THE CUCKOOS, Lal 
In both stages the bird bears a most astounding resemb- 
lance in colour to the Shikra or common Sparrow-Hawk 
of India (Astur badius) in its corresponding plumages; 
and as the flight is also exactly like the Hawk’s, it is diffi- 
cult to tell the two birds apart unless one is near enough 
to see the difference in the beak. This, no doubt, is one 
reason why the Brain-fever Bird is so much better known 
by name than by sight. 
It is really a very common bird, found over most of 
India and Ceylon, and ascending the hills up to seven 
thousand feet. But it is not found in Sind or the Punjab, 
and doubtfully in Assam and Burma. In Ceylon it is 
stated to be a migrant, arriving in November. Its note, 
so much disliked by Europeans, though natives like it, is 
variously rendered as ‘‘brain-fever, brain-fever, &c.,’’ 
running up the scale, or as ‘*O lor’, O lor’, how very hot 
it’s getting ; I feel it, I feel it, &c.’’ I prefer the last ren- 
dering, as it gives the preliminary notes by which the bird 
gets his pitch, as it were; moreover, the sentiment is 
appropriate, as the bird is specially noisy from April to 
June, its breeding season, when it calls even by night. 
Unfortunately, the bird’s efforts at this season, when 
even the Nightingale would be a burden, are not appre- 
ciated, and would get a charge of shot as buckshot if 
the singer could be located—which he generally cannot. 
Those who are prejudiced against Brain-fever Birds should 
search the nests of the Satbhai or their relatives, for it is 
to these Babblers that the Hawk-Cuckoo entrusts her egg. 
As in the case of the Koel, the parasitic egg is like the legi- 
timate one, being of course blue in this case. 
