CHAPTER VIII.

CUCKOOS--HONEY GUIDES--PLANTAIN-EATERS--WOODPECKERS--TOUCANS--BARBETS.

THE CUCKOOS--THE BUSH CUCKOOS--THE LARK-HEELED CUCKOOS, OR COUCALS--THE COMMON CUCKOO--Its Characteristics--Mrs. Blackburn’s Account of a Young Cuckoo Ejecting a Tenant--Breeding Habits--The Eggs--The Call-notes of Male and Female--Food--Its Winter Home--Its Appearance and Plumage--THE HONEY GUIDES--Kirk’s Account of their Habits--Mrs. Barber’s Refutation of a Calumny against the Bird--THE PLANTAIN-EATERS--THE WHITE-CRESTED PLANTAIN-EATER--THE GREY PLANTAIN-EATER--THE COLIES--THE WHITE-BACKED COLY--THE WOODPECKERS--How they Climb and Descend Trees--Their Bill--Do they Damage Sound Trees?--THE WRYNECKS--THE YAFFLE--THE RED-HEADED WOODPECKER--THE SPOTTED WOODPECKER--THE TOUCANS--Mr. Gould’s Account of their Habits--Mr. Waterton’s Account--The Enormous Bill--Azara’s Description of the Bird--Mr. Bates’ History of a Tame Toucan--THE BARBETS--Messrs. Marshall’s Account of the Family--Mr. Layard on their Habits 323

THE SECOND ORDER.--PICARIAN BIRDS. SUB-ORDER II.--FISSIROSTRES.