The Cuckoo 



WE all love the Cuckoo's welcome notes. 

 They tell us of the arrival of spring 

 and the coming of glorious summer days. 



In character and habits the Cuckoo is 

 a weird bird. Arriving upon our shores 

 during the latter half of April, it speedily 

 begins "to tell its name to all the hills 

 around." At the height of summer, and 

 especially in the north of England and Scot- 

 land, it may frequently be heard, not only 

 by day, but all the night through. 



The female does not build a nest, sit 

 on her eggs, or rear her own young ones. 

 Although almost as large as a lapwing, her 

 eggs are no bigger than those of the sky- 

 lark. This is, no doubt, a very useful 

 arrangement so far as the Cuckoo is 

 concerned, but it often proves a great mis- 

 fortune to smaller birds. 



No sooner has the female Cuckoo laid a 

 wee, spotted egg than she picks it up in her 



3 



