COCCYSTES JACOBINTJS. 24? 



another from Pegu, wing 5-9 : both are identical with Ceylonese examples. Mr. Sharpe unites the African 

 species with the Indian. A specimen from Damara Land, described by him he. cit., had the wing 6-4 and the 

 tail S - inches. 



Distribution. — The Pied Cuckoo, which is a showy species, is widely distributed over the low country of 

 Ceylon, but is subject to a partial migration away from the wet regions on the western and south-western 

 sea-board during the prevalence of the S.W. monsoon. It appears about Colombo in November and December, 

 and, when first arrived, lurks in any thick cover that may be to hand. I have seen it in the trees on the 

 borders of the Slave-Island lake, but it soon disappeared for the jungles of the interior. In the Galle district 

 it arrives about the same time and frequents the low jungle in the cultivated portions of the country. In 

 the scrubby jungles of the Girawa and Magam Pattus and throughout the Eastern Province, in the jungles 

 between the Mahawelliganga and the coast, in the maritime portions of the north and west, as far south as 

 Chilaw it is a resident species, and in some of these districts is abundant. It is partial to those dry districts 

 which are covered with low scrub, such as the neighbourhood of Hambantota and many similar spots on the 

 east coast, the Jaffna peninsula, the N.W. coast, and the island of Manaar, as also the Puttalam and Chilaw 

 district. I have seen it occasionally in the interior of the northern division of the island, but it is scarcer 

 there than in the maritime portion. It ranges into the Central Province to a considerable elevation, occurring 

 in Uva up to 3000 feet ; but in the western portions (to wit, the valley of Dumbara and adjacent districts) it 

 is not found at such an altitude. 



This Cuckoo enjoys a wide range on the main land. Jerdon sketches out its distribution as follows : — 

 " It is found all over India, being rare on the Malabar coast, common in the Carnatic, and not uncommon 

 throughout Central India to Bengal, where it is only at all common in the rains. It is more abundant in 

 Upper Pegu than anywhere else that I have observed it .... I have seen it on the Nilghiris up to 

 5000 feet." 



It does not appear to be found on the hills of the peninsula, but is common in the low country, on the 

 Madura coast, and in Ramisserum Island. In Chota Nagpur it occurs rarely, as also in the Sambhur district. 

 As regards Mount Aboo and Northern Guzerat, Captain Butler says it is very common, arriving just before 

 the monsoon. In Cachar, Mr. Inglis met with it but once, and that was in May ; but in Upper Pegu I find 

 that Captain Butler and Mr. Oates corroborate Jerdon in saying that it is common ;' further south I observe 

 that it has not been actually procured in Tenasserim, though it is doubtfully included in Mr. Hume's first 

 list of birds from that Province. In North-east Africa it is, according to Mr. Sharpe, probably a migrant, 

 and has been found in various parts of that region from August to November. Mr. Blanford has procured it 

 in the Anseba valley, Antinori on the Blue Nile, and Ehrenberg in Nubia. It has been met with on the 

 east coast and in various parts of South Africa, in Natal, the Transvaal, and other localities, and in the 

 south-west of the continent it has been obtained in Damara Land. 



Habits.— Low scrub, thorny jungle round the edge of forest, and open plains dotted here and there with 

 brush-wood are the localities chiefly frequented by this Cuckoo ; but it now and then occurs in avenues of 

 trees or isolated shady groves, particularly when newly arrived in a district and the first cover to hand is being 

 eagerly sought after. It is tame and visually solitary, although now and then I have seen a pair together ; and 

 in Pegu Mr. Oates has observed five or sis in company. It is commonly seen sitting on the top of a low bush, 

 and when flushed takes a short flight, but does not seek concealment in the bushes to any great extent. It 

 has a rather plaintive, not unmelodious call, uttered when perched on some low tree ; but at the commencement 

 of the breeding-season, Mr. Holdsworth writes, " they are very noisy and incessantly flying from one place to 

 another, one or more males apparently chasing the female, and uttering their clamorous cries." Jerdon 

 remarks the same fact, and says that the call which the males utter at this time " is a high-pitched metallic 

 note." 



Its diet is insectivorous, consisting of caterpillars and various larvae, grasshoppers, Mantidae, &c. 



Nidification.' — In Ceylon the Pied Crested Cuckoo lays its eggs during the N.E. monsoon, choosing the 

 nest of the Mud-birds or Babblers (Malacocercus) to deposit them in. Mr. Holdsworth observed them fighting 



