312 PET BIRDS OF BENGAL 



Koel even when the latter has attained 

 full plumage ? The Koel victimises the 

 two common crows — Cor mis splendens and 

 Corvus macrorhyncus. Cuculus micropteriis 

 uses the nests of the Indian Blue-chat 

 (Larvivora brunnea), the Himalayan Str- 

 eaked Laughing Thrush {Trochalo]3terum 

 lineatum) and the Western Variegated 

 Laughing Thrush {T» simile) as also those 

 of the Brown Hill Warbler {Suya crini- 

 gera), the Golden Bush-Robin {Tarsiger 

 chrysocus) and Niltava sundara. Both 

 the Hawk-cuckoo and the Pied Crested 

 Cuckoo invariably deposit eggs in the 

 nests of the Argya or Crateropus group 

 of Babblers, the species being apparently 

 a matter of indifference. Eggs of the latter 

 bird have also been taken from nests of 

 Bulbuls {Molpastes hengalensis), the lora 

 (Aegithina tiphia) and oi Alcippe nepalensis. 

 The eggs of the Koel roughly resem- 

 ble crow's eggs, but are smaller and 

 broader. The ground-colour is a tint of 

 green or greenish yellow, densely marked 



