104 BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 



Mr. Blyth records it from Moulmein in Tenasserim, and Capt. Wardlaw 

 Ramsay found it abundant on the tableland of Karennee. 



It occurs, according to season, over the greater portion of Asia, Europe 

 and Africa. 



The European Cuckoo appears to be merely a winter visitor to Burmah ; 

 but a few may breed in this country, for on the 8th of August I once shot 

 a bird which was so young that it was in all probability born in Burmah 

 or close by in one of the adjacent countries. I have never heard its 

 familiar call in Burmah ; but Capt. Wardlaw Ramsay states that he heard 

 the note quite commonly in Karennee. It is well known that this Cuckoo 

 lays its eggs in the nests of other birds ; and if it breeds in Burmah its 

 egg will probably be found in the nest of some Timeliine bird. 



489. CUCULUS MICROPTEEUS. 

 THE INDIAN CUCKOO. 



Cuculus micropterus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 137 ; Jerd. B. Ind. i. p. 326. no. 203 ; 

 Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 395 ; Bl. 8f Wald, E. Burm. p. 79; Hume, S. F. iii. 

 p. 79 ; David et Oust. Ois. Chine, p. G4 ; Hume fy Dav. S. F. vi. p. 156 ; Leage, 

 Birds Ceylon, p. 228 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 88 ; Oates, S. F. x. p. 193. 

 Cuculus affinis, A. Hay, Bl. J. A. S. B. xv. p. 18 j Bl. B. Burm. p. 79 , 

 Wardlaw Ramsay, Tiveedd. Mem. p. 671 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 88. Cuculus 

 striatus (Drap.), apud Jerd. B. Ind. i. p. 328. no. 204. 



Description. Male and female. Forehead, crown, nape, sides of head 

 and neck and the cheeks ashy, pale on the sides of the forehead ; chin, 

 throat and fore neck pale ashy ; upper plumage and wings brown ; the 

 inner webs of the quills barred with white; the upper tail-coverts tinged 

 with ashy ; tail ashy brown, tipped with whitish and with a broad sub- 

 terminal black band ; all the feathers with white spots along the shaft, 

 turning to bars on the outermost ones ; the edges of the central feathers 

 marked with spots of rufous ; breast, abdomen, vent and sides of the body 

 white, with numerous broad black cross bars ; under tail-coverts white, 

 with a few indistinct bars. 



Young birds are dark brown ; the feathers of the upper plumage broadly 

 tipped with rufous ; the head barred with rufous -white ; the lower plumage 

 pale fulvous, with interrupted broad black bars ; tail much as in the adult, 

 but the spots and marks rufous. 



Iris rich brown ; eyelids greenish plumbeous, the edges deep yellow ; 

 gape yellow ; a small portion of the upper mandible under the nostrils 

 and the greater portion of the lower mandible dull green ; remainder of 

 the bill dark horny black ; legs yellow ; claws dark horn. 



