354 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



This, the largest species of all, is found in the lower regions 

 of the Himalayas, in Nepal and Sikim, and the adjoining Terai ; 

 extending, it would appear from Horsfield's Catalogue, as far 

 north-Avest as Kumaon. Either this species, or T. sirkee, was 

 observed by Dr. Adams, wlio saw it in flocks, with a loud harsh 

 voice and feeble flight. It had partaken of lizards, locusts, and 

 beetles. 



222. Taccocua affinis, Blyth. 



J. A. S., XV, 19— Blyth, Cat. 379. 



The Central Indian Sirkeer. 



Descr. — Above, dusky-brown, tinged with green ; neck and 

 breast brownish ashy ; belly and lower tail-coverts ferruginous ; 

 tibial plumes brownish. 



Bill, irideSj and feet, as in sirkee, but the bill vertically deeper 

 and more abruptly curved. 



Length 17 inches ; wing 6 ; tail 9 ; tarsus 1^. 



This species most resembles 2\ infuscata in colour, but it is 

 smaller ; the breast is less rufescent, and the lower parts are not so 

 dark as in that species ; its legs too are more slender, and the bill 

 different. It has been procured in Central India, Midnapore, 

 Rajmahal, and Monghyr. I procured it only at Saugor ; unless it 

 was the species I obtained at Jaulnah in the Deccnn, which, from 

 the dimensions given exceeding those of Southern India, it 

 probably was. 



Blyth remarks that it is possible that these four races may prove 

 to be local varieties of a single species. 



The American Cuckoos have points that ally them both to Coc- 

 cystes and Centropus, and it may be that they do not form a 

 decided family group, but grade into the Old World forms. IMany 

 of them are ground-feeders, and they have elongated tarsi. None 

 are truly parasitic, but Coccyzus Americanus has been known to 

 deposit her eggs in the nests of other birds. Diplopterus is a 

 remarkable form, Avith the aspect of a Taccocua ; beneath the tail 

 coloured like that of a Plornblll, white, with a broad central black 

 band. 



