DASYLOPHUS SUPERCILIOSUS.
(Hairy-browed Cuckoo.)

Phenicophaus superciliosus, Drap., Dict. Class. d’Hist. Nat. x. p. 55 (1826, ex Cuv. MS.) ; Less., Man. d’Orn. ii.
p. 127 (1828) ; Guérin-Ménev., Iconogr. Régne Anim. Cuy. Die secrete

Melias superciliosus, Less., Tr. d’Orn. p. 133 (1831).

Dasylophus superciliosus, Swains., Classif. B. ii. p. 324, fig. 286a (1837); Gray & Mitch., Gen. B. ii. p. 459,
pl. 116 (1845); Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. A. S. B. p. 75 (1849); Bp., Consp. Gen. Av. i. p-. 98 (1850) ;
Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. iv. p. 70 (1862) ; Gray, Hand-l. B. ii. p. 206 (1870); Sharpe, P. Z. S.
1873, p. 603, fig. 7; Wald., Trans. Z.S. ix. p. 162 (1875).

Phenicophaus ornatus, Blyth, J. A. S. B. 1842, p. 925.

 

Tue genera of the subfamily Phencophaine seem to possess, one and all, well-marked structural characters ;
but in none is this more distinctly the case than in the present beautiful bird, which is the typical and only
species of the genus Dasylophus. Many of the allied genera show striking differences in the form of the
nostril; but in this bird there is nothing in particular to observe with respect to this organ, excepting that
it is completely hidden by a large tuft of bristly plumes. No other Cuckoo, however, exhibits the extra-
ordinary well-developed tufts of red hair-like feathers which stand out in bold relief on either side of the
head, resembling in a slight degree the fantastic head-dress of an Indian chief.

As far as we yet know, this singular Cuckoo is only found m the island of Luzon, and is perhaps confined
to that locality. Dr. Meyer shot some in the above-named island; and I myself have received it from the
vicinity of Manilla.
Dr. Meyer’s specimens, states that the bill of a male bird is higher and stouter than that of a female.

Adult.—Black, glossed with green, the wings also green like the back, the quills more or less inclining
to steel-blue ; tail glossy green or black, with steel-blue reflexions, all the feathers broadly tipped with

Of its habits and economy we know literally nothing. Lord Walden, who examined

white; head black all round, rather shaded with olive on the side of the neck; sides of face bare round the
eye; lores and nasal bristles black ; over the eye a narrow line of white surmounted by a long eye-brow of
scarlet bristles, arranged in tufts and extending from above the lores to the sides of the occiput; rest of
a s : Wn

under surface dull olive green, washed with steel-blue on the flanks and under tail-coverts. Total length
15:7 inches, culmen 1:5, wing 6°38, tail 9-5, tarsus 1:45.

The description and figure are taken from a fine adult skin in my collection from Manilla,—whence also I
have a second bird, rather more oily-green in tint than the one described ;_ this specimen is also represented

in the Plate. The figures are of the natural size.