a bird-name, «mentioned probably forthe first time in Le Vaillant's `Oiseaux d'Afrique,' beginningabout 1796; perhaps native African. An African or Indianspear-headed cuckoo: a name first definitely applied by Cuvierin 1817 to the birds of the genus Centropus.» (`Century.') The Australian species is Centropusphasianellus, Gould, or Centropus phasianus, Lath.It is called also Swamp-pheasant (q.v.), and Pheasant-cuckoo.