1840.] of the Peninsula of India. 223 



obtained an egg from the female Koweel, it was of a dirty blue colour, 

 marked with some dusky spots.* Irides fine blood red. 



Length of male 15£; of female 16£ ; wing of latter 7f ; tail 7hl 

 bill at gape 1 T Vhs. 



Genus XANCLOSTOMUS, Sw.— Melias, Less.— Phcenkophaus, 

 Auct. 



229. — X. viridiroslris. — New specie*?— Melias tristis, Less. ? — Melias 

 diardi, Less.? — Cue. Sumatranus, Raffles?. — Green-billed Cuckoo. 



I cannot find in Lesson or Cuvier a description of this Cuckoo, 

 though that of the Melias tristis and M. diardi of Lesson, somewhat 

 approaches it. It differs, however, in several particulars from either, 

 and especially in size. 



Descr. — Above blackish cinereous, with a tinge of green ; wings and 

 tail glossy green black, the latter tipped with white; beneath light 

 greyish, with a tinge of fawn colour, and mixed with blackish on chin 

 and throat. 



Irides fine blood red; naked eye-spot cobalt blue; bill beautiful 

 apple green ; legs and feet greenish black. Length about 15 inches; of 

 which tail is 10 ; wing 5j ; tarsus 1 T 3 ^ths ; bill to front 1 inch ; at 

 gape 1 T yhs. 



The Green-billed Cuckoo is found over all the peninsula, but it is an 

 uncommon bird, except in some few localities. I have seen it in thick 

 bamboo jungles at the bottom of the Coonoor pass, in thick hedges 

 and trees in the Carnatic ; and in bushy jungle in the Deccan. It 

 wanders about from tree to tree, or works its way through the thick 

 hedges, and feeds on various large insects, such as grasshoppers, 

 mantides and the like; also on caterpillars and other insects. It 

 makes its way with great adroitness through the thick prickly hedges 

 and bushes it delights to frequent. 



230. — .X. Sirlcee. — Eudynamys sirkee, Gray and Hardwicke's Illus- 

 trations of Ind. Zoology. — Red-billed Cuckoo. 



I have seen this bird in bushy ground on the top of the Neilgherries, 

 but in no other locality till I lately met with it in a hilly and low 

 jungly district, near Jaulnah. It has the same wandering habits, and 

 same kind of food as the last species. 



Irides reddish brown ; bill cherry red, yellowish at tip; feet plum- 

 beous. Length 16 to 17 inches ; wing 6{ ; tail 9 J ; tarsis l£; bill to 



• This bird is said to be excellent eating; 



