30G 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



Family IV . . Cuculidre. (Lat. Cuculus, a Cuckoo. Cuckoo kind.) 

 Sub-family e. Cuculince. 



CUCULUS. 



Canorus (Lat. musical), the Cuckoo. 



birds, of which the Hedge Sparrow is the usual victim. In 

 its nest the cuckoo deposits one of its own eggs, which are 

 remarkably small in proportion to the size of the bird. The 

 unsuspecting hedge sparrow hatches the intruder together 

 with her own young. The Cuckoo rapidly increases in size, 

 and monopolizes no small portion of the entire nest, besides 

 taking the lion's share of the provisions. The mother, how- 

 ever, never seems to perceive the difference, but feeds and 

 tends the interloper with quite as much care as her own 



young.* 



The Cuckoo feeds principally on the hairy caterpillars, 



* Dr. Jenner states that the young Cuckoo ejects the former and rightful occupants 

 of the nest by managing to get the egg or young bird upon its back, clambering up to 

 the edge of the nest, and then throwing it over by a sharp jerk. 



At some times of the year. Cuckoos are comparatively tame. I have repeatedly 

 doeoyed them by imitating their cry, until they came near enough for me to see the 

 movement of the beak. Once a Cuckoo came voluntarily, and settled on a hurdle 

 close by, uttered his peculiar cry several times, and then leisurely flew off. 



