172 FACTS IS THE HISTORY OF THE COMMON CUCKOO. 



Naturalists, to which the readers of '^'The Naturalist" may refer to show that 

 I have really stated nothing novel; but merely confirmed what has already 

 been known of the habits of this singular bird, by those acquainted with it. 



It has been positively stated that the Cuckoo never feeds its own young. 

 In the "(rardeners' Chronicle/' page 469, for 1851, Mr. W. Kidd, that 

 delightful Naturalist, and well-known writer on "British Song Birds," says, 

 ^^It is a fact, patent to most ornithologists, that the Cuckoo has been seen 

 in the act of assisting in feeding her offspring." The same gentleman again 

 says, ^^A few years since, the sight of a Redbreast feeding a young Cuckoo, 

 assisted by the old Cuckoo, was witnessed by a most truthful and worthy 

 ornithological friend of mine, now no more. Nor is this by any means a 

 solitary instance of the natural affection of the Cuckoo." 



In the "Mag: Nat: Hist:" vol. 9, page 638, Mr. Blyth, a well-known writer 

 on the habits of this bird, says, "It is certain that the maternal feelings of 

 the Cuckoo are not quenched; astonishing as this may appear, Mr. John E. 

 Gray, of the British Museum, informs me that he has himself seen a Cuckoo, 

 day after day, visit the nest where one of its oflfepring was being reared, and 

 which it finally enticed away from its foster-parents. I had, says Mr. Blyth, 

 previously heard of analogous cases, but was disposed to regard them as 

 fabulous, until corroborated by so paramount an authority." 



Again, it has been positively stated that the female Cuckoo never cries 

 "Cuckoo." In vol. 8, "Mag: Nat: Hist:" page 382, "I had," i^ays Mr. W. H. 

 White, ^^a few summers ago, the full means of ascertaining the fact, that 

 both sexes of the Cuckoo utter the call "Cuckoo," Page 329, same volume, 

 Mr. Blyth says, "Both sexes, I believe, utter the call "Cuckoo." A little 

 farther on, the same gentleman says, ^'The common and more generally known 

 note '^Cuckoo,' is alike repeated either when perched or on the wing; and I 

 am fully confident in my own mind, by both sexes." Now Mr. B. says in a 

 note, ^^Mr. Yarrell also inclines to the opinion, that this call-note ^^Cuckoo" 

 is alike uttered by both sexes. But, says Mr. B., I will not speak quite 

 positively on this point till I have myself examined a female, which had been 

 heard to sing. It is the decided opinion, however, of several observant persons 

 of my acquaintance, for the accuracy of whose observations I have the highest 

 regard, that this note is common to both sexes; and one even tells me that, 

 as, with a gun in his hand, and talking to a friend, a Cuckoo alighted upon 

 a tree close by, and several times repeated its call; he shot it, and a few 

 days after, his friend told him it was a pity he had shot it, for it had an 

 egg almost ready to lay." In the "Gardeners' Chronicle" of August 2nd., 

 there is a letter from a Mr. Browne, in which he states that a young lady 

 (whose name I think he does not mention,) has recorded the fact of a Cuckoo 

 being shot while uttering the cry "Cuckoo," and in which hvo eggs were found. 

 Was this a male bird? I make no apology for making use of this fact, 

 although Mr. Browne in general terms denied my statements; and yet brought 

 forward this particular fact, which is clearly in my favour, as far as it goes. 



