30 THE BIRDS OF CALCUTTA. 



though afterwards they become mottled with white below, 

 and it is years before this marking disappears altogether. 

 The eggs that give them birth are very pretty, being sal- 

 mon-coloured spotted with red, though pure white ones 

 are not uncommon. They are deposited in an open nest 

 in a tree, which the parents vigorously defend ; but these, 

 with all their care, are liable to be imposed upon by a 

 remarkable cuckoo (Surniculus lugubris), which is one of 

 the very best instances of mimicry in nature, since it re- 

 sembles the Drongo, not only in size, but in colour and 

 form, having a forked tail, an altogether exceptional fea- 

 ture in the cuckoo family. No doubt the impostor benefits 

 in a general way by resembling a bird which is given to 

 making itself respected by others, but the special advan- 

 tage secured is probably greater security in foisting its 

 unwelcome offspring on the Drongos ; this, however, it 

 does not always accomplish successfully, for an instance 

 has been recorded in vrhich the unfortunate cuckoo was 

 actually seen to be pecked to death by them. 



I am not aware that this Drongo- cuckoo is found about 

 Calcutta, but this may possibly be the case, as it .is no 

 doubt often passed over as a King- Crow ; but anyone who 

 notices one of these which looks a little different from the 

 rest, and on watching it finds that it has the toes in pairs 

 after cuckoo fashion, will know that he has seen a speci- 

 men of the mimic. 



There is one thing about the King-Crow that puzzles me 

 considerably. Very often I have noticed that one of the 

 forks of the tail is much worn away ; whether the right 

 or the left I have not observed, nor can I suggest an 



