180 



CUCULID.E. 



Generic Characters. — Beak of moderate length, shorter than the head, 

 slightly curved, the upper mandible with a small but almost obsolete notch near 

 the tip; the gape wide ; the under mandible following the curve of the upper. 

 Nostrils basal, circular, pierced in the centre of a naked membrane. Wings 

 rather long and pointed, the third quill-feather the longest. Tail long and gra- 

 duated. Tarsi stout, partly feathered ; toes two in front, two behind ; the outer 

 toe on each side reversible. 



The Natural History of the Cuckoo has always been a 

 subject of great interest to the Ornithologist ; and although 

 its habits are now pretty well ascertained, the question why 

 this bird, of all our numerous summer visiters, many of them 

 coming from the same country, and existing on similar food, 

 should deposit its eggs in the nests of other birds, and be 

 apparently regardless of its offspring, has not yet received 

 a satisfactory answer, yet it may be said that considerable 

 advances have been made towards it. 



The male Cuckoo makes his appearance in this country 

 about the middle of April ; and in reference to the periods 

 which mark the various stages of his progress through the 

 season, I have somewhere met with the following couplets, — 



In April, 



Come he will. 



In May, 



He sings all day. 



In June, 



He alters his tune. 



In July, 



He prepares to fly. 



Come August, 



Go he must. 



The well-known notes of the male are listened to with 

 pleasure as the record of returning spring, with its bright 

 skies and gratifying associations ; the voice of the female is 

 different, and has been compared to that of the Dabchick 

 and the Gallinules. Unlike most other birds. Cuckoos do 

 not pair ; but a female is occasionally seen on the wing, and 

 is frequently attended by one or more males. The earliest 



