CUCULID^. 69 
ing as early as the 16th of January in 1874. They mostly 
pass in March, whence their local name Gallo de Marzo, 
March-cock. 
Family Cuculid^. 
53. CucuLus CANORus, L. The Common Cuckoo. 
Moorish. Takouk, Oukouk. Spanish. Cucu. 
" More abundant near Tangier than the Great Spotted 
Cuckoo; seen during passage, in pairs, which cross to Europe 
in April and May, and return in August to winter, probably, 
in the interior of Africa. Some remain during summer, 
awaiting the return of the autumnal migration.'' — Favier. 
The Cuckoo is very plentiful near Gibraltar, especially in the 
Cork- wood and on all hill-sides wherever there are any trees, 
I saw a great many at the top of the mountains at the back 
of Algeciraz at the end of May, but not beyond the line of 
trees. I first heard it on the 7th of April in 1868, on the 
22nd of March in 1870, on the 31st of March in 1871, on 
the 29th of March in 1872, and on the 30th of the same 
month in 1874. They remain till the end of July. 
A female shot in the second week in May had then two 
eggs remaining in the ovaries, nearly ready to lay. 
54. CoccYSTES GLANDARius (L.). The Great Spotted 
Cuckoo. 
Moorish. Teir el Kheber (Bird of news) {Favier) . Spanish. 
Cuco real. 
^' Occurs near Tangier on passage, always in pairs, but not 
in any great numbers. They cross to Europe in January, 
February, and March, returning in June, July, August, and 
September. Their food is entirely caterpillars, both smooth 
and hairy.'' — Favier. 
The Great Spotted Cuckoo arrives in Andalucia much earlier 
than the Common Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus ; and though 
Favier states that they pass in January, the 25th of February 
and the 2nd of March are the earliest dates which I have for 
their arrival, and they mostly appear between the 7th and 
28th of March. The latest I saw was on the 7th of August, 
