58 TALKS ABOUT BIRDS 



often to be seen at the Zoo. Another Indian 

 cuckoo which is now and then brought here 

 alive is one which has the curious name, 

 among English people living in India, of 

 " crow-pheasant " ; it is really not at all unlike 

 a small pheasant with a crow's head, as far as 

 shape goes, and, like a pheasant, it passes 

 much of its time in running about on the 

 ground, and does not fly much. As you may 

 judge from this, its habits are very different 

 from those of our cuckoo, which flies a great 

 deal and can only hop awkwardly when on 

 the ground. Indeed, the crow-pheasant is 

 more like our magpie in its ways ; it kills 

 small animals and young birds, and, when 

 taken young, makes a very tame pet. The 

 reason why I mention it here is that it builds 

 a nest for itself and rears its own young ; all 

 these large magpie-like cuckoos do this, and 

 there are many kinds of them, but only found 

 in warm countries ; none are European. 



There is a story of an American who had 

 read about the habits of the common cuckoo, 

 and was so indignant at the existence of such 

 a wicked bird, as he thought it, that he shot 

 every cuckoo he came across. Of course he 



