THE CUCKOOS. 149 



and barred with that colour on the wings, tail, and under- 

 parts ; altogether she rather reminds one of a hen pheas- 

 ant in colour. Both male and female have pale green 

 bills, bright red eyes and lead-coloured feet. 



Young birds have black bills and grey eyes ; in plumage 

 they resemble adults of the corresponding sex, but not 

 completely, young cocks being usually slightly marked 

 with buff, and young hens having the head and top of the 

 neck black. But there appears to be some variation, 

 so that young cocks may be found in female plumage 

 and vice versa. 



Unlike most Cuckoos the Koel feeds on fruit entirely 

 or almost so ; and under the circumstances is probably 

 rather an undesirable bird in a garden. It is, however, 

 much beloved by natives, who admire its fine mellow call, 

 and it is with them quite a bird of romance, the locks of 

 beauty being compared to its glossy plumage. It deserves 

 a certain amount of consideration from everyone, not 

 only on account of its beauty and musical capacities, but 

 for being one of the very few creatures which scores off 

 the Crows, those birds being the foster-parents which it 

 selects for its young. The House-Crow is the usual victim, 

 and the egg of the Koel is a miniature of a Crow's egg, 

 being about an inch long, and green with brown spots. 



Sometimes two Koels' eggs may be found in one Crow's 

 nest, and at times the big black Jungle-Crow has to do 

 parental duty for the Koel. The most curious thing about 

 the whole business is that the Crows, although they bring 

 up the young Koel and feed it even after it has left the 

 nest, yet evidently know there is something wrong, for 



