GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO. 387 
the present species journeys in large flocks. Tristram writes :—“ They 
travelled very leisurely, and while scattered along the whole length of the 
valley which they were crossing, kept up ceaseless conversation, some few 
jerking their tails on the edge of the cliffs, while the greater number pur- 
sued their course among the bushes, searching for food as they descended 
our side of the valley and climbed the opposite face. Their behaviour, but 
for their noisy tongues, was very like that of a well-ordered flock of Rooks, 
with their sentries on their feeding-ground. When they had reached the 
north ridge of the valley they seemed to take stock of the situation, and 
very soon rose in the air, perhaps stimulated by our ineffective shots, and 
pursued their course till out of sight.” 
The Great Spotted Cuckoo is a somewhat shy bird, and lives in well- ~ 
timbered districts. It may sometimes be seen on the ground, where its 
long tail makes it conspicuous ; but it is perhaps most frequently observed 
among the branches. Its flight is moderately rapid and undulating, some- 
thing like that of the Magpie, and when alarmed it generally contrives to 
slip out of that part of the tree furthest away from the observer. If 
followed, it will fly from tree to tree or grove to grove, and is too wary to 
allow the observer to approach it very close. The usual call-note of this 
bird is described as somewhat resembling that of the Common Cuckoo, 
and may be expressed by the words kee-ou, kee-ou. Its alarm-note is said 
by Tristram to be intermediate between that of the Jay and the Roller, 
and to resemble the word cark; it also possesses a third note of wurree, 
wurree, from which it has doubtless derived its Arab name. ‘The food of 
the Great Spotted Cuckoo is composed of insects, especially caterpillars, 
and this fare may be varied by an occasional egg stolen from the nests of 
its dupes. It often sits on some favourite stump, whence it sallies forth 
to catch a passing fly or to pounce down on a locust. 
Like the Common Cuckoo, the present bird is-a parasite, and deposits 
its eggs in the nests of other birds, and leaves its young to be hatched and 
reared by other species. This interesting fact was not known with 
absolute certainty until 1850, when Brehm observed it in Egypt. In the 
‘Ibis’ for 1866 (p. 281) Tristram gives many details concerning its 
habits during the breeding-season. The nests selected by this bird for its 
purpose are the species of Crows; and Tristram thinks sometimes the 
Southern Little Owl. A Magpie’s nest, either the common species or the 
Azure-winged Magpie, is generally selected in Spain and Algeria; but in 
Egypt that of the Hooded Crow is preferred, and in some parts of Pales- 
tine that of the Black-headed Jay is probably chosen. This Cuckoo some- 
times lays as many as four of her own eggs in the selected nest, but 
usually not more than two. Opinion is still divided upon the point; but 
it is thought by some naturalists that the bird conveys its egg in its beak, 
and deposits it in the nest without sitting on the nest to lay it. There is 
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