Observations on the Cuckoo. 339 



a very slight inspection, however* is sufficient to show that 

 this is not a regular moult. There is much, also, yet to be 

 learned, if I am to judge from all the more recent publications 

 which I have seen on the subject, respecting the seasonal 

 changes of our various ^natidae (duck family) : there seem to 

 be specific peculiarities in the changes of almost every spe- 

 cies ; and I earnestly request those who may have opportu- 

 nities of making the enquiry, to bestow some attention to the 

 subject. The cuckoo's changes, I think, I have pretty clearly 

 made out. 



But, to return to the cuckoo. Does this bird subsist 

 entirely on insect food ? I think not ; but am of opinion that, 

 towards the close of its short stay in this country, it often 

 feeds upon the smaller fruits. White of Selborne, in describ- 

 ing the contents of the stomach of one (letter xxx.), observes : 

 — " Among this farrago were also to be seen maggots, and 

 many seeds, which belonged either to gooseberries, currants, 

 cranberries, or some such fruit ; so that these birds appa- 

 rently subsist on insects and fruit," &c. [It is a pity that 

 these seeds were not sown : their passing through the stomach 

 of the bird would not destroy their power of germinating; 

 and the plants produced from them would have been means 

 of identifying the species to which the seeds had belonged.] 

 I have not, myself, noticed vegetable food in the cuckoo's 

 stomach; but I know an instance of a man concealing himself 

 within a short distance of a cherry tree, for the purpose of 

 shooting the blackbirds, jays, &c, that came to feed upon the 

 ripe fruit, who there shot two or three cuckoos ; but imme- 

 diately as they alighted, without giving them a moment's time 

 to feed. The form of the cuckoo's bill would certainly seem 

 to indicate a partly baccivorous species ; and many of the 

 tropical Cuculidae are well known to be great fruit-eaters. 

 Wilson observes, also, of the Coccyzus carolinensis, that 

 " they are accused, and with some justice, of sucking the 

 eggs of other birds ; like the crow, the blue jay, and other 

 pillagers. They also occasionally eat various kinds of ber- 

 ries" I do not much think, however, that the European 

 cuckoo ever feeds upon birds' eggs ; though, at the same 

 time, I am not prepared to assert the contrary. 



Buffon says, " Though cunning and solitary, the cuckoo 

 may be given some sort of education. Several persons of my 

 acquaintance have reared and tamed them. They fed them 

 on minced meat, either dressed or raw, insects, eggs, soaked 

 bread, and fruit. One of these tamed cuckoos knew its 

 master, came at his call, followed him to the chase, perched 

 on bis gun, and, if it found a cherry tree in its way, it would 



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