THE CUCKOOS, ETC. 155 



hard to imagine. Their peculiar call certainly has 

 nothing to do with any change of weather. They 

 reach the Middle States in April, but late in the 

 month, and they remain until late in September. 

 Their coming is promptly recognized if we are on 

 the lookout for birds, for although they have a knack 

 of gliding silently through the trees, they are com- 

 pelled to chatter at intervals, and the ku-ku-ku-k-k-k- 

 kuk-kuk-koo they utter is quite unmistakable. Au- 

 thors have pointed out in considerable detail the 

 differences in the general habits of these two birds, 

 but they have never been very apparent to me. Both 

 are common, although .the yellow-billed species is 

 always the most abundant. 



This cuckoo is said to be a more persistent nest- 

 robber than the " Black-bill," but as a caterpillar- 

 eater is much more prominent than as an egg-sucker. 

 It is fond, too, of our wild red and white mulberries, 

 and as this insipid fruit looks so much like a worm, I 

 have often thought that perhaps the bird did not know 

 the difference. Of course the robbing of birds' nests 

 is an ugly record, but there can be no doubt that 

 the immense number of insects destroyed by these 

 birds outweighs any objection that can be urged 

 against them. 



A cuckoo's nest is a slovenly affair, and may be 

 found in a tree or bush, high or low, and that young 

 bird is fortunate that does not tumble out of bed 

 long before it can fly. The big greenish-blue eggs 

 do not seem to be highly prized by their owners, 

 and for want of sufficient attention sometimes fail to 

 hatch, but when the young birds have really put in an 



