KNYSNA 129 



diameter, and the nest would measure about two feet 

 vertically by one foot six inches horizontally. This nest 

 contained two young birds, lately hatched, which had a 

 rather uncanny appearance. This singular appearance, 

 I have since learned, is on account of the extreme pro- 

 longation of the sheaths which envelop the embryo 

 feathers on the very young of this class of Cuckoo, and 

 when these young birds erect their feathers in the 

 manner shown in the illustration, this extraordinary 

 growth has the appearance of long hairs brushed 

 straight up. 



We found this nest very difficult of approach, it 

 being placed about ten feet from the ground, and sur- 

 rounded by the long needle-like thorns of the mimosa, 

 some of which attain a length of five or six inches. 

 Another thorn, which grows in the shape of a fish-hook, 

 but without the barb, is the "wait-a-bit" thorn; it is 

 small, and only asks that its presence may be recognised, 

 and that it may be released from your clothing. I never 

 saw the V/ey Lottrie, as this Cuckoo is called, but once, 

 when it was on the nest, where it sat with its long bulky 

 tail showing outside the entrance ; on our approach the 

 bird slipped quietly out, dropping with great dexterity 

 through the maze of dangerous-looking thorns that 

 surrounded the nest. These birds were very shy, and 

 rarely showed themselves, but their cry was often to be 

 heard, and was one of the most distinctive sounds on the 

 outskirts of the forest. The note was very deep, and 

 was a kind of mixture between a prolonged shudder and 

 a coo ; the sound had a most odd effect. The Vley 

 Loitrie is considerably larger than most of the Cuckoos 

 around Knysna, and is more soberly clad, the general 



9 



