266 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



home. The bird is attached to one hole or locality, returning 

 year after year ; in one small Norfolk park a particular tree is 

 always occupied by a pair, though there are many suitable 

 timbers surrounding it. Seven to ten, even more, glossy white 

 eggs are placed within the hole upon any dust or litter which has 

 accumulated but without the introduction of nesting material ; 

 they are usually laid late in April or in May (Plate ii6). 



The upper parts of both sexes are mottled or variegated with 

 grey, buff and brown ; the back is streaked with dark brown. 

 The outer webs of the primaries are barred with buff and 

 brown, and the grey tail has distinct bars of brown and huffish 

 white. The rich buff throat is finely barred, the flanks and 

 breast spotted and streaked with dark brown. The bill, legs 

 and irides are brown. The markings on the under parts of the 

 young are more distinct and pronounced, but there is little age 

 or seasonal alteration in the plumage. Length, 6"5 ins. Wing, 

 3-4 ins. Tarsus, 7 in. 



Order COCCYGES. 



Sub-order CUCULI. 



The Cuckoos have a common character, the zygodactyle 

 foot, but in appearance and habits they show great variation. 



Family CUCULID.-E. Cuckoos. 

 Cuckoo. Cucuhis canorus Linn. 



The Cuckoo (Plate 108) is a summer visitor to the Pala^arctic 

 regions, and winters in tropical and southern Africa and as far 

 south in Asia as New Guinea. It is an abundant summer 

 visitor and bird of passage in the British Isles, arriving in 



