476 



50. Cuculus canorus, Linnaeus. 



Deccan ; at Poonali pretty common. Abundant from the lower 

 ranges to the limits of forest on the Himalayas ; commences to call 

 in March and ceases in June. I saw them on the Himalayas in 

 August and September, and was informed by natives that they re- 

 main all the year. 



51. Edolius cuckoo *. 



This bird is common in the Deccan and Western Himalayas, par- 

 ticularly in the Valley of Cashmere, where its loud note is heard in 

 every brake, and resembles the word " coel " repeated frequently. 

 The following is a description of one I shot at Poonah. Iris hazel ; 

 size of Blackbird ; crested ; crest and all upper surface of body black 

 glossed with green ; the tip of tail white ; a bar of white across the 

 wings ; lower surface of body a dirty white ; that on the throat and 

 neck tinted blue ; lower feathers of tail graduated, with white tips ; 

 feet black. No difference between sexes. Gizzard contained ca- 

 terpillars. 



52. Centropus rufipennis (Illiger). 

 Malabar Crow of Europeans. . 



Common in the neighbourhood of Poonah, not seen in the Pun- 

 jab or Himalayas ; frequents plantations ; flight easy and noiseless. 

 Gizzard contained grasshoppers and large insects. 



53. Centropus, sp. ? 

 Hooked-billed Cuckoo. 



These birds are common in low bushy places on the ranges near 

 Simla, W. Himalaya ; confined to the mountains ; gregarious ; notes 

 rough ; flutter from bush to bush like the Bush Thrushes ; size 

 about that of the Song Thrush ; bill much curved and a bright 

 scarlet, becoming fainter towards the tip ; the lower parts of the 

 body are ochreous brown, upper parts brown ; wings short and 

 rounded ; tail long, broad, and fan-like ; tarsus large and strong ; 

 feet rather small ; versatile toes nearly equal to lateral ; general 

 cast of plumage lax, and points of feathers spinous, especially about 

 the head and neck. Gizzard contained an entire lizard of about 

 3 inches in length, and several locusts, beetles, and large insects. 

 Always secreting itself in thick coverts, is oftener heard than seen. 



54. Caprimulgus, sp. ? 



A species very common on the lower ranges of the Himalayas. 

 Size of the British species. Crown of head brown, minutely barred, 

 the centre of a few feathers black ; a white spot on the throat ; the 

 four outer wing-quills barred with white, the two outer quills of the 

 tail broadly terminated with white ; claw serrated. 



55. Caprimulgus, sp. ? 



Seen rarely on the Western Himalayas; total length 10 inches: 

 * Oxyloj>hus melanoleucus (Gmel.). — F.M. 



