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167 
I here append a Danish reason why the Cuckoo builds no 
nest. When in early spring-time the voice of the Cuckoo is heard 
in the woods, every village girl kisses her hand, and asks the 
question, “Cuckoo, Cuckoo, when shall I be married?” and the 
old people, borne down with old age and its concomitant troubles, 
enquire, ‘Cuckoo, when shall I be released from this world’s 
cares?” The bird in answer, continues singing “Cuckoo” as many 
times as years will elapse before the object of their desires will 
come to pass. But as some old people live to an advanced age, 
and many girls die old maids, the poor bird has so much to do in 
answering questions put to her, that the building season goes by— 
she has no time to make her nest, but lays her eggs in that of 
others. 
PIED FLYCATCHER (Musicapa atricapilla). 
This bird, the last visitor which I shall bring forward this 
evening, is one which very few of you will have had the pleasure 
of seeing. The Rey. F. O. Morris, in his work on “British Birds,” 
says, “This rare and local bird I, like many ornithologists, have 
never seen alive, being scattered sparingly through Cumberland 
and Westmoreland.” The precise locality of this bird I will not 
give, for fear of collectors exterminating it. 
My brother and I, while sitting in a wood one day on the 
banks of one of our rivers, the first week in May, had our attention 
agreeably attracted by the arrival of a flock of Pied Flycatchers. 
There were twenty or thirty in all, and all males. They alighted 
on a grove of alder trees, and they seemed very much spent, as if 
they had come a long journey; indeed, we could have caught 
some of them, if we had been so inclined. A few days later the 
females arrived, and pairing commenced immediately. The date 
of arrival of this bird is very uncertain. I have seen them here 
on April 2oth, and as far into May. 
The male has a decided, sweet little song; and the lively 
effect of the well-defined black and white plumage of the male, 
and the confiding manner of both sexes, endear them to the 
