THE KOEL AND ITS ALLIES 293 



Koel out-crows the crow in cunning and 

 stratagem : and its iniquities seem to 

 be a sort of nature's revenge on the 

 iniquitous life of the crow. While all 

 other parasitic cuckoos select weaker 

 and inoffensive birds on which to foist 

 off their eggs, the Koel only finds 

 delight in incurring the risks of imposing 

 on a laro'e, and more vioforous bird. Ins- 

 pite of all their faults, the crows are fond 

 parents and devote themselves heart and 

 soul to the nursing of their children, only 

 to find out that all their labours have been 

 in vain, that those they were nursing and 

 feeding with so much care and attention, 

 are not their own flesh and blood but the 

 offspring of their detestable enemies. They 

 are unable to fathom how this calamity 

 comes to pass and how they are tricked 

 into brino^ins: ud the children of others. 

 They, therefore, nurse in their bosom bitter 

 hatred against the Koel, which they 

 pursue in rage at the very sight. The 

 cuckoo never tarries to make a stand but 



