450 Observations on the Cuckoo. 
been hatched so late as the middle of that 
month. 
Among the many peculiarities of the young 
cuckoo, there is one that shewsitself very early. 
Long before it leaves the nest, it frequently, 
when irritated, assumes the manner of a bird 
of prey, looks ferocious, throws itself back, 
and pecksat anything presented toit with great 
vehemence, often, at the same time, making 
a chuckling noise, like a young hawk. Some- 
times, when disturbed in a smaller degree, 
it makes a kind of hissing noise, accompanied 
with a heaving motion of the whole body. 
Its chirp is plaintive, like that of the hedge 
warbler, but the sound is not acquired from the 
foster parent, as it is the same whether it be 
reared by the hedge warbler, or by any other 
bird. It never acquires the adult note during 
its stay in this country. 
The growth of the young cuckoo is very 
rapid, and as it is fed for a long period by the 
small birds that have the care of it, they fre- 
quently have to perch on its back, or half 
expanded wing, in order to gain a sufficient 
elevation to put the food into its mouth. 
There seems to be no precise time fixed for 
the departure of young cuckoos. Probably they 
go off in succession, as soon as they are capa- 
ble of taking care of themselves; for though 
