( 53 ) 



for him on sight, which is all that is wanted, then clearing off to a safe 

 distance he renews his enquiries, so drawing the crows after him, 

 while the hen slips quietly in and lays her egg, taking away one of the 

 crows, on the principle perhaps that exchange is not robbery. 



The amusing thing is that the bird thus taken in is generally the 

 Common House-Crow, which, notorious for its low cunnino-j and the 

 brutality with which he victimises other birds. 



The Jungle Crow is also used as a foster-parent ; and in the Shan 

 States, and the Kachin hills, I have taken Koels eggs from the nest of 

 the Common Magpie. 



Their eggs are a greenish colour profusely spotted with brown, with 

 a decided resemblance to those of the Crow. 



Burmese name — Oh-aiu. 

 (No. 1 1 20. E. honorata) 



OTHER CUCKOOS. 



Of the non-parasitic cuckoos the large creen-billed Malkoha 

 (No. 1123. R. tristis) and Common Coucal or Crow pheasant (No. 

 1 130. C. sinensis) are commonest. The first is a dark grey bird with 

 an extremely long tail tipped with white, and is fairly plentiful in all 

 damp localities. It has a greyish head; body and tail dark glossy 

 green, underparts grey with "black stripes. It is generally to be found 

 haunting well-wooded nullass and the outskirts of thick jungle. It 

 builds an open-shaped nest and lays three or four chalky white eggs. 



Burmese na.me—Net-awk. 



THE CROW PHEASANT. 



The Crow or "Grifhns'^ Pheasant is a handsome long-tailed bird 

 with glossy blue-black head, upper and under parts black, and wings 

 and tail chestnut. It is found everywhere, but seems to prefer low- 

 iying damp valleys. Its note is a deep "Hoop, hoop, hoop," which 

 IS repeated several times. It builds a large domed nest during the 

 rains and lays three or four chalky white eggs. 



Burmese name — Boke. 



XXVI 



THE PAROQUETS. 



Parrots as a family require no description as they are the com- 

 monest cage bfrds of the East. Five species have been recorded 

 from Burma, and are all more or less common birds in suitable 

 localities. They are early breeders, many beginning nesting opera- 

 tions in Noveniber ; and lay white eggs in holes of trees or walls, 

 either excavating their own nests or appropriating those of other 



