THE CUCKOOS. 149 
and barred with that colour on the wings, tail, and under- 
parts ; altogether she rather reminds one of a hen pheas- 
ant in colour. Both male and female have pale green 
bills, bright red eyes, and lead-coloured feet. 
Young birds have black bills and grey eyes ; in plumage 
they resemble adults of the corresponding sex, but not 
completely, young cocks being usually slightly marked 
with buff, and young hens having the head and top of the 
neck black. But there appears to be some variation, 
so that young cocks may be found in female plumage, and 
vice versil. 
Unlike most Cuckoos, the Koel feeds on fruit entirely 
or almost so; and under the circumstances is probably 
rather an undesirable bird in a garden. It is, however, 
much beloved by natives, who admire its fine mellow call, 
and it is with them quite a bird of romance, the locks of 
beauty being compared to its glossy plumage. It deserves 
a certain amount of consideration from everyone, not 
only on account of its beauty and musical capacities, but 
for being one of the very few creatures which scores off 
the Crows, those birds being the foster-parents which it 
selects for its young. The House-Crow is the usual victim, 
and the egg of the Koel is a miniature of a Crow’s egg, 
being about an inch long, and green with brown spots. 
Sometimes two Koels’ eggs may be found in one Crow’s 
nest, and at times the big black Jungle-Crow has to do 
parental duty for the Koel. The most curious thing about 
the whole business is that the Crows, although they bring 
up the young Koel and feed it even after it has left the 
nest, yet evidently know there is something wrong, for 
