cuckow. 283 



The female is not unlike the Rufous-spotted Cuckow, but differs 

 in some things. The upper parts of the head and neck are dark 

 brown, marked with rufous spots; back and wings black-brown, 

 with oval transparent spots ; chin and throat dark, with round spots 

 of white ; breast and belly white, crossed with bent dusky marks : 

 bill and legs greenish.* 



Inhabits Mindanao ; also various parts of India : is the Kokeel, 

 of Bengal ; Peeko, in the Sanscrit ; the Coel, of Hindustan : found 

 all the year near Calcutta ; feeds on insects, and fruit of wild figs ; 

 seen from about the middle of January, till the commencement of 

 the rains ; calls early in the morning, or at night, if the moon shines; f 

 the note like Coel or Cookil, sounding cheerful and pleasant : for 

 the most part lays the eggs in the nest of the Coag or Crow,J but is 

 thought sometimes to form one of its own, though the materials are 

 not mentioned : is sometimes kept tame, and, as I am informed by 

 Dr. Buchanan, said to carry the tail spread. 



27— MINDANAO CUCKOW. 



Cuculus Mindanensis, Ind. Orn. i. 209. Lin.h. 169. Gm. Lin. i. 412. Bris. iv 130. 



t. 12. f. 1. Id. 8vo. ii. p. 77. Germ. t. 76. Gen. Zool. ix. p. 103. pi. 20. Lin. 



Trans, xiii. p. 178. female. 

 Coucou varie de Mindanao, Buf.vi. 373. PL enl. 277. 

 Le Coucou tachirou, Levail. Afr. v. 62. pi. 216. 

 Mindanao Cuckow, Gen. Syn. ii. 515. 



THIS is larger than our Cuckow, some being fourteen inches and 

 a half in length. The bill near one inch long, curved at the tip, 

 dusky above, and brown beneath ; irides bright chestnut ; crown of 

 the head rufous chestnut, the feathers dusky on the margins; neck 



* In one specimen, I observe an obscure white mark below each eye. 

 •f The same observed in respect to the Common Cuckow. 



% This is contrary to the common usuage of Cuckows, as they generally make use of 

 the nests of smaller birds, to deposit their eggs in. 



O o 2 



