328 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



204. Cuculus striatus, Drapiez. 



Blyth, Cat. 340 (in part)— Horsf., Cat. 1024 (in part)— C. 

 affinis, A. Hay — Kyphul-pucha, of hill-men at Mussoorie. 



The Hill Cuckoo. 



Descr. — Very similar in form and colour to tlie last ; of which 

 Mr. Blyth, in his Catalogue, considered it to be a large variety. 



The general tint above is less pure ashy, and more embrowned ; 

 the chin and throat are sensibly paler in hue ; the tail is much more 

 conspicuously banded, the white being of greater extent, and more 

 broadly edged with dusky, giving it more the aspect of the tail of 

 a Hierococcyx ; and moreover there is generally a tinge of rufous on 

 the sides of the throat and breast, further approximating it to that 

 group, it having much of the aspect of H. sparverioides. 



The bands of the lower plumage are quite similar in size and 

 distance to those of the last, but it is a larger bird however, and 

 the foot too is proportionally stouter ; the bill appears to be much 

 of the same size. 



Length 13 inches ; wing 8;^ ; tail 6 ; bill at front \ 



This species has been found in the Himalayas, and also in Malacca; 

 and it probably extends along the higher ranges of hills between 

 the Himalayas and the ]\Ialayan peninsula. Drapiez's specimen 

 was from Java. Whether it has a distinct note from the last species 

 remains to be determined ; but its voice is probably very similar in 

 character. 



Gen. Hierococcyx, Miiller. 



Char. — Bill stouter, deeper and wider, than in Cuculus; wings 

 shorter ; the 4th quill longest, and the 5th about equal to the 

 2nd ; tail nearly even, broad, with distinct dark bars. 



The Cuckoos of this division have a stouter and heavier form 

 than the last, and their mode of coloration is peculiar, resembling 

 that of the Hawks both in the young and adult state ; the throat and 

 breast being streaked longitudinally in the young bird, and the 

 abdomen being barred transversely. Their call ai)proxiraales some- 

 what in character to that of Eudynamijs ; and they arc partly 

 fnigivorous. 



