66 CUCULID^ : CUCKOOS. 



are specially secretive during the nesting season, when 

 it has much of the sneaking, skulking ways of the para- 

 sitic Cuckoos of the old world, which have set a stigma 

 upon the family name. At other seasons it is more 

 likely to come under observation, when its lithe form 

 enlarges by the spreading of wings and tail as the agile 

 creature turns and twists in active pursuit of its prey. 

 Nor is there any reason why the Cuckoo should hide its 

 head ; it is an orderly member of a disreputable family, 

 rarely practising the vice which disgraces so many of its 

 relatives, only lapsing occasionally into what the Evolu- 

 tionists call "atavism," when it drops an egg in some 

 other bird's nest by sheer force of hereditary habit. The 

 Cuckoo might reasonably apologize for such misdemeanor 

 by urging a weight of family cares which few birds have 

 to bear ; being unable, through some defect of its egging- 

 apparatus, to lay in rapid succession, and so incubate and 

 raise a brood at one effort. The eggs follow at such long 

 intervals, that some hatch before the rest are dropped ; 

 and what with gaping throats to be satisfied, eggs to be 

 covered and more to come, the birds have a hard time 

 of it. The wonder is not that they are sometimes remiss 

 or amiss in their duties, but that they do not seek a watery 

 grave in the nearest Kingfisher's premises. 



The nest will usually be found in a low tree or bush, 

 sometimes even on a briar patch close to the ground. 

 It is a slight loose structure of twigs, often a mere plat- 

 form, but sometimes better finished with leaves, catkins 

 and bark-strips. The eggs are numerous, as already 

 hinted, but it is not easy to say exactly how many ; prob- 

 ably seldom over five. They are elliptical in shape, 

 greenish in color, of the tint prevailing in the eggs of 

 our herons, and measure about 1.15X0.90. 



