THE KOEL AND ITS ALLIES 317 



one has to pay a handsome price. How- 

 ever much ordinary people may covet to 

 possess this bird, its high price serves 

 as brake on their inchnation. It is be- 

 sides an insectivorous bird and as it 

 does not take to Satoo as kindly as the 

 other Cuckoos, it is difficult to keep it 

 alive. If a proper and constant supply 

 of insects can be maintained, these Cuc- 

 koos turn out to be excellent cage-birds. 

 The Koel is probably a bird fit for 

 aviaries ; but in India it is so common 

 that it is a superfluity to keep it confined 

 for show purposes in the aviaries of the 

 Zoological Gardens. The Papiya has the 

 risk of being harassed by other birds on 

 account of its unhappy resemblance to 

 a hawk ; its presence in a mixed company 

 may also lead to the disquietude of 

 very small birds. The Bau-katha-kao 

 is too secretive for open aviaries. But if 

 proper arrangements are made according 

 to the habits of these birds, providing 

 thick cover and choosing: for their com- 



