334 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



be more commonly assumed in this species, than the supposed 

 similar state of canorus and others. 



As I consider that the race spread throughout most of India 

 diifers from the ordinarily rufous-bellied one found commonly in 

 Bengal, and exclusively in the Burmese countries, I have retained 

 the name of nigra for it, and transferred the name of tenuirostris 

 to the other race. 



The Plaintive Cuckoo is found over all India, in woody countries. 

 It is most abundant on the Malabar coast, in the Wynaad, and on 

 the warmer slopes on the top of the Neilgherries ; rare in the 

 Carnatic, but found here and there in jungly places, and on the 

 Eastern Ghauts; also in Central India; rare in Lower Bengal, and 

 up to the foot of the N. W. Himalayas. It is said to be common 

 in Ceylon, appearing in February. 



It frequents forests, groves, gardens and low bush-jungle, 

 wandering about much, and hunting for caterpillars and other soft 

 insects. It has a plaintive call of two syllables, the last one 

 lengthened out, which Mr. Elliott made ivhi, whew, — ivhi whew 

 whew, — and which may be written as ka-veer ka-vee-eer, and 

 to which the bird, by pointing his head in different directions, as 

 he sits calling, gives a most ventriloquistic effect ; sometimes 

 appearing as if coming from one side, and immediately afterwards 

 from the opposite. It has also, at times, another call, very like 

 that of Hier-varius in style ; but delivered rapidly, and of course 

 more feebly. At Hyderabad I saw a bird of this species in grey 

 plumage seated on the trellis work of some creepers, in a garden at 

 the Residency, flapping its wings, and flitting a step or two every 

 now and then.. This attracted my notice, and on searching 

 I found the nest of a Prinia socialis with eggs, close to the spot 

 where the Cuckoo had been seated. I have no doubt that she 

 was meditating to deposit an egg there. Mr. Blyth relates 

 that he was informed by a native that he saw this bird endea- 

 vour to capture a butterfly with its feet. Gould states that the 

 egg of the allied C. cineraceus is fleshy-white, with spots of 

 purplish-brown. 



The rufous-bellied specimens have never, to my knowledge, 

 been obtained in any of the localities mentioned here, except in 

 lower Bcnc^-al, nor in Ceylon. 



