THE OOLOGY OF INDIAN PARASITIC CUCKOOS. 73 



for help and specimens and for the generosity with which he has given 

 me the use of all his notes and the loan of his fine series of eggs. 



I feel that apologies are due in advance for the risk run of hurting 

 the feelings of anyone who has helped me with notes and specimens by 

 the appearance of doubt. I hops, however, that they will understand 

 that my intentions are of the best, and when they see how I rate the 

 value of the evidence which I myself can produce, they will realize that 

 a verdict of " non proven " carries no insult with it, and is merely an 

 incitement to the production of such proof as cannot be gainsaid, viz., 

 an actual oviduct egg. 



I have shot Cuckoos off other birds' nests which contained Cuckoos' 

 eggs, yet the bird I shot might possibly only have been exploring and 

 the egg laid by some other Cuckoo ; I have trapped Cuckoos on other 

 birds' nests which contained undoubted Cuckoos' eggs, yet the same 

 trapped birds, again, might have been intent on pilfering, &c, and not 

 have laid the eggs so found. Of course, when such captures take place 

 twice, and the eggs and birds are identical in the two cases, there is a 

 very strong presumption that the identification is correct. 



Our Indian Cuckoos of the family Cuculidce are divided by scientists 

 into two sub-families — the Cucidinai and Phcenicophainai : the genera 

 composing the former have the shanks or tarsi more or less feathered, 

 whereas those of the latter have them quite naked. The only parasitic 

 Cuckoo belonging to this second group is the Common Indian Koel 

 (Eudynamis honorata), all our other parasitic Cockoos belonging 

 to the former. 



As this article is one on eggs more than on the layers of them, no 

 minute description of the birds will be given, but it is hoped that the keys 

 will suffice to enable the genera and species to be identified without 

 difficulty. 



The general outward appearance of the family is passerine, but the feet 

 are zygodactyle, i.e., the first and the fourth toes both point backwards, 

 as in woodpeckers and others. The feet and legs are also, as a rule, 

 exceptionally feeble, but the wings are strong, and generally long and 

 pointed, so that Cuckoos have swift flight : the bill is slightly curved 

 throughout, the gape rather wide and frequently conspicuously coloured. 

 The species of the genus Cuculus, containing the Common English 

 Cuckoo, and of the genus Hieromccyx, which contains the Brain-fever 

 Bird, are very hawklike in their barred and banded plumage. 

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