362 
GEAUCALrS MACn. 
somewhat peculiaPj for Captain Lloyd says it is common in Kattiawar. Captain Butler observes that it is the 
reverse in the Guzerat district, for he only saw it near Dcesa and in one or two other parts of the idains; while 
Mr. Hume wi’ites that it has not been recorded from Sindh, Cutch, Jodhpore, or Sambhtir. In Chota Nagpur 
it is, says Mr. Ball, pretty generally distributed; in the Khandala district it is found everywhere, but is 
nowhere abundant. Mr. Fairbank records one specimen as seen in the Palani hills; and Mr. Hume has 
received it from Anjango, and myself from Ramisserum Island. Turning towards the north-east we have it 
not uncommon along the bases of the Himalayas, and procured at such places as Dehra, Kumaon, Gurwhal, 
and Daqiling; further east still, Mr. Inglis says that it is very common in Cachar during the cold season, 
being met with there in flocks, but that it is only occasionally seen during the rains. In the Irrawaddy 
delta Mr. Armstrong met with it in abundance ; and Mr. Oates writes that it is common within the limits of 
Upper Pegu and also in the Arracan hills. In the northern portion of the province of Tenasscrim it is also 
not uncommon, extending thence across the bay to the islands, where it inhabits those of the Andaman group 
and is a permanent resident in them. 
Habits . — The large Cuckoo-Shrike is decidedly a shy species. In the immature stage ehiefly it associates 
in small flocks or troops, which keep in scattered company among tall trees near forest-lined rivers or 
surrounding the wild tanks of the Northern Province. Single birds are often met with flying high in the 
air and uttering their shrill call, kur-Hech, sometimes suddenly darting down in their course and alighting on 
the top of a lofty tree, on which they will continue this harsh and far-souiidiug note. “When in small troops, 
if disturbed, one bird will leave the tree and is then followed by its mates one after the other, w’ho pursue 
their companions to a new perch and again settle down in company with them. It is consequently difficult 
to approach within shot, and is usually only procured when it happens to alight by accident in a tree near the 
position of the sportsman or collector. Though not loud its note is very harsh and peculiarly far-reaching ; 
it is in the evenings that it is peculiarly fond of uttering its dis-syllabic cry, and it will remain for some time 
perched in the same spot, now and then, in the breeding-season, giving out a low chirping song. Its food 
consists of caterpillars, grasshoppers, and various kinds of coleopterous insects. Hodgson states its food to be 
“ Mantides, Scarabcei, berries, vetches, and seeds.” I have no record, in my field-notes, of having found the 
diet of any example of so mixed a nature as this ; but, doubtless, the food of this species is as varied as that 
of many Passerine birds. 
Nidification. — Mr. Parker, of the Ceylon Public Works Department, who has had much opportunity of 
observing these birds in the N.E. and N.W. Provinces, says that they breed in June in the forests of that 
part, but he did not succeed in procuring their eggs. 
Mr. Blewitt, as quoted by Mr. Hume in his ' Nests and Eggs," says “ that the nest is built in the most 
lofty branch of a tree, near the fork of two outlying twigs ; it is circular in form, and the body is thickly 
made of thin twigs and grass-roots, while the outer part of the nest is covered with what appears to be 
spiders’ webs; the interior is moderately cup-shaped. The breeding-time is in May and June.” Jerdon 
found the nest in a lofty Casuarina-tree, and it was composed of small twigs and roots. The eggs are three 
in number and are rather elongated ovals, a good deal pointed towards one end ; the ground-colour is greenish 
stone-colour, with, as Mr. Hume remarks, a creamy tinge in some. “ The markings are very Shrike-like, 
and consist of brown blotches, streaks, and spots, with numerous clouds and blotches of pale inky purple, 
which appear to underlie the browm markings.” Average dimensions of eight eggs 1'22 by 0’9 inch. 
