148 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 
eggs in the nests of other birds, have long wings and short 
legs, while Bush-Cuckoos, which always bring up their 
own young, have short wings and long legs suited for run- 
ning ; the Tree-Cuckoos, on the rare occasions when they 
come to the ground, being only able to hop. Cuckoos 
usually have long rounded tails, and are very readily re- 
cognizable when a few have been seen. 
The male and female are usually alike in plumage, but 
the young, which are hatched naked, are very different 
in first feather. Cuckoos have peculiar notes, and are 
generally more heard than seen. They generally feed on 
insects, and are exceedingly useful birds. Only in India 
are any Cuckoos commonly kept as cage-birds, the calls 
of our commonest species being much admired by the 
natives. They are not hard to rear, but require hand- 
feeding for a longer time than other birds. 
THE KoEL (Hudynamis honorata). This species, called 
Kokilin Bengali, is the commonest and most familiar of 
Indian Cuckoos ; it is found all over India, Ceylon and 
Burma, but does not ascend the hills above the warm 
zone. It is a familiar object wherever there are trees 
even in towns, and extends even to such outlying spots as 
the Laccadives ; while its range to the Eastwards extends 
to Flores. 
It is about as big as a large pigeon, with a long 
rounded tail; its whole length being nearly a foot and 
a half. It has a peculiar steady level flight, which makes 
it easily recognizable. The cock and hen differ absolutely 
in colour, the former being a glossy blue-black, while the / 
latter is brown, spotted with white on the head and back, 
