cuckoo

n.

common English bird-name.The Australian birds to which it is applied are – – Black-eared Cuckoo – – Mesocalius osculans, Gould.

♣ Bronze C. – – Chalcoccyx plagosus, Lath.

♣ Brush C. – – Cacomantis insperatus.[Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. iv. pl.87.]

♣ Chestnut-breasted C. – – C. castanei-ventris, Gould.

♣ Fantailed C. – – C. flabelliformis, Lath.

♣ Little-bronze C. – – Chalcoccyx malayanus, Raffles.

♣ Narrow-billed bronze C. – – C. basalis, Hors.

♣ Oriental C. – – Cuculus intermedius, Vahl.

♣ Pallid C. – – Cacomantis pallidus and C. canorus, Linn.

♣ Square-tailed C. – – C. variolosus, Hors.

♣ Whistling-bronze C. – – Chalcoccyx lucidus, Gmel.

In New Zealand, the name is applied to Eudynamistaitensis (sc. of Tahiti) Sparm., the Long-tailed Cuckoo;and to Chrysococcyx lucidus, Gmel., the Shining Cuckoo.The name Cuckoo has sometimes been applied to the Mopoke (q.v.) and to the Boobook (q.v.). Seealso Pheasant-cuckoo.

1855. G. W. Rusden, `Moyarra,' Notes, p. 30:

«The Australian cuckoo is a nightjar, and is heard only by night.»

1868. W. Carleton, `Australian Nights,' p. 19:

«The Austral cuckoo spoke

His melancholy note, `Mopoke.'»

1889. Prof. Parker, `Catalogue of New Zealand Exhibition,'p. 118:

«There are two species of the Longtailed Cuckoo ( Eudynamistaitensis), and the beautiful Bronze or Shining Cuckoo( Chrysococcyx lucidus). They are both migratory birds.The Long-tailed Cuckoo spends its winter in some of the Pacificislands, the Shining Cuckoo in Australia.»