664 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV. 



found one in March at an elevation of 2,100 feet at the edge of a thick 

 jungle. It was placed at the top of a stump about 6 feet from the 

 ground, and consisted simply of a few chips of rotten wood at the bottom 

 of a hollow four inches deep which the bird had dug out of the stump. 

 Here there lay two white eggs with the very slightest tinge of coffee 

 colour, very glossy and round — indeed they in all respects resembled 

 balls of rather old ivory. The eggs were 1*075 X '83 T w n „ 



1*0 X -92 



Order COCCYGES. 



Family Cuculim:. 



Sub-family Cuculince. 



(180) Cuculus canorus. — The Cuckoo. 



Blanford, No. 1104; Jerdon, No. 199. 



A rare winter visitor. The Museum has one specimen, shot in 



Trevandrum in February 1893. 



(181) Cuculus micropterus. — The Indian Cuckoo. 



Blanford, No. 1107 ; Jerdon, No. 203. 



The Museum contains two specimens only of this Cuckoo, both shot 



in the low country, one in February and one in May. I have never 



met with it in the hills. It frequents forest, and its loud cry may be 



heard in April and May, especially towards dusk. 



(182) Hierococcyx varius. — The Common Hawk-Cuckoo. 

 Blanford, No. 1109 ; Jerdon, No. 205. 

 This is a very common bird in the low country and about the foot 

 of the hills. I have only once seen one at 2,000 feet elevation ; it 

 usually keeps to the lower slopes. It is a resident and throughout the 

 hot weather (March to May) its exasperating cry may be heard by night 

 as well as by day. In Travancore it goes by the name of the Brain- 

 fever bird. 



(183). Cacomantis Passerinus. — The Indian Plaintive Cuckoo. 



Blanford, No. 1112; Jerdon, No. 208. 

 The Museum possesses only two specimens of this Cuckoo, both shot in 

 April in forest in the low country. I know nothing of its habits. 



(184) Penthoceryx sonnerati. — The Banded Bay Cuckoo. 

 Blanford, No. 1114 ; Jerdon, No. 202. 

 This bird is said to be common in the forests near the Malabar Coast. 

 This does not apply to Travancore, where it is decidedly rare. 



