310 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



insects taken by them, 253 were injurious 

 and only 1 beneficial. Both Cuculus 

 micropterus and Coccystes jacohiniis are 

 similarly beneficial. The young of the 

 latter bird have been observed to be fed 

 on caterpillars by its foster-parents, the 

 Babblers. How is it that the foster- 

 parent selects insects suited to the stomach 

 of its foster-child instead of selecting 

 those that are agreeable to itself ? The 

 Koel, however, is not insectivorous, but 

 lives exclusively on fruits. It generally 

 feeds on ficus fruits, specially those of 

 banian {ficus indica) and peepal {ficus 

 religiosa), Ficus nitida, Ficus comosa^ wild 

 date palms, berries of various species of 

 Livistona, red-coated seeds of Amoora 

 rohituka, and berries of Bokul {Ilimusops 

 elengi). Of cultivated fruits it has been 

 known to devour Litchies, Mulberries and 

 Guavas. Mason is of opinion that "it is 

 only of economic importance in that 

 it has the habit of depositing its Qgg^ 

 in the nest of the common species of 



