12 4 JOTTINGS ABOUT BIRDS. 



to their nests, from curiosity, or angry irritation, it 

 is impossible to say. 



With regard to the pairing habits of the Cuckoo 

 we know next to nothing, but it is interesting to 

 remark that this err^.nt bird, unsettled wanderer as 

 it is, is presumed to have some sort of affection for 

 its summer haunts, and to return season after season 

 to certain particular spots. This affection for 

 locality is very strongly developed in most birds of 

 regular migration, the old nesting-place perhaps 

 being the most potent attraction. This instinct is 

 said to be strong in the Cuckoo, parasitic as the 

 bird is, and is probably the only surviving portion 

 of those parental feelings which have been suffered 

 to lapse for so long and indefinite a period of time. 

 So far as my own opinion goes, and it is supported 

 by the careful observations of many years, I should 

 say that the Cuckoo is neither polygamous nor 

 polyandrous, but pairs annually, and remains in 

 pairs until the usual number of eggs is deposited. 

 So far as polygamy is concerned, there seems to 

 me not a particle of evidence to support it ; and 

 as for polyandry, I deny altogether that any excess 

 of males over females can be noted. The male 

 is the noisy bird, drawing attention to himself all 

 the spring and early summer; the female is 



