HODGSON'S HAWK-CUCKOO. 109 



under the impression that I have shot it at all periods of the year. It has 

 a loud melodious call, which it utters from the summit of a tall tree. 

 According to Mr. Hodgson this bird lays its eggs in the nests of other 

 birds ; but according to another observer it makes its own nest. Mr. 

 Hodgson's statement is probably the correct one. 



The Cuckoos of this genus are barely separable from Cuculus in 

 structure; but they are remarkable for having portions of the lower 

 plumage streaked, giving them the appearance of Hawks. 



H. nisoides, Blyth, founded on a single specimen in the British Museum 

 from Nipal, is like H. sparverioides, but conspicuously smaller, the wing 

 being only 7*5 inches in length. 



493. HIEROCOCCYX NISICOLOR. 

 HODGSON'S HAWK-CUCKOO. 



Hierococcyx nisicolor, Hodys., EL J. A. S. B. xii. p. 943 ; Jerd. B. Ind. i. p. 330 ; 

 Hume, S. F. v. pp. 96, 347 ; Hume $ Dav. S. F. vi. p. 157 ; Hume, S. F. viii. 

 p. 88 ; Oatcs, S. F. x. p. 193. 



Description. Male and female. The whole upper plumage, coverts and 

 wings deep ashy, the rump and upper tail-coverts tipped rather paler ; the 

 inner webs of the primaries and secondaries barred with white ; tail ashy 

 brown, tipped with ferruginous, with a broad subterminal black band 

 and five narrower bars, two of which are generally concealed by the 

 coverts ; the narrower black bars are bordered below by pale rufous ; chin, 

 sides of the head and neck deep ashy; lores and base of the lower man- 

 dible whitish ; throat and fore neck pale rufous-white streaked with grey ; 

 breast, abdomen and sides of the body bright rufous, the centres of the 

 feathers ashy, giving a striped appearance ; vent and under tail-coverts 

 white. 



Legs, feet, claws and eyelids bright yellow ; gape greenish yellow ; 

 lower mandible and region of nostrils pale green ; upper mandible horny 

 black ; irides orange-red. (Davison.) 



Length 11 '5 inches, tail 6*1, wing 6*8, tarsus *8, bill from gape 1*2. 

 The female is of the same size. 



Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo occurs but sparingly in Burmah. I procured 

 one specimen near Kyeikpadein in November and another near Tonghoo, 

 and Mr. Davison obtained one near Thatone in Tenasserim. I am not 

 awaro of any other instance of its being met with in Burmah. 



It was first described from Nipal, and it is also recorded from Malacca. 



Nothing is known regarding its habits. 



