1842.] Malayan species of Cuculidce. 913 



Length above a foot, the tail about six inches, and very much 

 graduated, its outermost feathers scarcely more than half the length 

 of the middle ones. All the upper-parts blackish-ash, marked with 

 two points of white on each feather; the throat and under-parts white, 

 with ash-coloured cross-rays ; quills cinereous, and also marked with 

 transverse macular bars. This bird is stated to inhabit Malabar, but 

 much requires to be verified as an inhabitant of India. It is ap- 

 parently intermediate to the common large Coel and diminutive 

 C. niger. 



10. C. ( Eudinamys, Vigors and Horsfield, Lin. Trans. XV, 

 304 Jy ) orien talis, Lin.; C. Indicus, Latham, Ind. Orn. 111,285 ; and 

 the female — C. Mindanensis, scolopaceus, crassirostris, punctatus, 

 and maculatus, Auctorum. (Common Coel.) Length fifteen and a half 

 to sixteen inches, by twenty-three inches in extent ; wing seven 

 inches and a half, and tail the same ; bill an inch and a quarter to 

 forehead (through the feathers), and nearly one and a half to gape ; 

 the tips of the mandibles opening to two inches and a quarter from the 

 hooked extremity of the upper one ; tarse an inch one-eighth, and 

 bare of feathers except close to the joint: irides bright crimson, afford- 

 ing a very conspicuous character in the living bird, and quite reliev- 

 ing the sombre uniform greenish-glossed black colour of the plumage 

 of the mature male: bill pale greenish, and inside of the mouth flesh.- 

 coloured: legs somewhat bluish-slaty, or in younger individuals dull 

 greenish lead-colour. Average size of both sexes alike, or nearly so, 

 though it may be that the females are more commonly somewhat the 

 larger. Too well known in India to require a further description. This 

 bird is very common in Bengal, as also in the Malay countries, extend- 

 ing even to Australia (J An. Trans. XV, 304), where, however, it is 

 understood to be rare.* Mr. Jerdon notices it as " common in the 

 Carnatic in groves, gardens and avenues, and also on the west coast; 

 but rare on the bare table-land. It feeds entirely on fruit, and is 

 remarkably fond of the fig of the banyan tree." During the time 

 these figs are ripe, which is early in the cold season in Bengal, the 

 trees are quite alive with Barbets (Bucco), Coels, and other less 

 abundant visitants. Col. Sykes remarks, of the Coel, that " its sin- 



* The Cue. crassirostris, currently identified with this species, is described as 

 African. 



6 D 



