236 
CUCULUS PASSERINE'S. 
the central pair whitish ; under surface, under tail-, and under wing-coverts white, blending on the chest into 
the rufous of the throat and barred with wavy bands of blackish brown, which on the under tail-coverts are far 
apart ; some of the tibial feathers rufous. 
In other examples the breast and flanks, as well as the chest, are rufous, these birds being probably in a younger 
stage than those which have a considerable amount of white on the lower parts. 
These rufous individuals, I imagine, remain so throughout life, perhaps losing the bars on the upper surface entirely, 
while the quills would remain more or less brown. 
Obs. The allied species, P. tenuirostris of Gray, which replaces the present bird in Burmah and the countries to the 
east of India generally, is very similar to it on the upper surface and throat, but has the breast, belly, and under 
tail-coverts rufous, darkest on the latter, which is consequently the very opposite character to that displayed 
by the Plaintive Cuckoo. It has a rufous phase ; but this differs slightly from that of the present species, the 
lower parts being banded more boldly, and the tail wanting the white tips. 
Distribution . — The observations taken by various naturalists in Ceylon on the movements of this little 
Cuckoo tend to show that it does not make its appearance in all parts of the north of the island at the same 
time, the truth, doubtless, being that it arrives in one district and then wanders thence over the country, 
its distribution being materially influenced by climate. In the north-east, about Trincomalie, I have known 
it appear in the beginning of October, at which time it has scarcely done breeding in the south of India; it 
was common enough in suitable places in the interior long before Christmas. Layard, however, remarks 
that it appeared about Jaffna in February, a time when it should have been assembling for its return 
northward, and under which conditions he most probably saw it there. Mr. Holdsworth’s experience is again 
scarcely less noteworthy ; he did not notice it in the Aripu district before the beginning of January, from 
which it would appear that it visits the west coast considerably after its arrival on the other side of the island. 
It would not, however, be safe to assign to it any general period of arrival on the evidence of one or two 
seasons, as no doubt its appearance, as is the case with most migratory birds, varies considerably according 
to the kind of season and prevailing weather at the time at which it should be expected. 
In the Galle district I have met with it in December, and in the Western Province have seen it about the 
same date. In these latter districts it does not occur in any great numbers, being a lover of dry climate. In 
the Hambantota country and all round the south-east coast it is very numerous. From the north down to 
Cliilaw it is common, and in the Seven Korales and along the base of the Matale hills towards Kurunegala 1 
have found it abundant in March. It has, I believe, been found in Dumbara, but I am not aware of its 
visiting any higher parts of the Kandyan country than that : in Uva it probably occurs at a greater elevation. 
Concerning its distribution in India, Jerd on writes, “ The Plaintive Cuckoo is found all over India in 
wooded countries. It is most abundant on the Malabar coast, in the Wynaad, and on the warmer slopes on 
the top of the Nilgherries, save in the Carnatic, but found here and there in jungly places and on the Eastern 
Ghauts ; rare in Lower Bengal, and up to the foot of the North-west Himalayas.” Its distribution seems to 
be rather .peculiar in some districts ; Mr. Ball says that it occurs rather sparingly in Chota Nagpur, that 
Captain Beavan procured a specimen in April in Maunbhoom, and that he himself got another in Sirguja in 
the same month. In the coast-region to the eastward he found it not uncommon in Orissa, but did not see 
or hear of it in travelling southward till he reached the western part of Raipur on the road to Nagpur. 
Captain Butler writes, “ The Indian Plaintive Cuckoo is not uncommon at Mount Aboo ; it arrives about 
the beginning of June, and its mournful ventriloquistic note soon makes one aware of its presence.” Mr. Hume 
follows with the observation that it is found nowhere else throughout the whole region round about Aboo. 
From these remarks it appears that this species moves about in India to a considerable extent, migrating 
in the northern parts to the westward during the breeding-season. 
Habits . — The Plaintive Cuckoo certainly does not lay much claim to such a title in Ceylon, for there it is 
one of the most silent of birds, which fact leads one to the inference that its notes are chiefly uttered in the 
breeding-season. It frequents open scrubby lands, plains dotted with jungle, bushy wastes, and such like; 
when disturbed it flies from one low shrub to another, and perches generally upon the topmost branches. It 
is seen moving about a good deal in the early morning, and in the evening, in districts where it is numerous, 
