The Common Birds of the Nilgiris 



after dark makes a noise like that produced by 

 striking a plank with a hammer can be none 

 other than this species. 



THE CUCULID^ OR CUCKOO FAMILY 



The koel {Eudynamis honor at a) occurs on the 

 Nilgiris and has been shot at Ootacamund. It 

 betrays its presence by its loud ku-il, ku-il, 

 ku-il. The common cuckoo of the hills is 

 the hawk-cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius) or brain- 

 fever bird. Its crescendo brain-fever y brain- 

 fever, BRAIN-FEVER prevents any person 

 from failing to notice it. It victimises laughing- 

 thrushes and babblers. It has a large cousin 

 (H. sparveroides), which also occurs on the 

 Nilgiris, and which likewise screams brain-fever 

 at the top of its voice. Both species are like 

 sparrow-hawks in appearance. The handsome 

 pied crested cuckoo (Coccystes jacobinus), which 

 cuckolds the seven sisters, is a bird easy to 

 identify. It has a conspicuous crest. The 

 upper plumage is glossy black, save for a white 

 wing bar and white tips to the tail feathers. 

 The lower parts are white. 



The common coucal or crow-pheasant (Cen- 



tropus sinensis) is a cuckoo that builds a nest 



and incubates its eggs. It is as big as a pheasant, 

 219 



