398 CUCULID.E. 



Herr Adolf Mliller (Zool. Garten, 1868, pp. 345 349) the 

 larger of two Cuckows in the same nest perished, and Mr. 

 H. Turner (Mag. Nat. Hist. viii. pp. 287, 288) knew of two 

 that throve in company for the ten days he was able to 

 observe them. 



The young murderer having thus become the only object 

 of the solicitous cares of his foster-parents, thrives and grows 

 very quickly, leaving the nest in about a fortnight or less,* 

 being by that time completely fledged, though his wings and 

 tail have not reached their full dimensions. Yet nearly as 

 long as he remains in the land of his birth his wants are 

 anxiously supplied by the victims of his mother's dupery. 

 Their actions when he attains his full stature become almost 

 ridiculous, for they have often to perch between his shoulders 

 to place in his gaping, up-turned mouth the delicate morsels 

 he is too lazy or too stupid to take from their bill. The 

 time during which he is thus supported by his foster-parents 

 has not been determined, but it seems to last for some 

 weeks. At length however he begins to shift for himself, 

 and then follows the elders of his kin to more southern 

 climes, though it appears certain that he does not accompany 

 them on their migration, for nearly all the old Cuckows, 

 as has been said, leave this country by the middle of July, 

 and are hardly ever seen in August, while the young have 

 been observed at the end of that month or even at the 

 beginning of September. Indeed Mr. Kodd sent word that 

 he had known them remain in Cornwall till October ; 

 Thompson was informed of two shot near Tralee on the 

 5th, and Mr. Curtler (Zool. p. 2455) records one shot near 

 Worcester on the 14th of that month. 



* If taken when about that age the Cnckow is not hard to rear in captivity, 

 especially if its keeper delegates the duty of satisfying its inordinate appetite to 

 a cage-companion, for something of what may lie called "fascination" is exer- 

 cised by the young monster, which no bird that is wont to feed its own helpless 

 offspring seems able to resist. Indeed cases are known of the foster-parents 

 being voluntarily assisted in their task by other birds when all are at liberty. 

 In confinement the Cuckow is not amiable, and though it has been kept not 

 unfrequently through the winter, has moulted its nestling's feathers, and, accord- 

 ing to some, has been heard to utter its well-known cry, it seems never to have 

 been known to pick up its own food. 



