THE SEARCHERS. Ill 



possess a strong, thick beak, the upper mandible of which is much curved, and hooked at its tip, 

 while the lower portion of the bill is nearly straight. Their feet are strong, their wings of moderate 

 size, the tail long and rounded ; the soft plumage is of very uniform hue, that of the male being 

 usually black, and that of the female black spotted with white. 



THE KOEL, OR KUIL. 



The KoEL, or Kuil {Eudynamys orientalis), is the best known member of the above group. 

 The male is entirely of a glossy greenish black, while the female is of a rich, deep green, spotted 

 with white above, and striped with white on the quills and tail. The under side is white, with black 

 oval markings on the throat, and heart-shaped spots upon the breast. The eye of both is scarlet, 

 the beak pale green, and foot greyish blue. The length of the male is thirteen inches and a half, and 

 the breadth twenty-three inches ; while the female measures seventeen inches and a half, and is 

 twenty-four inches across the wings. 



" This well-known species," writes Jerdon, " is found throughout India, extending to Ceylon, the 

 Burmese countries, and parts of Malayana, to the Philippines. It frequents groves, gardens, avenues, 

 and open jungles; and feeds almost exclusively, I believe, on fruits of various kinds, especially 

 on those of the banian, peepul, and other figs, also, says Blyth, much on that of the Mimasops elengi. 

 Several of these birds may be often seen on one tree, but they are not gregarious. Mr. Blyth states 

 that they eject from the mouth the large seeds of any fruit that they have eaten. The Koel is by 

 no means a shy bird, but has the usual quick, unobtrusive habits of the ordinary Cuckoos, as it glides 

 about the branches of trees ; when it takes wing, however, it is remarkable for the loudness of its 

 cries. About the breeding season the Koel is very noisy, and may then be heard at all times, even 

 during the night, frequently uttering its well-kno^vn cry, of ' Ku-il, ku-il,' increasing in \ngour and 

 intensity of utterance as it goes on. The male bird has also another note, which Blyth syllables as 

 ' Ho-whee-ho,' or ' Ho-y-o.' When it takes flight it has yet another somewhat melodious and 

 rich liquid call, all thoroughly Cuadine. The female Koel deposits her eggs almost exclusively in 

 the nest of the Common Crow (Corvus cidminatus). She generally lays only one egg in each nest, 

 and mostly, but not always, destroys the eggs of the proprietor at the time of depositing her omi. 

 It is a popular belief that the Crow discovers the imposture when the young Koel is nearly full 

 grown, and ejects it from her abode ; but this I do not think is usually if ever the case, for I have 

 frequently seen Crows feeding the young Koels, even after they have left the nest in which she has 

 placed her eggs, and when the birds are fully grown entices them away, or, if expelled, looks after 

 them and feeds them for a few days, but I greatly doubt if this be the general practice." The egg of 

 the Koel is pale olive-green, with numerous reddish, dusky spots, having a tendency to form a zone 

 at the broad end. The Crows would appear to be desirous of avenging the ^^Tongs they receive 

 from these Cuckoos, for at times we see them pursuing the Koel with the utmost energy. Mr. Frith, 

 as quoted by Blyth, states that one dashed itself against a window and was killed when thus hunted 

 by a Crow. The flight of the Koel is not so quiet and gliding as that of the True Cuckoos, but is 

 performed with more numerous strokes with the wing. 



The GOLDEN CUCKOOS (Ckrysococcyx), as a most gorgeous group have been appropriately 

 called, inhabit the equatorial regions of Asia, Africa, and Australia. These birds are dis- 

 tmguished by their comparatively small, slender body, long wings, and tail. The beak, which is 

 of medium size, exactly resembles that of the Common Cuckoo ; the tarsi are short, and the toes 

 long ; the wing is pointed, the tail rounded at its sides, and the compact, large-feathered plumage 

 dyed with hues of more tlian metallic brilliancy. 



