+Coccyzus melanocoryphus+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 108; _Durnford, Ibis_, 1877, p. 186 (Buenos Ayres); _Barrows, Auk_, 1884, p. 28 (Entrerios); _Withington, Ibis_, 1888, p. 468 (Lomas de Zamora). +Coccyzus seniculus+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 444 (Paraná, Tucuman). _Description._--Above pale greyish brown; head cinereous; a black stripe through the eyes: beneath white, more or less tinged with ochraceous; tail black, tipped with white; two central rectrices like the back; bill black: whole length 11·5 inches, wing 4·7, tail 5·7. _Female_ similar. _Hab._ South America. The "Coucou," so called from its note, is the commonest species of the genus in the Argentine Republic, and has an extensive range in South America. In September it migrates south, and a pair or a few individuals reappear faithfully every spring in every orchard or plantation on the pampas. At intervals its voice is heard amidst the green trees--deep, hoarse, and somewhat human-like in sound, the song or call being composed of a series of notes, like the syllables _cou-cou-cou_, beginning loud and full and becoming more rapid until at the end they run together. It is a shy bird, conceals itself from prying eyes in the thickest foliage, moves with ease and grace amongst the closest twigs, and feeds principally on large winged insects, for which it searches amongst the weeds and bushes near the ground. The nest is the flimsiest structure imaginable, being composed of a few dry twigs, evidently broken by the bird from the trees and not picked up from the ground. They are laid across each other to make a platform nest, but so small and flat is it that the eggs frequently fall out from it. That a bird should make no better preparation than this for the great business of propagation seems very wonderful. The eggs are three or four in number, elliptical in form, and of a dull sea-green colour. 273. COCCYZUS CINEREUS, Vieill. (CINEREOUS CUCKOO.) [Plate XIII.] [Illustration: COCCYZUS CINEREUS.] +Coccyzus cinereus+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 108; _Hudson, P. Z. S._ 1870, p. 88 (Buenos Ayres); _White, P. Z. S._ 1882, p. 620 (Buenos Ayres); _Barrows, Auk_, 1884, p. 28 (Entrerios); _Withington, Ibis_, 1888, p. 468 (Lomas de Zamora). _Description._--Above cinereous, wings blackish; tail above blackish, beneath cinereous; lateral rectrices tipped with white: beneath, throat and breast pale cinereous, passing into white in the middle of the belly; under wing-coverts, flanks, and crissum ochraceous; bill black: whole length 9·0 inches, wing 4·5, tail 4·5. _Female_ similar. _Hab._ Paraguay and Argentine Republic. The Cinereous Cuckoo is smaller than the preceding species, and also differs in having a square tail and a more curved beak. The beak is black, and the irides blood-red, which contrasts well with the blue-grey of the head, giving the bird a bold and striking appearance.