CUCULTJS MACULATUS. 239 



island ; Layard knew nothing of it, and I conclude entered it in the catalogue of Ceylon birds by himself 

 and Kelaart, published in the Appendix to the ' Prodromus,' solely on the authority of Brown. 



It has not as yet been detected in Southern India, and Jerdon says it has been rarely procured even in 

 the central part of the Peninsula ; its habitat is essentially the sub-Himalayan region, and (according to 

 Blyth) Arakan and Tenasserim. Jerdon obtained it at Darjiling, and Hodgson procured it in Nepal. Its 

 occurrence in Ceylon can only be accounted for on the supposition of its having migrated southwards in the 

 usual manner, following thus the example of all the true Cuckoos which visit Ceylon. 



Habits. — But little is known of the habits of this lovely little bird; but they may, I have no doubt, be 

 considered to resemble those of other members of this beautiful group. Gould writes of C. lucidus that 

 " while searching for food its motions, although very active, are characterized by a remarkable degree of 

 quietude, the bird hopping about from branch to branch in the gentlest possible manner, picking an insect 

 here and there, and prying for others among the leaves and the corners of the bark with the most scrutinizing 

 care/' The same interesting manners are doubtless possessed by the present species. Jerdon states that 

 the food of the one he shot at Darjiling consisted of insects. 



