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1 6 The Field Naturalist's Quarterly November 



probably first attract our attention, then we notice that the 

 back is of a light wine colour, and there is some black about 

 the wings and tail. If we get close enough to this wary 

 bird, we shall also observe some bright blue upon the wings, 

 but it is a wary bird, and is almost sure to see us before 

 we see it. 



The Magpie [Pica rusticd) is another offshoot of the 

 crow family, and of about the same size as the last two 

 birds. A large black-and-white bird with a very long tail, 

 needs no detailed description. Its flight is heavy and 

 laborious, like that of most long-tailed birds. When 

 disturbed in its favourite plantation, it often utters a rapid 

 chattering cry, " chack-a-rack-a-rack." No large bird is 

 more easily distinguished than the magpie. 



The Cuckoo (Cucu/us canorus). To the novice there is 

 no more easily recognisable bird sound than the voice of the 

 cuckoo, one of the first country sounds which we all learn 

 and from childhood are able to imitate. Comparatively few 

 people, however, know the cuckoo by sight ; so all young 

 naturalists, when they first hear the bird call its name, should 

 follow up the sound and get as close as possible to the bird, 

 which will probably be calling from some tree in the fields, 

 or a stone wall if in a moorland district. When disturbed, 

 a bird about as large as a pigeon will be seen to fly away 

 rather leisurely to another tree or wall at some distance, 

 whence probably within a few seconds he will cuckoo again. 

 We have noticed the bird's easy, skimming, straight flight, 

 with rapid though gently beating wings, and in future shall 

 know it when seen but not heard. The colour of the 

 cuckoo's plumage, grey above and white streaked with grey 

 below, will scarcely help us to identify it when seen out of 

 doors, because probably we shall not get close enough to it 

 to note these points ; and for future guidance we may here 

 say that usually the manner of the bird, and the circum- 

 stances under which we see it, will be a better guide to 

 identification than details of plumage, which are difficult to 

 distinguish in most large birds when, as is so commonly the 

 case, we see them hurriedly or at a considerable distance. 



The Nightjar {Caprimulgus europccus). Often when 

 crossing a heather or furze-covered moor, or walking 



