THE KOEL AND ITS ALLIES 315 



quire hand -feeding for a longer period 

 than other birds. As they grow old, 

 their food is varied with various fici, 

 the fruit of Bokul {lUmusops elengi) and 

 Telakucha {llomordica monadelpha ), — a 

 sort of creeper which grows wild in this 

 country during the rainy season and the 

 fruits of which become cherry -red when ripe. 

 The Koel is a perfect gourmand and, when 

 feeding, devours more than the capacity 

 of its stomach. But as it soon disgorges 

 much of what it has eaten, the habit 

 results in little harm. The Cuckoos are 

 kept in this country in large, round, 

 bamboo cages, which are generally cover- 

 ed up. In the case of the Papiya 

 (Hawk- cuckoo) or the Bau-katha kao (Indian 

 Cuckoo), this covering is a necessity, for 

 they are delicate birds and, unless kept 

 warm, are not able to bear the exteme- 

 ly humid atmosphere of this country 

 during the rains. The Koel, however, 

 is a wonderfully hardy and long-lived 

 bird and has been known to live up to 



