THE SHINING CUCKOO 133 



Our cuckoos do not possess the "cuckoo" note which has 

 given the bird its name. The notes of members of the Cuculi 

 order vary considerably, and Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe states that 

 only one other species, which is found in South Africa, has the 

 same cry as the European species. The cry of the shining 

 cuckoo is described as being an exceedingly pleasant one, consist- 

 ing of a number of silvery notes. It has also been reported that 

 this bird is endowed with some kind of ventriloquism, which 

 makes it seem to be far away when it is really quite close. 



A few brief notes from the diary of Mr. W. W. Smith record the 

 stages of a domestic tragedy in bird-land, brought about by the 

 cuckoo's strange habits. He once found the nest of a grey 

 warbler, and the bird flew out as he approached. There were five 

 eggs in it, and they were all intact. A few days later, on 

 September 21st, he returned, and the eggs were still unhatched. 

 Other entries in the diary are: — "September 24th — Two young 

 ones hatched; one egg, lying on the ground outside the nest, 

 contained a chick, cold and dead. September 25th — Three young 

 ones in nest ; large egg unhatched. September 26th — Large egg 

 hatched — chick of a shining cuckoo ; very clumsy in nest, lying 

 on the top of the three young warblers. September 30th — 

 Found one dead chick, lying on the ground ; two young warblers 

 still alive ; young cuckoo growing rapidly, being now nearly 

 large enough to fill the nest itself, beak and legs fairly well 

 developed. November 2nd — One of the young warblers lying 

 dead in nest, the other alive ; young cuckoo has its eyes open ; 

 signs of feathers on the neck and wings, but in parts of the body 

 perfectly bare. November 5th — Visited nest again ; young 

 cuckoo thrust out its head to receive food when I approached; 

 lifted the surviving young warbler out of the nest and found it 

 very feeble ; the young cuckoo lying with its head at the opening 

 of the nest, had taken full possession ; its lifeless companion was 

 lying underneath, having, apparently, died from starvation. 

 November 8th — Found the young cuckoo almost ready to leave 

 the cradle ; brought both nest and bird home. November 10th — 

 Thriving well, being fed on small worms, crabs, flies, spiders, and 

 very small pieces of lean meat. November 15th — Has now come 



