THE SEARCHERS. 1 23 



THE HEDGE CROW. 



The Hedge Crow {Centrococcyx viridis) is of a glossy greenish black on the h:ad, nape, upper 

 tail-covers, uil, and entire under side ; the back and quills being nut-brown, the latter tipped with 

 bright red. According to Swinhoe, this bird undergoes tliree changes of plumage, and is during the 

 first year of a light reddish hue, striped with black on the mande, and white marked here and there 

 with red on the under side. In the second year the feathers on the mande are brown, mth ochre- 

 yellow lines on the shafts ; the tail is blackish green, spotted with a reddish shade ; the under side of 

 light brownish yellow, each feather striped and spotted with brown ; the quills are red, with brown 

 markings. The eye is red, the beak black, and the foot lead-grey. This species is fifteen inches 

 long, the wing measures six inches and a half, and the tail eight inches. 



The Centrococcyx viridis is extensively met with throughout India, and in the surrounding islands. 

 In the former country it principally occupies the jungles, in Java low brushwood, and in Fonnosa 

 such portions of woods or forests as abound with creeping plants. According to Bernstein, it is quiet 

 and solitary in its habits, keeping principally within the shelter of the bushes, and rarely betraying its 

 presence except by the utterance of its very weak cry, which nearly resembles that of the common 

 European Cuckoo. If alarmed, the bird endeavours to escape by running, instead of flying ; and only 

 takes to its wings if very sorely pressed, when it flies direct to the interior of the nearest bush. The 

 nests we have seen were most carelessly constructed of the leaves of the alang-alang, and placed 

 either close to the ground, amongst grass and stubble, or between the branches of a low shrub. The 

 eggs we found were usually two or three in number, and had a white and slightly glossy shell ; in 

 some instances two of the eggs were large, while the third was comparatively of very small size. We 

 were unable to ascertain what share the female takes in the duty of incubation, as whenever we 

 watched the nests during the day the male bird was always seated thereon. The nestlings at first 

 present a very ridiculous appearance, as their skin is black, and their back and head covered with 

 stiff, hairy, or, more strictly, bristle-like feathers ; add to this that their tongue is bright orange, tipped 

 with black, and it may be imagined that the first sight of a nestful of these gaping youngsters 

 somewhat astonishes an uninitiated observer. 



The PHEASANT COUCALS {Polophilus), as the Australian representatives of this family are 

 called, are recognisable by their comparative size, and the formation of their short, thick, strong, and 

 decidedly-curved beak. 



THE PHEASANT COUCAL. 



The Pheasant Coucal {Polophilus pkasianus) has the general plumage of a dull black, and the 

 wing-covers fallow-brown and black, each feather being marked with a light line upon the shaft ; the 

 quills are chestnut-brown, with a double line of black; and the tail-feathers dark brown, with a 

 greenish gloss, and delicately marked with red spots. All the tail-feathers, except those in the centre, 

 are tipped with white. The eye is red, the beak black, and the foot greyish black. In the young 

 birds the back is reddish brown, and the under side fallow-grey ; in other respects the plumage 

 resembles that of the adult birds. This species is twenty-four inches long, the wing ten, and the tail 

 twenty-four inches. 



" The greater part of the road-line of New South Wales, and the eastern, northern, and north- 

 eastern portions of Australia," writes Gould, " are generally tenanted by these birds, but only in such 

 situations as are favourable to their habits, namely, swampy places among the brushes, abounding with 

 tall grasses and dense herbage, among which they run with facility, and, when necessity prompts, fly 



