Chap. 11.] THE CUCKOO. 489 



woods, and in the day-time its sight is not good ; it wages war 

 to the death with the eagle, and they are often to be found 

 clasped in each other's talons. 



CHAP. 11. (9.) THE ONLY BIRD THAT IS KILLED BY THOSE OF 



ITS OWN KIND. A BIRD THAT LAYS ONLY ONE EGG. 



The cuckoo seems to be but another form of the hawk, 52 

 which at a certain season of the year changes its shape ; it 

 being the fact that during this period no other hawks are to be 

 seen, except, perhaps, for a few days only ; the cuckoo, too, 

 itself is only seen for a short period in the summer, and does 

 not make its appearance after. It is the only one among the 

 hawks that has not hooked talons ; neither is it like the rest 

 of them in the head, or, indeed, in any other respect, except 

 the colour only, while in the beak it bears a stronger resem- 

 blance to the pigeon. In addition to this, it is devoured by the 

 hawk, if they chance at any time to meet ; this being the only * 

 one among the whole race of birds that is preyed upon by those 

 of its own kind. It changes its voice also with its appearance, 

 comes out in the spring, and goes into retirement at the rising 

 of the Dog-star. It always lays its eggs in the nest of another 

 bird, and that of the ring-dove 53 more especially, mostly a single 

 egg, a thing that is the case with no other bird ; sometimes how- 

 ever, but very rarely, it is known to lay two. It is supposed, 

 that the reason for its thus substituting its young ones, is the 

 fact that it is aware 54 how greatly it is hated by all the other 

 birds ; for even the very smallest of them will attack it. 

 Hence it is, that it thinks its own race will stand no chance 

 of being perpetuated unless it contrives to deceive them, and for 

 this reason builds no nest of its own : and besides this, it is 

 a very timid animal. In the meantime, the female bird, sitting 

 on her nest, is rearing a supposititious and spurious progeny ; 

 while the young cuckoo, which is naturally craving and greedy, 

 snatches away all the food from the other young ones, and by 

 po doing grows plump and sleek, and quite gains the affections 

 of his foster-mother ; who takes a great pleasure in his fine 



52 Cuvier says, that this notion is still entertained by the French 

 peasantry. 



53 This is not the case. It only lays in the nests of insectivorous birds. 



54 Cuvier remarks, that this is not a very good reason ; but we have not 

 yet been able to find a better. 



