THE COMMON CUCKOO. 



121 



OF THE CUCKOO TRIBE IN GENERAL. 



These birds have their bill weak, and more or less bending. Tha 

 nostrils are bounded by a small rim ; and the tongue is short ^nrl 

 pointefl. The toes are situated two forward and two backward. Th.j 

 tail is wedge-shaped, and consists of ten soft feathers. 



The diftjrent species of Cuckoos are scattered through the four 

 qjarters of the globe, but they are much more common in the hot thats 

 in temperate or cold climates. One species only is found in Great 

 Britc«n. 



THE COMMON CUCKOO. 



The Cuckoo is about fourteen inches in length, and twenty-five in 



breadth. The bil.« 

 is black, strong, 

 and somewhat 

 curved. The upper 

 parts of the plum- 

 age are chiefly of a 

 dove-color; the 

 throat is pale grey ; 

 and the breast and 

 belly are white, 

 crossed with undu- 

 lated lines of black. 

 The vent feath-srs 

 are of a buff«color, 

 marked with a fevr 

 dusky spots. The 

 two middle tail 

 feathers are black, 

 tippc'i with white. 

 The plumage of the 

 young birds is 

 chiefly brown, 

 mixed with fer- 

 r u g i no us and 

 black. 



The Cuckoo visits us early in the spring. Its well-known cry is 

 generally heard about the middle of April, and ceases about the end 

 of June: its stay is short, the old Cuckoos being said to quit this 

 counti^y early in July. These birds are generally supposed to buil<l 

 no nest; but, what is also extraordinary, the female Cuckoo deposits^ 

 Sier solitary egg in the nest of another bird, by which it is hatcked. 

 The nests she chooses for this purpose are generally those of the Ile^lge 

 Sparrow, Water-Wagtail, Titlark, Yellow-Hammer, Green Linnet, or 



COMMON CCCKOO. 



