D14 A Monograph of the Indian and [No. 130. 



gularly loud notes are not at all like those of a Cuckoo" (P. Z. S. 

 1832, 97) : assuredly they do not resemble that " note of fear, 

 un pleasing" to particular parties, but those who are acquainted with 

 the melodious liquid shaking note which the European Cuckoo 

 frequently utters as it takes wing, will immediately recognise the 

 CoeTs cry as thoroughly cuculine ; at least I did so, before I knew 

 what bird it proceeded from. The Coel is very commonly kept 

 caged by the native inhabitants of Calcutta, becoming quite fearless and 

 familiar, and frequently uttering its loud cry {koyo-koyo-koyo, with 

 variations,) adverted to by Col. Sykes, as well as another note, which 

 truly corresponds to the sound cuckoo emitted by the bird of Europe, 

 and which sounds like ho-whee-yo, delivered at intervals as the C. 

 canorus utters its well-known cry, often for a long while together, 

 and not unfrequently in moonlight nights. The Coel is remarked by 

 Mr. Jerdon to be parasitic,* and here as with him usually selects the 

 nest of the common Indian Crow (Corvus splendens) to deposit its egg 

 (or, as I am told, generally two eggs) in ; and I am further assured, 

 that it is no unfrequent occurrence for the Crow to turn out the young 

 Coel at the age when it has begun to put forth its spotted feathers. 

 This remains to be certified by further observation. The Coel is 

 very good eating; and the same is stated of the European Cuckoo. 

 As compared with the allied species, its robustness of form would 

 seem to be exceptional, rather than normally characteristic of its sub- 

 genus, and its relation to some of them may be compared to that of 

 Gracula (or Eulabes, Cuv.,) religiosa to Pastor tristis and the other 

 thick-built smaller Mynahs. 



I shall not venture to introduce, as an established species, different 

 from the Coel, the C. Panayus, Latham, Ind. Orn. I., 210, Gen. 

 Hist., III., 281, — founded on the Coucou tachete de Panay of Sonne- 

 rat: which appears to differ only from the female orientalis in want- 

 ing the rufous on the ear-coverts (not always present in the young of 

 the latter), and in having an ungraduated tail : the throat and upper 

 part of the front of the neck are also figured and described as black, 

 spotted like the back, and abruptly defined. It is said to inhabit the 

 island of Panay, but needs verification. 



* Vide also J. A. S. VIII. 684. 



