CUCULID.^;. 



289 



THE GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO. 



COCCVSTES GLANDARIUS (LinnKUS). 



An example of this southern species was captured alive in an 

 emaciated condition on the island of Omey, off the coast of Con- 

 nemara, probably in March 1842 ; it was subsequently secured for 

 the Museum of Trinity College, Dublin, where I noticed that it was 

 in immature plumage. Another, shot near Bellingham, Northumber- 

 land, on August 5th 1870, and now in the Newcastle Museum, is a 

 young bird. On October i8th 1S96, an immature male was obtained 

 on the Denes near Yarmouth ; while from the description sent to 

 Mr. R. M. Barrington by Mr. T. King, lightkeeper at the Skellig 

 Rock, CO. Kerry, there can be little doubt that a bird in nearly adult 

 plumage was observed there on April 30th 1897. 



The Great Spotted Cuckoo has occurred exceptionally in Germany, 

 more frequently in the south of France, and several times in spring 

 in Italy as far north as Liguria ; but it is rare in Malta, and unre- 

 corded from Sardinia or Corsica. In Southern Spain I found that it 

 arrived by March 2nd, and it is common throughout the summer in 

 the Peninsula as far north as the vicinity of Madrid, wherever there 

 are woods suited to the habits of the Magpie, in the nests of which 



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