344 BTliDS OF IKDIA 



ejeets it from the nest; but this I do not think is usually, or 

 ever the case, for I have frequently seen Crows feeding the youu«j 

 Koel after it had left the nest. Some observei's have declared that 

 the old female Ivoel often watches the nest in which she has 

 deposited her eggs, and when the birds are full 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 near the large end. 



The Crows appear to know full well that they are cuckolded by 

 the Koel ; for at times you see them pursuing these Cuckoos with 

 the utmost energy, and Mr. Frith, as quoted by Blyth, states that 

 one dashed itself against a window and was killed, when pursued 

 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 of the wings. 



Bonaparte makes a second Indian species from the Cue. niger, L., 

 synonymous with C. honoratus, L., taken from PI. Enl. 294. This 

 plate is probably intended for a young Koel, for I am corifldent that 

 there is no second species of Eudyyiamrjs in India. E. Flin- 

 dersii, the New Zealand species, has a very Cuculine aspect, resem- 

 bling in its colours H. sparverioides. Simofes, founded by Blyth 

 on a Cuckoo from Waigiou, Cue. leucolophus, INliill., has the 

 plumage black, and the conspicuous white occipital feathers, a 

 trace of which is seen in Surniculus. This is erroneously placed 

 by Bonaparte as synonymous with Hierococcyx ; but is quite a 

 distinct genus, beloniiing to this subfamily ; and the name has 

 been subse(]neMhj bestowed on a genus of Snakes. 



Sub-fam. Ph^nicophain^, Gray and Horsf, 



Descr. — Bill moderate or l()ngish[; ridge curved; nostrils linear ; 

 orbital region generally ^,naked ;1 wings short ; tail long, graduated. 



This sub-family is peculiar to India and Malayana, where it 

 is much developed ; one species, however, occurring in Africa. 

 Some of tliem are pleasingly adorned with somewhat gay plumage. 

 Their clothing-feathers are often de.-omposed and hair-like ; their 



