, and that its
frightful scream is produced by fear. It is not very easily tamed, for
Mr. White informs us that he kept one alive for two days, during which
time it would eat nothing, but bit at every one who approached it very
severely. The habits of this species are probably parasitic, for a young
bird given me by Lady Dowling was one of two taken from a branch while
being fed by birds not of its own species. The eggs I have seen were of a
light stone-colour, marked all over, particularly at the broad end, with
irregular patches of reddish brown; many of these were of a darker hue,
and appeared as if beneath the surface of the shell."
A young _Scythrops_ introduced into Dr. Bennett's aviary was, he tells
us, "placed in a compartment already occupied by a _Dacelo gigantea_,
or Laughing Kingfisher. Doubtless feeling hungry after its journey, it
immediately opened its mouth to be fed, when its wants were regularly
attended to by the _Dacelo_, which, with great kindness, took a piece of
meat, and, after sufficiently preparing it by beating it about till it was
in a tender state, placed it carefully in the gaping mouth of the young
_Scythrops_. This feeding process was continued until the bird was capable
of attending to its own wants. In the morning it used to perch on the
most elevated resting-place in the aviary, occasionally raising itself,
flapping its wings, and then quietly settle down again, after the manner
of Hawks when in confinement, and presenting much the appearance of that
tribe of birds."
* * * * *
THE BUSH CUCKOOS (_Phœnicophæï_) possess a slender body, long tail,
and small tarsi; the wings are short, the beak of moderate size and
very powerful; the region of the eye is bare, and the magnificently
tinted plumage of a hairy texture. These birds occupy India and the
neighbouring islands, one species alone being met with in Africa. We are,
unfortunately, but little acquainted with their habits, and as yet have
only ascertained that they frequent the inmost recesses of the forests,
and subsist upon insects.