The Coucals frequent thick brushwood, cane plantations, and pasture land, and penetrate the densest masses of vegetation with surprising dexterity, in pursuit of the scorpions, snakes, lizards, insects, and birds' eggs, upon which they principally subsist. Their powers of flight are so limited as only to be employed in cases of extreme danger. The voice consists of various deep sounds, some of which seem produced by ventriloquism. The nests built by this family are carelessly formed, and placed among bushes or canes, or in long grass; in some instances, however, more care is evident in their construction, the upper portion being provided with a cover, and two entrances made in the side, the one for entrance and the other for egress. The brood consists of from three to five white eggs, which are hatched by the united efforts of both parents. The young, when first produced, are remarkably ugly. THE EGYPTIAN COUCAL. The EGYPTIAN COUCAL (_Centropus Ægypticus_), a species inhabiting Africa, possesses a comparatively short tail, and plumage of a reddish brown tint; the head and nape are black, the back and wings chestnut-brown; the tail-feathers greenish black, bordered with white; and all the lower portions of the body of a fallow-grey. The eye is bright purple, the beak black, and foot deep brownish grey. This species is fourteen inches long and sixteen and a half broad; the wing, in which the sixth quill exceeds the rest in length, is five inches and a half, and the tail seven inches and a half. The Egyptian Coucal is commonly met with in some parts of Egypt, and is by no means rare in other portions of North-eastern Africa; everywhere it frequents the dense woods and forests, or extensive beds of reeds, penetrating the densest thickets with all the wonderful dexterity of the Mouse Birds. Unlike most members of the family, this species leads an indolent and quiet life, frequently perching motionless at the summit of its bushy fastnesses, or hovering over their surface, while watching for its insect prey. Ants, we are told, it frequently consumes in such quantities as to impart a most revolting odour to its body. Like its congeners, the adult Spurred Cuckoo is always met with in company with its mate; while the young, on the contrary, often lead a solitary life for several years before pairing. The nest found by ourselves in the Delta was placed in the bushy crown of an olive-tree, and almost entirely constructed of the husks of maize; the young contained therein were partially fledged, the time of year being the month of June. We could not succeed in obtaining an egg. This Coucal is but seldom captured by the natives, owing to the impracticable nature of its favourite haunts and the uninviting savour of its flesh. We have but once seen it caught. * * * * *