148 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



eggs in the nests of other birds, have long wings and short 

 legs, while Bush-Cuckoos, which always bring up their 

 own young, have short wings and long legs suited for run- 

 ning ; the Tree-Cuckoos on the rare occasions when they 

 come to the ground, being only able to hop. Cuckoos 

 usually have long rounded tails, and are very readily re- 

 cognizable when a few have been seen. 



The male and female are usually alike in plumage, but 

 the young, which are hatched naked, are very different 

 in first feather. Cuckoos have peculiar notes, and are 

 generally more heard than seen. They generally feed on 

 insects, and are exceedingly useful birds. Only in India 

 are any Cuckoos commonly kept as cage-birds, the calls 

 of our commonest species being much admired by the 

 natives. They are not hard to rear, but require hand- 

 feeding for a longer time than other birds. 



THE KOEL (Eudynamis honorata). This species, called 

 KoJcil in Bengali, is the commonest and most familiar of 

 Indian Cuckoos ; it is found all over India, Ceylon, and 

 Burma, but does not ascend the hills above the warm 

 zone. It is a familiar object wherever there are trees 

 even in towns, and extends even to such outlying spots as 

 the Laccadives ; while its range to the Eastwards extends 

 to Flores. 



It is about as big as a large pigeon, with a long round- 

 ed tail ; its whole length being nearly a foot and a half. 

 It has a peculiar steady level flight, which makes it 

 easily recognizable. The cock and hen differ absolutely 

 in colour, the former being a glossy blue-black, while the 

 latter is brown, spotted with white on the head and back, 



