described by Linnreus and Gmclin. 327 



canus, h., ex Catesby (N. H. Carol, i. p. 9j t. 9) . Froin this view- 

 Mr. Sclater (P. Z. S. 18Gi, p. 119) differs. I must leave it to 

 others to decide between these two high authorities. 



Crotophaga ambulatoria, L., seemingly an original descrip- 

 tion, can be nothing but C. aiii, L. I introduce it here, belong- 

 ing as it does to the modern family of the Cuculida. 



The next six species arc from the east ; and five, if not all six, 

 belong to the genus Eudijnmnis. They are ; — 



1. C. honoratus, L., ex 13riss. Orn. iv. p. 136, no. 15, dcscr. 

 orig. 



2. C. scolopaceas, L., ex Edw. Birds, ii. p. 59, descr. orig. 



3. C niger, L., ex Edw. p. 58, t. 58, descr. orig. 



4. C. orientalis, L., ex Briss. p. 142, no. 18, descr. orig. 



5. C. jjunctatus, L., ex Briss. p. 134, no. 14, descr. orig. 



6. C. mindcmeims, L.^ ex Briss. p. 130, no. 12, descr. orig. 

 The species to which Linnaeus gave the title of honoratus was 



described by Brisson from a drawing made by Poivre of the 

 living bird. Brisson says " Habitat in Malabaria, ubi honores 

 ipsi redduntur." Hence the Linnsean title. No modern author, 

 I believe, has confirmed this statement ; but Latham, from an 

 independent source, mentions that the "Coweel'^ {C. indicus, 

 Lath.) is held in veneration by the Mahometans. Vieillot (N. 

 Diet. viii. p. 227) informs us that "cet oiseau, qui doit son 

 nom k la melodic et ^ Fetendue de sa voix, est en veneration 

 dans la presqu ile de PInde." He adds that its flesh, which is 

 blackish, tender, and agreeable to the taste, is much sought after 

 by those natives who, pot over nice, are rich enough to pay for 

 a " Cuil,^' which is always sold at a high price. He goes on to 

 quote, from the ' Essais philosophiques sur les moeurs do divers 

 animaux etrangers,' this native proverb, " C'est un grand bien 

 de manger le cuil, mais un grand peche de le fairc tuer." 

 Stephens accounts for the superstition by supposing that it is 

 because this bird " feeds on reptiles of the more noxious kinds 

 and insects.^' Some of the Indian correspondents of ' The Ibis ' 

 will perhaps let us know how much of all this we are to believe. 

 Recent authors maintain that the Koel is frugivorous. 



There can be no doubt, after reading Brisson's description, 

 that the bird Poivre figured was either a female or a young male 



z 2 



