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.