362 GKAUCALUS MACI1. 



somewhat peculiar, for Captain Lloyd says it is common in Kattiawar. Captain Butler observes that it is the 

 reverse in the Guzcrat district, for he only saw it near Deesa and in one Or two other parts of the plains ; while 

 Mr. Hume writes that it has not been recorded from Sindh, Cutch, Jodhporc, or Sambhur. In Chota Nagpur 

 it is, says Mr. Ball, pretty generally distributed ; in the Khandala district it is found everywhere, but is 

 nowhere abundant. Mr. Fairbank records one specimen as seen in the Palani hills ; and Mr. Hume has 

 received it from Anjango, and myself from Ramisserum Island. Turning towards the north-east we have it 

 not uncommon along the bases of the Himalayas, and procured at such places as Dehra, Kumaon, Gurwhal, 

 and Darjiling ; further east still, Mr. Inglis says that it is very common in Cachar during the cold season, 

 being met with there in flocks, but that it is only occasionally seen during the rains. In the Irrawaddy 

 delta Mr. Armstrong met with it in abundance ; and Mr. Oates writes that it is common within the limits of 

 1 r pper Pegu and also in the Arracan hills. In the northern portion of the province of Tenasserim it is also 

 not uncommon, extending thence across the bay to the islands, where it inhabits those of the Andaman group 

 and is a permanent resident in them. 



Habits. — The large Cuckoo-Shrike is decidedly a shy species. In the immature stage chiefly it associates 

 in small flocks or troops, which keep in scattered company among tall trees near forest-lined rivers or 

 surrounding the wild tanks of the Northern Province. Single birds arc often met with flying high in the 

 air and uttering their shrill call, kur-eech, sometimes suddenly darting down in their course and alighting on 

 the top of a lofty tree, on which they will continue this harsh and far-sounding note. When in small troops, 

 if disturbed, one bird will leave the tree and is then followed by its mates one after the other, who pursue 

 their companions to a new perch and again settle down in company with them. It is consequently difficult 

 to approach within shot, and is usually only procured when it happens to alight by accident in a tree near the 

 position of the sportsman or collector. Though not loud its note is very harsh and peculiarly far-reaching ; 

 it is in the evenings that it is peculiarly fond of uttering its dis-syllabie cry, and it will remain for some time 

 perched in the same spot, now and then, in the breeding-season, giving out a low chirping song. Its food 

 consists of caterpillars, grasshoppers, and various kinds of coleopterous insects. Hodgson states its food to be 

 " Muntides, Scarabai, berries, vetches, and seeds." I have no record, in my field-notes, of having found the 

 diet of any example of so mixed a nature as this ; but, doubtless, the food of this species is as varied as that 

 of many Passerine birds. 



Nidification. — Mr. Parker, of the Ceylon Public Works Department, who has had much opportunity of 

 observing these birds in the N.E. and N.W. Provinces, says that they breed in June in the forests of that 

 part, but he did not succeed in procuring their eggs. 



Mr. Blewitt, as quoted by Mr. Hume in his ' Nests and Eggs/ says " that the nest is built in the most 

 lofty branch of a tree, near the fork of two outlying twigs ; it is circular in form, and the body is thickly 

 made of thin twigs and grass-roots, while the outer part of the nest is covered with what appears to be 

 spiders' webs ; the interior is moderately cup-shaped. The breeding-time is in May and June." Jerdon 

 found the nest in a lofty Casuarina-trcc, and it was composed of small twigs and roots. The eggs are three 

 in number and are rather elongated ovals, a good deal pointed towards one end ; the ground-colour is greenish 

 stone-colour, with, as Mr. Hume remarks, a creamy tinge in some. " The markings are very Shrike-like, 

 and consist of brown blotches, streaks, and spots, with numerous clouds and blotches of pale inky purple, 

 which appear to underlie the brown markings." Average dimensions of eight eggs 122 by 09 inch. 



