Some Indian Cuckoos 



this elaborate "mimicry" is pointless after all, 

 and a mere coincidence, such as one often finds 

 in the coloration of animals. The scientific 

 interest of this bird, however, is as nothing to 

 that excited by the noise it makes, which 

 generates a thirst for its blood in the average 

 Anglo-Indian mind. Imagine a bird trying to 

 whistle the words, "Brain-fever! brain-fever! 

 brain-fever ! " over and over again, till it has 

 reached the highest pitch its voice can compass, 

 and then after a short rest beginning again, and 

 you get some idea of the infliction — " When the 

 'eat would make your bloomin' eyebrows crawl," 

 as Mr. Kipling's Tommy says. The natives, 

 however, admire the note, and frequently attempt 

 to keep the minstrel caged, but with indifferent 

 success as a rule. My friend Mr. E. W. Harper, 

 however, sent one to the London Zoo some years 

 back. But it did not survive long, and never 

 regaled visitors with its melody. 



This species of hawk-cuckoo is confined to 

 the plains and comparatively low elevations in 

 the hills ; but there is also a true hill-species 

 {Hierococcyx sparverioides), which is a bigger 

 bird, and resembles a different hawk, the besra 

 (Accipiter virgatus). It has a similar note to 

 the low-country bird, but its nesting habits are 

 different and very interesting, as, while in the 

 Himalayas victimising some of the hill-babblers, 



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