The HEDGE CROW (_Centrococcyx viridis_) is of a glossy greenish black on
the head, nape, upper tail-covers, tail, and entire under side; the back
and quills being nut-brown, the latter tipped with bright red. According
to Swinhoe, this bird undergoes three changes of plumage, and is during
the first year of a light reddish hue, striped with black on the mantle,
and white marked here and there with red on the under side. In the second
year the feathers on the mantle are brown, with ochre-yellow lines on the
shafts; the tail is blackish green, spotted with a reddish shade; the
under side of light brownish yellow, each feather striped and spotted with
brown; the quills are red, with brown markings. The eye is red, the beak
black, and the foot lead-grey. This species is fifteen inches long, the
wing measures six inches and a half, and the tail eight inches.
The _Centrococcyx viridis_ is extensively met with throughout India, and
in the surrounding islands. In the former country it principally occupies
the jungles, in Java low brushwood, and in Formosa such portions of woods
or forests as abound with creeping plants. According to Bernstein, it is
quiet and solitary in its habits, keeping principally within the shelter
of the bushes, and rarely betraying its presence except by the utterance
of its very weak cry, which nearly resembles that of the common European
Cuckoo. If alarmed, the bird endeavours to escape by running, instead of
flying; and only takes to its wings if very sorely pressed, when it flies
direct to the interior of the nearest bush. The nests we have seen were
most carelessly constructed of the leaves of the alang-alang, and placed
either close to the ground, amongst grass and stubble, or between the
branches of a low shrub. The eggs we found were usually two or three in
number, and had a white and slightly glossy shell; in some instances two
of the eggs were large, while the third was comparatively of very small
size. We were unable to ascertain what share the female takes in the duty
of incubation, as whenever we watched the nests during the day the male
bird was always seated thereon. The nestlings at first present a very
ridiculous appearance, as their skin is black, and their back and head
covered with stiff, hairy, or, more strictly, bristle-like feathers; add
to this that their tongue is bright orange, tipped with black, and it may
be imagined that the first sight of a nestful of these gaping youngsters
somewhat astonishes an uninitiated observer.
* * * * *
The PHEASANT COUCALS (_Polophilus_), as the Australian representatives of
this family are called, are recognisable by their comparative size, and
the formation of their short, thick, strong, and decidedly-curved beak.