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The arch-enemy of the crow is the koel, the bird 

 whose crescendo note drives the European to dis- 

 traction, but is, to the ears of the Asiatic, divine music. 

 The koel is a cuckoo and hence declines to build 

 a nest or to rear up its own young. Cuckoos live up 

 to two mottos. These are: " Never do yourself that 

 which you can make another do for you " and " To 

 do others in the eye is the noblest of all deeds." 



Now cuckoos are brilliant criminals. There is some 

 humour in their crimes. The)^ remind me of the 

 dacoits who looted the camp of the late Lieutenant- 

 Governor of the United Provinces. As a rule, cuckoos 

 are not content to compel some wretched little bird 

 to do their nursemaid's work for them; they take a 

 positive delight in making fools of the birds which 

 pride themselves on their vigilance and cuteness. 



One cuckoo has actually selected the king-crow, of 

 all birds, as its victim. It is able to perform this 

 astounding feat by dressing up like its dupe. It puts 

 on black plumage and decks itself in a long forked 

 tail. Thus, when it is seen side by side with a real 

 king-crow, it is not easy to say which is which. The 

 drongo himself cannot distinguish this cuckoo from 



