on the Birds q/ South-eastern China. 189 



There are reasons for being fairly sure that a female 

 Cacomantis always lays an egg of the same type. 



At the end of the summer there is an alteration in the 

 song of the male, and some of his notes are dropped, 

 especially those which terminate the call. 



The food consists of insects, and caterpillars are a favourite 

 article of diet, enormous quantities being eaten. 



This bird was not observed after the second week in 

 September. 



Eight eggs average '72 x 'o3, and vary in length from '73 

 to '70, in width from '54 to '51. (See Plate V. fig. 9.) 



EUDYNAMIS HONORATA. 



The Koel is a common summer visitor, and on rare 

 occasions remains for the winter as well, but then only on 

 the coast. These birds first appear from the south about 

 March 8, and the main body about the middle of that 

 month. In addition to those ^vhich spend the summer a large 

 number pass through to parts further north, and on the return 

 journey the birds are most numerous during October. 



The call of the Koel is very well known and advertises its 

 arrival in the district at once, but at times, especially after 

 dark, it was heard to utter a dissyllabic note, quite different 

 from its usual diurnal one. On these occasions the Grackles 

 also began to call, making considerable noise. 



In southern China, as Swinhoe was aware, this Cuckoo 

 lays its eggs in the nests of the Grackle {Graculipica 

 nigricollis). The eggs of the Koel have been found from 

 May 7 until August 1, so that a considerable number are 

 probably laid in a season. Although it is usual for one egg 

 of a Koel to be found with a clutch of the Grackle, two, 

 three, and four have been at different times obtained. On 

 one occasion four eggs were found in a Crackle's nest, 

 all of which from their measurements and appearance were 

 almost certainly those of one Koel. 



As far as could be ascertained, there was never any 

 attempt on the part of the young Koel to eject the young 

 Grackles from their rightful tenement, and the latter were 



