Bill stout, culmen curved, neither cered nor hooked; tail-feathers
ten in number, usually long, broad, and not noticeably stiffened;
outermost pair of rectrices much shorter than the others; first
and fourth toes directed backward; front toes free. Nesting habits
variable, some species are parasitic, while others build bulky nests
and raise their young in the normal manner.
Suborder CUCULI.
Family CUCULIDÆ.
Characters same as those given for the Order.
Subfamilies.
a1. Wing longer and flatter, less curved to the body; distance
from tip of wing to tip of secondaries greater than culmen or
tarsus. ... Cuculinæ (p. 364)
a2. Wing shorter, more rounded and curved to the body; distance from
tip of wing to tip of secondaries less than either culmen or tarsus.
b1. Hind claw long and straight, lark-like. ... Centropodinæ (p. 380)
b2. Hind claw short and curved. ... Phoenicophainæ (p. 387)
Subfamily CUCULINÆ.