The RAIN BIRD (_Saurothera vetula_) is remarkable for the very peculiar
formation of its long, thin beak, which is almost straight, compressed at
its edges, and hooked at its tip. The tarsi are short and slender, the
toes long and meagre; the wings, in which the fourth, fifth, and sixth
quills are the longest, are of moderate size; and the long, graduated tail
is composed of ten rounded feathers. The plumage upon the entire mantle is
dark grey, and the under side reddish yellow, shading into light grey on
the breast, and into yellowish grey on the lower part of the belly. The
ten exterior quills are light brownish red, tipped with greenish brown;
the centre tail-feathers are grey, shaded with green; while those on each
side are blackish brown, tipped with white. The eye is nut-brown, and the
circle by which it is surrounded light scarlet; the beak is blackish, and
foot blueish black. The length of this bird is fifteen inches and a half,
and its breadth fourteen inches. The wing measures four inches and a half,
and its tail six inches and a quarter.
We are informed by Mr. Gosse that "the Rain Bird--sometimes called the
'Tom Fool,' from its silly habit of gratifying its curiosity instead of
securing its safety--is little seen except where the woods are high; but
it is widely scattered in mountain as well as in lowland. This species is
seldom seen to fly, except from tree to tree, more usually leaping in a
hurried manner along the branches, or proceeding up the perpendicular bole
by short jumps, pausing from time to time to gaze at any intruder, and if
driven away flying only a few yards and again peeping as before. When it
flies, it generally glides nearly in a straight line, without flapping the
wings. It often sits on a branch in a remarkable posture; the head lower
than the feet, and the long tail hanging nearly perpendicularly down.
When sitting it now and then utters a loud and harsh cackle, unvarying
in note, but increasing in the rapidity of its emission. Sometimes this
sound is produced during its short flight. All the time of this effusion
the beak is held wide open. It may be imitated by repeating the syllables
'ticky, ticky, ticky,' as fast as they can be uttered. The Rain Bird is
frequently seen on the ground in morasses and woods, when it proceeds by
a succession of bounds, the long tail held somewhat high, and the head
low; the tail is jerked forward by the impulse of each pause of motion,
and the whole action is like that of the _Crotophaga_. If held it becomes
very fierce, trying with widely-opened beak and expanded tail, to bite,
and uttering angry screams. A male that had been knocked down with a
stone, on being put into a cage, was outrageous when one's hand was placed
near the wires; darting from side to side, now and then snapping at the
hand, and snarling all the while, in the tone of an angry puppy. This bird
is extremely retentive of life. Sometimes, when a wounded one has come
into my possession, I have been distressed at the vain efforts I have
made to deprive it of life. In various individuals that I have opened,
I found large caterpillars, locusts, phasmata, spiders, phryni-spiders,
and, upon one occasion, a whole mouse. Robinson found in one a large
green anolis, six inches long, coiled up in a spiral manner, the head
being in the centre. He states that it bruises the heads of lizards, and
then swallows them head foremost. Mr. Hill kept a Rain Bird for several
weeks. It seized cockroaches and other insects when put into its box, and
ate fresh meat if chopped small. I have been able to ascertain nothing
of the nest, except what the following note may afford:--A young friend
informs me that he once observed a Rain Bird carrying 'trash' into the
hollow or fork of the divergent limbs of a logwood-tree. Some little while
after, passing that way, he observed a nest-like accumulation of similar
substances; but as it was beyond reach, he took a long stick to poke it
out. In doing so, he pushed out an egg, which was white, with many spots.
'When pairing,' observes Mr. Hill, 'the male bird attracts the female by
gracefully displaying his feathers. The long, graduated tail is expanded,
the short wings are spread, and the whole plumage is in motion, as the
male endeavours, by playful dalliance, to win his mate's attention.'"
* * * * *
The LONG-TAILED CUCKOOS (_Pyrrhococcyx_) possess a comparatively slender
body, and an elongate, slightly-arched, and hooked beak. The legs are
strong, the tarsi slender, and the toes of medium size. The wings, in
which the fifth quill exceeds the rest in length, are long. The long tail
is composed of ten feathers, slightly rounded at their extremities. The
plumage is thick, and unusually downy.