374 COMMON CUCKOO. 



economy are very few in numbers ; the True 

 Cuckoos, confined to the *Old World and 

 Australia, and another form peculiar to America, 

 being all that ane now known to exercise this 

 almost unnatural disposition. In both of these we 

 see provisions predetermined to secure the rear- 

 ing of the young, and the work of previous 

 design in the whole economy, which should lead 

 us to persevere in ascertaining the end for which 

 they are intended. The Cuckoo in Britain 

 arrives during April, earlier or later according to 

 the season, and according to the part of the 

 country ; like all our other summer birds, its note 

 is immediately heard proclaiming its arrival to its 

 mate. This is continued until the season of 

 breeding has passed, gradually becoming hoarser 

 and more indistinct as the season advances, and 

 ultimately before their departure the birds become 

 entirely mute. The old birds leave us very early, 

 they are among the first of our visiters that travel, 

 none remaining after July, so that their visit to 

 this and other regions to which they migrate, 

 seems confined entirely to the time necessary to 

 search for a place and deposit a certain number 

 of eggs. The young are attended to for a certain 

 time by their foster parents, and afterwards are 

 left to themselves ; they, however, remain much 

 longer, and we have frequently shot them towards 

 the end of August, at which time, when suddenly 

 disturbed, they utter a note or whistle, very 

 dissimilar to the " Cuckoo" of the love season. 

 The Cuckoo is very commonly and frequently 



