BIRDS OF THE WOODS 45 



ending in an abrupt " cuck." These latter variations 

 occur when the voice is " breaking " In July the 

 bird becomes silent. The female utters a curious 

 bubbling kind of noise. 



Habits. — It is parasitical, laying its eggs on the ground, 

 and conveying them in its beak to the nest of some 

 other bird, which hatches same and acts as foster-parent 

 to the young Cuckoo. When old and strong enough 

 the young Cuckoo at once ejects the rightful tenants 

 of the nest. Flight fairly rapid and direct, but some- 

 what laboured. It seldom alights on the ground, on 

 which it is awkward, owing to its short legs. 



Food. — Insects principally ; specially fond of hairy 

 caterpillars. 



Nest. — Upwards of sixty different kinds of British 

 birds have done duty as foster-parents to the young 

 Cuckoo ; but most usually the female deposits her e^g 

 in the nests of the Meadow and Tree Pipits, Reed Warbler, 

 Pied Wagtail, and Hedge Sparrow. Five to eight eggs 

 are said to be laid in a season, though it is rare to find 

 more than one Cuckoo's Qgg in any nest. The egg is 

 absurdly small for the bird's size, being no larger than 

 a Skylark's. It varies, as a rule, according to the kind 

 of eggs among which it is placed, sometimes resembling 

 them but often not having the slightest resemblance. 

 Usually dull greenish or ruddy white, spotted and mottled 

 with darker shades of the same colours. 



HOBBY {Falco subbuteo). 



End of May to September. Very local ; found most 

 usually in the southern, western, and midland counties ; 

 elsewhere much rarer. 



Haunts. — Woodland districts. 



