157 



THE CUCKOO. 



Cuculus canorus L. 



The Cuckoo reached our shores rather earlier than usual in 

 the spring of 1907, and there is little doubt that stragglers 

 had arrived in the south and west before the end of March. 



It was not, however, until the 14th of April that this species 

 arrived in numbers, and between that date and the 19th 

 they were recorded along the greater part of the southern 

 seaboard, whence they spread to the eastern counties, while 

 stragglers were recorded from Leicester, Cheshire, Lancashire 

 and Yorkshire. 



The main immigration took place between the '22nd and 

 29th of April, when great numbers of Cackoos arrived along 

 the whole of the south coast and spread northwards through- 

 out the country as far as Yorkshire and westward to AVales, 

 where the first birds were recorded on the 22nd, though it 

 was not until May the 5th that they reached those parts in 

 any great numbers. 



On the 2'4th at the Hants light and the 25th at the Corn- 

 wall light this species was observed on migration, and during 

 the following days an increase was noted in many of the 

 southern counties and the first birds reached Westmoreland. ' 



Between the 3rd and 12th of May there was a steady 

 increase in numbers, the majority arriving on the south-east 

 coast, while smaller numbers were observed along the rest of 

 the southern seaboard. These birds spread throughout the 

 country generally, and the first arrivals were recorded from 

 Cumberland on the 5th. 



After the 12th the majority of the birds seem to have 



