Vol. xlii.J lOG 



are not found. Even here, however, it has been long enough 

 to have learnt to use the nests of Garrulax meniUaer and 

 pectoralis, whose eggs only differ in size and shape from their 

 own. Above three thousand feet it is out of its element 

 altogether and lays its eggs here, there, and everywhere, 

 and it is, therefore, improbable that it will ever become 

 numerous enough at higher elevations to render evolution of 

 a new egg necessary. It is curious to note that many of 

 its eggs, when laid in nests with eggs crudely contrasting 

 with its own, are deserted, as in the specimens shown of 

 Garrulax leiicoloplms, Lanhis nigriceps, etc. 



Equally common and working on similar lines are Clamator 

 coromandus and Hierococcyx varius. The former is a bird of 

 the low hills up to some 4000 feet, and it cuckolds with 

 the greatest regularity the species Garrulax moniliger and 

 pectoralis and Grammatophila striata, and in the higher hills 

 such birds as Trochalopterum squamatum. T. chrysopterinn, 

 etc. Here, again, you will see two sets of six eggs shown, one 

 of which looks as if all were laid by the same bird, whilst in 

 the other at least three parents have had a share in the pro- 

 duction. 



Hierococcyx varius cuckolds the same birds and has the 

 same habits as Clamator jacohinus, and, but for their 

 breeding-seasons being at somewhat different seasons, it 

 would generally be impossible to say what eggs belonged to 

 which Cuckoo when in the nests. In blowing one can tell, 

 as the yolks of the two eggs dift'er in colour. 



Yet another Cuckoo with a completed evolution, in so 

 far as its egg is concerned, is the common Indian Koel. 

 This bird has selected that arrant wit and humorist, the 

 House-Crow, as its special victim with its more plebeian and 

 less intelligent Jungle-cousin as second string. The Koel 

 sets all Cuckoo laws in defiance : many birds breed in the 

 same area and even in the same tree ; many deposit their 

 eggs in the same nest, and as many as 11 have been taken 

 together. There is no rule as to turning out a host's egg 

 in exchange, and there are few seasons when the Koel will 

 not lay and be objectionably noisy over it. In the rare 



