in captivity in lower bengal. 241 



Habits of the Common Hawk Cuckoo. 



The common hawk cuckoo is a great favourite with the bird- 

 fanciers of Bengal, chiefly for its sonorous musical notes. A few 

 of these birds live in a wild state within the garden, but they are 

 seldom seen in the open, so that unless they may be calling (and they 

 only call during the breeding season) it is difficult to detect their 

 presence; they are wary and suspicious, and look very like a shikra 

 when darting down to secure some insect as food. 



(130) THE BED-WINGED CRESTED CUCKOO. 

 (COCCYSTES COEOMANDUS— {Linn) ) 



Description.— Black above with a slight gloss of green; a white 

 band across the nape ; wings deep rusty colour ; under parts white ; 

 bill black; legs plumbeous ; total length about 14J inches. 



Hab. — 'India, Ceylon, Burmah, and Malayana ; nowhere abundant, 

 and rarely met with in Lower Bengal. A specimen was captured in the 

 neighbourhood of the garden, but it did not survive long. 



(131) THE INDIAN COEL. 



(EUDYNAMIS HONORATA— {Linn.) ) 



Hindi — Koel. Bengali— Kohil. 



Hab.— India, Ceylon, Burmah, extending through the Malayan 

 peninsula to the Philippines. A few specimens may be found living 

 in the garden in a wild state throughout the year. 



Length of life in captivity. 



The longest period during which a coel has lived in the garden 

 has been fourteen years, i.e., from 1876 to 1889. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — Coels do as well in a large aviary as in a small cage ; 

 they are frequently caged in Bengal for their melodious notes. 



Food. — Satoo, fruits and insects ; they are particularly fond of 

 the fruits of the banian, pipul and bakul (Mimusops elengi), and also 

 telakucha (Momordica monadelpha), a kind of common creeper which 

 grows wild during the rains. They sometimes overfeed themselves, 

 and then disgorge the seeds of the fruits they have eaten. 



Breeding. — Coels do not breed in captivity ; but in a wild state 

 they breed almost every season within the garden or in its immediate 

 neighbourhood. It is well known that the females deposit their eggs 

 in the nest of common crows. 



Nothing is known about their maladies. 



