ILLUSTRATIONS OF FOREIGN OOLOGY. 
Corvus cULMINATUS—C, SPLENDENS— ENDYNAMYS ORIENTALIS. 
THERE is no economical habit more remarkable in Ornithology 
than that of the parasitic and artificial propagation or hatching of 
the eggs; the first was thought to be confined to the common 
Cuckoo of Europe, but more extensive researches discovered that it 
was common to various genera of the Cuculide, and that members 
of a few other groups also pursued the same instinct. Various 
causes have been attempted to be assigned for this anomalous habit, 
but without sufficient reason; and researches and comparisons in 
the structure of the parasitic species are still wanting, and would 
without doubt repay the inquirer. 
Mr. Blyth, among numerous drawings of eggs, has sent us some 
of those of the parasitic breeding Cuculide, and on one of the plates 
of our present number, we have endeavoured to represent the eggs 
of both the Cuckoo and those of its foster parents, and between 
these will be observed the remarkable assimilation in the colour 
and markings—a wonderful evidence of design in the object contem- 
plated. On the plate are represented the eggs of two species of 
Indian Crows, Corvus culminatus and splendens, which show little 
variation from the general appearance of those from other true 
crows with which we are acquainted ; and underneath them we have 
placed figures of the egg of the Zndynamys orientalis or Coél, from 
Calcutta, which Mr. Blyth writes, “invariably deposits its eggs in 
the nests of these crows;” and at his request, we copy from his 
paper upon the Indian Cuckoos (privately printed), the following 
notice of their habits during the breeding season :— 
“The Coél, though a bird of the skulking unobtrusive habits of 
the Cuculine gencrally, and haying the same quiet gliding moyve- 
ments from bough to bough, is not particularly shy, allowing of a 
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