The Common Cuckoo 225 



hoarser and more indistinct as the season advances, and 

 ultimately before their departure they are entirely mute. 



July usually sees the last of tnem — the first migrants to 

 leave our shores. The period of remaining in tne British 

 Isles appears to be limited to the time necessary for a 

 selection of nest and laying the quota of eggs. 



The bird is very generally distributed, and is found in 

 districts of every charactar. In tnis r. spect it differs 

 from the nightingale, whicn is very seldom neard in tne 

 mining districts of Soutn Wales, altnougn across the 

 Bristol Channel, on the coasts of Somerset and Devon, it 

 occurs frequently and regularly. In choosing its nest, it 

 goes invariably for that of insectivorous birds, like itself, 

 and caterpillars form its staple food, hence its partiality 

 for lands of high pasture and moorland. 



The plumage of the head, neck, breast, and upper 

 parts is of a deep bluish-grey. The whole of the belly 

 and remaining under parts, and auxiliary feathers 

 white, with pretty distinct black baro. The quills are 

 blackish-grey, the inner webs have white bars. Tail 

 of a darker tint, blackish at the end. Feet, dark 

 yellow. The sexes are much alike in coloration ; so 

 unlike the sea birds. But the most complete account 

 of what was anciently known and believed of these 

 singular birds is given by Pliny — an authority which most 

 naturalists will accept. He says : ' ' They alwaies lay in 

 other bird's nests, and most of all in the stockdove's, 

 commonly one egge and no more (which no other bird 

 doth besides), and seldom twain. The reason why they 

 would have other birds to sit upon their eggs and hatch 

 them, is because they know how all birds hate them, for 

 even the very little birds are readie to wai with them ; for 

 feare, therefore, that the whole race be utterly destroyed 

 by the furie of others of the same kind, they make no nest 

 of their owne (being otherwise timorous and feareful natur- 

 ally of themselves), and so are forced by this craftie shift 

 to avoid the danger. The titling (Anthus pratensis) 

 therefore that sitteth, being thus deceived, hatcheth the 

 egge, and bringeth up the chick of another bird. And 

 this young cuckoo, being greedy by kind, beguiling the 



