244 COUCAL. 



proceeding from their upper margins ; tongue lacerated at the end ; 

 irides scarlet ; general colour of the plumage shining black, but all 

 the wing coverts, scapulars, and quills, bright chestnut ; legs black ; 

 the inner hind claw strait, and of twice the length of the others. 



Dr. Buchanan informs me, that this bird is the Alahua of the 

 Mussulmans ; Cuco of the Bengalese; and Boua-bove of the Burmas. 

 It is scarce near Calcutta, but common in many parts of India ; and 

 called by the Europeans, Pheasant Crow ; makes a noise, which the 

 Burmas think resembles Boue-boue ; very common every where on 

 the banks of the Arawady ; is somewhat larger than a Magpie, and, 

 except in feet and colour, has a strong resemblance to it ; said to be 

 a solitary bird, and generally seen hopping about, near some thick- 

 set hedge, or among underwood, by the sides of rivers, into either of 

 which, if disturbed, it flies for refuge, and if driven thence, flies no 

 farther than to the nearest trees, reluctantly shifting its place. In 

 the stomach of one was found the bones of a Lizard, and the remains 

 of insects. 



One of these in the collection of drawings of General Hardwicke, 

 was eighteen inches in length ; the head, neck, and under parts 

 ash-coloured, streaked with white as far as the breast ; over the eye 

 a whitish stripe ; belly and thighs marked with transverse lines of 

 white; tail plain black, not greatly cuneiform, though much rounded ; 

 wings as in the other. 



This was met with at Cawnpore in April, and said to be a bird 

 of the first year. 



8— DUSKY COUCAL. 



Le Coucal noirou, Levail. Af. v. 78. pi. 220. 



SIZE of the Crow. Bill very stout, curved at the point, dusky 

 glossy black ; irides dusky brown ; general colour of the plumage 



