John Gould Birds New Guinea Calliechthrus leucolophus (White-Crowned Black Cuckoo) lithograph Antique Print 1875-1888.

Original hand-coloured lithograph designed & lithographed by William Matthew Hart for John Gould's (1804-1881), Birds of New Guinea and the adjacent Papuan Islands, including many species recently discovered in Australia. John Gould employed the finest lithographers of the day to create large hand-coloured lithographs that are some of the finest bird illustrations ever done. Gould had an excellent eye for detail, and closely supervised the work of his lithographers.

Birds of New Guinea and the Adjacent Papuan Islands was completed 7 years after Gould's death with the assistance of Gould's friend and associate Richard Bowdler Sharpe (1847-1909), who was in charge of the bird collection at the British Museum where he was Assistant Keeper of the Department of Zoology, and finalized this publication.

Published London between 1875-1888 (completed seven years after Gould's death)
Condition = Excellent
Page Size =37cm x55cm / 22 x 14.8 inch

Calliechthrus leucolophus (White-crowned Black Cuckoo or Common Koel)

Both Male and female depicted facing left. Adult black, white stripe down crown, under tail-coverts barred white, tail tipped white; iris dark brown, bill black, feet dark grey. They are in a wooded canopy, sitting on vine entwined branches. The White-Crowned Black Cuckoo has a diet mainly insects, including caterpillars, as shown in the lower birds beak, and other arthropods; also fruit.