Illustrations of Indian Ornithology ; 



says of it, and a nearly allied species, 31elias tt-isfis of Lesson, " the bill is still more com- 

 pressed and proportionally smaller, assuming neai'ly the same form as in Zanclostomus, 

 Arherein Mr. Jerdon has even placed one of them." On referring to Swainson's definition ol' 

 the two genera I am still inclined to place our present bird in the genus Zanclostomus, it may 

 be as a somewhat aberrant species. 



The Green-hilled Cuckoo is dispersed over a great portion of the Peninsula of In- 

 dia, though by no means common except in some few localities. It has not as yet been 

 prociu-ed in Bengal, but I have little doubt that it extends into Central India. 



In the bare Carnatic and the Deccan it is chiefly to be met with in those districts 

 where the land is much enclosed, as in part of the Zillah of Coimbatore, where large tracts 

 of country are enclosed by thick and in many cases lofty hedges of A'arious species of 

 Euphorbia, ivhich afford shelter and abundance of food to this bird. It is also to be found 

 in patches of low and thorny jungle, more especially if, as is the case mth many of the 

 low ranges of hills in the Carnatic, bushes of Euphorbia form a prominent portion of the 

 jungle. Thi-oughout the West Coast where jungles and forests abound, it is much more com- 

 mon, especially in those parts where bam^boos occur, and where numberless creepers 

 entwine themselves and hang in luxui'iant festoons from almost every tree. Such is the 

 peculiarly appropriate haunt of our Cuckoo, which diligently searches the foliage for various 

 species of mantis, grasshopper and locust, whose green coloiu-s and odd forms though 

 assimilating so strongly to the plants on which they rest, are of but little avail against its 

 keen and searching eye. It is usually found single, and when observed but seldom takes 

 to flight, making its way most adroitly through the most tangled breakes or hedges, and 

 concealing itself on the opposite side. I was informed that its Hindustani name is ' Kiippra 

 Popeya,' and in Teloogoo it is called by some Wamanah Kakee. I never heard its cry, 

 and know nothing of its nidification. 



Descrijjtion, — General colour above dark greenish grey, the wings and tail glossy 

 green, tail feathers tipped white ; beneath light dusky greyish, tinged with ferruginous on 

 breast, and the feathers of the throat and neck dark at their bases. Length about 15 inches 

 — of which the tail is nearly 10 — wing 5j — bill to forehead 1 inch— at gape 1| — tai-sus 

 Iruths — weighs 2 oz. 12 drachms, 



A closely allied species to this is the Zanclostomus trietis, Melias tristis of Lesson, 

 and the Phanicoplimus longicandatus of Blyth's ]\Ionograph of the Indian Cuculidce, which 

 that gentleman informs me he considers identical. This species inhabits Nepal and the 



