The JAY CUCKOO (_Coccystes glandarius_) is deep grey on the head, greyish
brown on the back, and greyish white on the under side. The throat and
upper breast are reddish yellow; and the feathers on the wing-covers and
the secondary quills have broad, triangular, white spots at their tips;
the eye is deep brown, the beak purplish grey, and the foot greyish green.
This species is about fifteen inches long; the wing measures eight, and
the tail eight and a half inches.
The Jay Cuckoo is very numerously met with in some parts of Africa, and
from thence wanders forth into Europe, appearing occasionally in Greece
and Italy. It is often known to breed in Spain. Such of these birds as
inhabit Egypt principally frequent the small groups of mimosa that abound
in the valley of the Nile, and live in pairs or small parties, according
to our own observation, remaining together even during the breeding
season. Like its European brother, this species is of a restless and
violent temperament, engaging constantly in fierce strife with its male
companions during the period of incubation. Its flight is rapid, and so
skilful as to enable the bird to penetrate the densest thickets without
a moment's hesitation. It rarely descends to the ground, but obtains the
insects and caterpillars on which it subsists either while on the wing or
when perching among the branches. Its voice, which somewhat resembles that
of a Jay, can be heard at a considerable distance, and has a laughing but
monotonous sound. The female, like the rest of her congeners, deposits
her eggs in another bird's nest. Baedecker describes the egg as of a
light blueish green, spotted with grey or brown, and dotted all over with
reddish brown; at the broad end the spots take the form of a wreath. In
form the eggs are similar to those of other Cuckoos, but in size resemble
those of the Jay.
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The KOELS (_Eudynamys_), a small group of Cuckoos inhabiting Southern Asia
and Oceania, possess a strong, thick beak, the upper mandible of which is
much curved, and hooked at its tip, while the lower portion of the bill
is nearly straight. Their feet are strong, their wings of moderate size,
the tail long and rounded; the soft plumage is of very uniform hue, that
of the male being usually black, and that of the female black spotted with
white.