Correspondence.



305



stated, my Cuckoo was taken out of a Greenfinch’s nest in out-

woods early in August 1909. and was kept (near the window of

a large warm room) in captivity until the onset of the cutting

east winds in the middle of February (last) 1911, when it died

somewhat suddenly, having passed nearly two winters, or more

exactly, a period of eighteen mouths in confinement.


Our Cuckoo completed moulting in January of its second

year, but it began to throw off its nesting feathers in the

previous October, appearing, alter moulting, in its mature

plumage, and almost a different bird—having changed from

brown to a blue-grey.


Its unique winter sojourn under observation has thrown

some light upon its life and habits, also upon the question of

migration. It knew its caretaker (a patient) well, and would

eat minced meat off his hand ; but it was ever timid and fearful

of strangers, fluttering against its cage if anyone unfamiliar

went too near. Although unamiable and often pugnacious, it

was fond of play.


It possessed the germ of its nature—which shows no

love of offspring—in that it never demonstrated affection: It

preferred as food the larvae of lepidopterous insects, but it ate

raw meat with relish, and always refused bread by itself. It

devoured crickets, beetles, flies, spiders, wasps’ “eggs,” moths

and mealworms.


It crushed beetles in its beak in a very original and

unusual way, turning them round and round until sufficiently

“ masticated ” when it suddenly swallowed them. It was always

fond of young mice and would peck at them in the cage until

they were insensible and would then devour them whole;

indeed it seemed to be a little hawk-like “after its kind.”

Next to the larvae it seemed to enjoy skinned mice. It was

insectivorous as well as carnivorous.


It acquired its piquante vernal song in captivity and was

heard to “cuckoo” quite clearly (see my previous letter)

although at first doubtfully and indistinctly, probably learning

the sound by mimicry from the newly-returned elders of its

race, or possibly from its own parents.


Migration in birds is probably caused by a reaction to



