Some Indian Cuckoos 



first, and afterwards to become spotted, the males 

 ultimately turning black again. But about Cal- 

 cutta, at all events, this was not the case ; I never 

 saw a female nestling which was not spotted, 

 however young, while the young males never had 

 more than a few spots. I had an opportunity 

 of examining a good many, as the koel is a 

 favourite cage-bird with natives, and was con- 

 sequently often to be seen in the bazaars in 

 various stages of immaturity during the spring 

 months. 



Koels, unlike most cuckoos, thrive very well 

 in captivity. They are fed on satoo (pea meal), 

 made up into a paste with water, and kept in 

 wicker cages, usually not any too large. The 

 demand for them as pets arises from the admira- 

 tion the natives feel for their note, and the male 

 bird's beautiful glossy plumage is an additional 

 charm. Indeed, the koel serves the native poet 

 in several ways. The locks of beauty are com- 

 pared to his plumage, while his note is the symbol 

 of mellifluous speech, and he is also famed, like 

 our cuckoo, as the harbinger of spring. Un- 

 fortunately, the Indian spring is a little too 

 pronounced for European tastes, and as the 

 joyous bird keeps up his " kuk-kuk-ko-eel, ko- 

 eel, ko-eel " or his liquid " ho-ee-o " by night 

 as well as by day, he is not unduly beloved 

 by Anglo-Indians. When it is hard to sleep 



35 



