340 BIRDS OF INUIA. 



Chatuk — Kola Bulhitl, Beng. — Gola kuki/a, 'Tel., i. <?.* Milkman 

 Cuckoo ;' also Tanijnda goraiikah. 



The Pied Crested Cuckoo. 



Descr. — Above, uniform black, wiih a grcenisli shine; bases of tlie 

 primaries white, forming a conspicuous wing-spot ; all tlie tail- 

 feathers tipped white, broadly, except the central pair which are 

 very narrowly tipped ; vmder parts dull white ; in some, especially 

 the females, slightly tinged with fulvescent. . 



A young bird in the Mus. As. Soc, Calcutta, has some of the 

 feathers edged whitish, but the nestling plumage is simi)ly dull 

 black above, fulvous beneath, and very much resembling in this 

 state the adult plumage of some of the American Cuckoos; bill 

 in the young bird, yellow. 



The 3rd and 4th primaries are equal, and the 2nd is much shorter 

 than the fifth, about equal to the 6th. 



Bill black ; legs leaden-blue ; irides red-brown. Length 13 

 inches; extent 17|; wing 5f ; tail 7; bill at front f to y*^^ ; 

 tarsus II ; weight 2i oz. 



This Pied Cuckoo is found over all India, being rare on the 

 Malabar coast, common in the Carnatic, and not uncommon through- 

 out Central India to Bengal, where it is only at all common in tlie 

 rams. It is more abundant in Upper Pegu than anywhere else that 

 I have observed it. I mention this, because Mr. Blyth was 

 informed that it was rare on the Eastern side of the Bay of Bengal. 

 I have seen it on the Neilgherrles up to 5,000 feet. It frequents 

 jungles, groves, gardens, hedges and avenues, generally alone, 

 sometimes in jiairs or small parties. At the breeding season it is 

 very noisy, two or three males (apparently^ often following a 

 female, uttering their loud peculiar call, which is a high pitched 

 wild metallic note. It utters this very constantly during its flight, 

 which is not rapid, from one tree to another, and occasionally at a 

 considerable heio-ht. As Mr. Blyth has remarked, it does not at 

 all affect concealment, perching often on a bare branch, or on 

 the top of a bush, and not unfrequently alighting on the ground. 

 It feeds on insects, chiefly mantides, grasshoppers, caterpillars, 

 &c. The female lays her e^it usually in the nc;5t of the Malaco- 



