Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, vol 2.djvu/427

Rh proved to me the great affection which they have towards their eggs. Their flight is much like that of the other species described by me, perhaps only more rapid and elevated when they are proceeding to some distant place.

CoccYzus Seniculus, Nuttall, Manual, part i. p. 558.

CucuLus Seniculus, Lath. Index Ornith. vol. i. p. 219.

Mangrove Cuckoo, Lath. Synops. vol. ii. p. 537-

Adult Male. Plate CLXIX.

Bill as long as the head, broad at the base, compressed, slightly arched, acute ; upper mandible carinated above, its margins acute and entire ; lower mandible carinated beneath, acute. Nostrils basal, lateral, linear-elliptical, half-closed by a membrane. Feet short ; tarsus covered with a few large scutella, which extend around it and meet behind ; toes two before, separated ; two behind, one of which is versatile ; their under surface broad and flat ; claws slender, compressed, arched.

Plumage soft, blended, slightly glossed. Wings long, the first quill short, the third and fourth longest and equal ; primaries tapering, second- aries broad and rounded. Tail very long, graduated, of ten feathers, which are broad and rounded.

Upper mandible brownish-black, lower mandible yellow at the base, blackish on the margin and at the end. Iris hazel. Feet greyish-blue. The general colour of the upper parts, including the wing-coverts and two middle tail-feathers, is light greenish-brown, the head tinged with grey ; primary quills umber-brown ; tail-feathers, excepting the two middle ones, brownish-black tipped with white, the outer more largely. The lower surface brownish-orange.

Length 12 inches, extent of wings 15 ; bill along the ridge 1, along the edge ; tarsus l^'g, longest toe l^.

The Female resembles the male, but is somewhat paler, especially on the lower surface, which is tinged with grey.

The Seven Years' Apple, Catesby, plate 59.

The plant, on a twig of which I have represented the Mangrove Cuckoo, is found on all the Florida Keys, and at times is seen growing in large patches on the mud flats that exist between the outer islets and the mainland. The leaves are thick, glossy above, furred, and of a dull brown colour beneath.