CUCKOO. 267 



early April and occurring everywhere from the coastal sandhills 

 to the tops of the moors. 



The almost human tone of the Cuckoo's voice compels 

 attention; the bird is popular, and the "first Cuckoo" is 

 annually announced before its arrival. Myth and error sur- 

 round its story, but its true history is strange enough to need 

 no embellishment. False reports of its arrival are so frequent 

 that March Cuckoos are always looked upon with suspicion, 

 but occasionally it reaches the south coast at the end of this 

 month, though it is usually the second or third week of April 

 before it is generally distributed. The voice of the bird is more 

 familiar than its appearance. It is a long-tailed, sharp-winged 

 slate-grey bird, barred on the under surface, often, not without 

 reason, confused with the Sparrow-Hawk ; the ignorant keeper 

 shoots it, fearing that it will turn into a hawk in winter. Even 

 the small birds appear to share this doubt, and chase and mob 

 it persistently. Its flight may be direct and strong, but at times 

 curiously wavering and uncertain ; it is ungainly in its move- 

 ments, and will alight on a bush with outstretched wings, using 

 them as hands to maintain its balance. The males arrive first 

 and at all times predominate ; indeed the species is poly- 

 androus — females actually courting two or more males. Greed 

 and vanity appear to have destroyed the finer sexual instincts 

 of the male ; for the first two months he calls persistently, at 

 night as well as by day, to out-shout his rivals rather than to 

 serenade Uie female. The hen does not always compel attention, 

 for two or three males will posture and call before her, but as a 

 rule she seeks her mate. 



There is still much uncertainty about the various notes of the 

 Cuckoo. Certainly the male does most of the calling, but 

 either the female at times says cuc-koo, or the clear, bubbling 

 cry, stated to be hers alone, is shared by the male, for one bird 

 will make both remarks. There is, too, a harsh laughing alarm 

 note which is apparently common to both, and the deep kcd', 



