408 CUCULID^E. 



Taccocua leschenaulti * (Less.). The Southern Sirkeer. 



Taccocua leschenaultii, Less., Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 352 ; Hume, Rough 

 Draft N. $ E. no. 219. 



Miss Cockburn, writing from the Xilghiris, says : " This 

 species, the Southern Sirkeer, is only found on the lower slopes of 

 the Blue Mountains. I have obtained only one nest ; this is large 

 and consists of sticks put together much in the style of the Crow- 

 Pheasant's nest. As only two white eggs were found in the nest 

 alluded to, I am not aware how many this bird lays. The nest 

 was discovered in the month of March." 



Mr. Gr. Vidal writes from the S. Konkan : " Bare. Found in 

 hill-side jungle. I obtained a nest with a single fresh egg on the 

 8th April. The nest, a thick loose cup of sticks and leaves, was 

 in a fork of a jambul (Eugenia jambdana) tree, about 12 feet from 

 the ground. The egg-cavity, about six inches in diameter, and 

 very slightly depressed, was profusely lined with green jambul 

 leaves. The egg is a dull glossless white oval." 



An egg kindly sent me by Miss Cockburn is of the usual Tac- 

 cocua type. A broad very perfect oval in shape, the shell rather 

 coarse and chalky in texture ; the colour white, with a dirty pale 

 yellowish or creamy tinge, confined apparently to an exterior film 

 of excessive thinness, which has here and there, especially about 

 the two ends, worn off so as to show a nearly white undeiiayer. 

 The egg measures 1-4 by 1*1, and was taken on the 1st of March. 



Taccocua sirkee (Gray). The Bengal Sirkeer. 



Taccocua sirkee (Gray), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 353; Hume, RoiKjh Draft 

 N. $ E. no. 220. 



The Bengal Sirkeer lays from May to August, building a broad 

 cup-shaped nest of twigs lined with green leaves, usually those of 

 the tree on which it is built. It is said at times to build a dome- 

 shaped nest, but I have never met with any of this form. It does 

 not seem to have any choice as to the kind of tree, nor does it 

 affect, like the Coucal, thorny species, but it selects, as a rule, 

 some well-concealed and little-frequented locality. The nest is 

 placed in some foliage-shrouded fork, sometimes only a few feet 

 from the ground, and never, according to my experience, at any 

 great height. In fact, I think it never chooses large trees, but 

 always low, thick ones, or even bushes. Three I take to be the 

 normal number of the eggs ; at least I have never found more, 

 while on two occasions I met with only two hard-set ones. 



Mr. F. B-. Blevvitt says : " The breeding-season is from June 

 to August, but I cannot be sure that it does not lay at times 



* Captain Shelley unites together the four species of Indian Taccocua, and I 

 am inclined to agree with him. It is, however, more convenient to keep them 

 distinct in this work. Ei>. 



