Zoological Illustrations Series II/Plate 7
African Black Cuckow.
Cuculus nigricans.
CUCULUS nigricans.
African Black Cuckow.
Family Cuculidæ.
Generic Character.—See Lesson. Man. 2. 119.
Specific Character.
Black glossed with blue; quills internally white, with blackish bands; tips of the lateral tail feathers whitish; bill and legs black.
The genus Cuculus, even as now restricted, contains a number of species, dispersed over the continents and islands of the Old World. In America they are not known: but the genus Coccyzus, which there represents the group, is one of those few which are common to both hemispheres.
The specific distinctions of birds having a uniform black plumage, is at all times difficult; and more so, when we attempt to identify them with the descriptions of authors. Of the black Cuckows of Africa, our bird comes nearest to the Coucou criard of Levaillant, (Ois. d'Af. pl. 204-5,) but differs in having the bill and feet black instead of yellow: it cannot be the Cuculus Indicus niger of Brisson, as that has the quills, internally, "tout à fait noir:" neither is it the black Indian Cuckow of Edwards, pl. 58, (Cuculus niger Lin.,) whose bill and feet are red. We were inclined to think that the second species of Buffon's Coukeels might be our bird, notwithstanding the difference of their locality; but Commerson's original description decides the question; his words are "Cuculus cristatus mindanensis cœruleo nigricans totus," (Buff. ed. Son. 54. p. 54.) Our bird has no crest. We have here consulted only original writers; for subsequent transcribers have so blended these birds under one name, that it is scarcely possible to disentangle their synonyms. M. Vieillot has increased the confusion, by transposing the specific names of Linnæus: the true C. niger, L. being his Orientalis (En. Meth. Orn. 1331).
Our bird was sent to us for examination by Mr. Ward. It is a genuine Cuckow: the nostrils being round, the third quill longest, and the second shorter than the fourth. It came from Western Africa.
Total length, 12½; bill, 11⁄10; wings, 6¾; tail, 6½.