REVIEW. 321 



and the present writer has observed and heard it in the late hot 

 weather in the Khandesh Satpuras, where the Bhils knew it familiarly 

 enough to say that its peculiar call was a sign of rain. 



As this is a breeding call uttered by the males only, these at least 

 must be supposed to be in season then and there. But local proof of 

 their finding what one can hardly call mates is apparently wanting as yet. 



The Indian cuckoo, C. micropterus, is also found in our province, 

 but " scarcely anything seems known about the migration and breed- 

 ing." " Its call is a fine melodious whistle." We have also two 

 ' ' hawk-cuckoos," whose plumage and flight imitate those of hawks. 

 But they are not known to presume, upon this, to put their eggs into 

 hawks' nests. Probably, as their beak and claws are not raptorial, the 

 tables would be turned on the young cuckoo who tried to evict a con- 

 temporary " eyas," whose beak is nearly as sharp as the mother- 

 hawk's. 



But another cuckoo, Surniculus lugubris, imitates the common 

 " King-of-the-Crows " (Dicrurus), and does seem to profit by this dis- 

 guise to put off its own eggs upon the latter bird. It is not yet 

 recorded from our province, but will be — probably. 



We have two crested cuckoos {Coccystes), one of which, C. jaco- 

 binus, extends into Aft'ica. The other, C. coromandus, with chestnut 

 wings, has been once recorded in our province — by Mr. Vidal. 



After these come the PhcenicophamcBj the most of whom are 

 ground or bush cuckoos of irreproachable domestic manners. But 

 at the head of them — apparently for want of a better place — we find 

 the genus Eudynamis (spelt by Jerdon with two " ys ^' ), of which we 

 have one species, the well-known Koii {E. honorata). 



This horrid bird appears to be created just to show that something 

 can be wickeder and slyer than a crow. " Honoured" it is, indeed, 

 by the natives of India, with the support of our author, for its " rich, 

 melodious call-notes." Most Anglo-Indians are rather of the mind 

 of that Grifiin who answered to the thousandth shrill question 

 *' Who are you ? " " I'll jolly soon let you know who I am, with an 

 ounce of snipe-shot, you brute !" This, however, is commonly a vain 

 threat. The koil, indeed, is bold enough in approaching and annoy- 

 ing houses and tents. And this is part of his wickedness ; because 

 he knows well that at short ranges his impertinent questions are more 

 piercing and exasperating. But he can, hide his black plumage in 



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