THE CUCKOO. 263 



order is subdivided into two tribes, distinguished by the form 

 and character of their beaks : the cuneiform, or wedge-shaped, 

 being small, and not toothed or indented ; and the levirostral, 

 or light beaks, which are indented more or less, and though in 

 general large, are of a lighter and thinner substance. 



Table XV. (See page 16.) 

 Order 2. Tribe i. Cuneirostral (Wedge-billed). 



Of the five genera included in this tribe, the Cuckoos, 

 Woodpeckers, and Wrynecks, are found in England. The re- 

 maining two, viz., Jacamars and Anis, are American. The 

 Jacamars are nearly allied to the Kingfishers, living, however, 

 on insects instead of fish, and building on low branches in the 

 depth of dark and damp forests, instead of in holes by the 

 water-side. The Anis, like the Jacamars, frequent the woods, 

 but seem to be of a much more social nature. If taken young, 

 they may be easily tamed, and even taught to speak some 

 words. Amongst themselves, too, they are the most friendly 

 birds imaginable, for they not only fly in flocks, but lay and 

 sit many pairs together, in one large nest, built by joint con- 

 sent for the whole party. Future travellers, we doubt not, 

 will be able to relate many interesting anecdotes of these 

 sociable, happy birds ; but at present little more is known 

 about them than what we have related. 



Not so, however, of our British cuneiform birds, our 

 Cuckoos, Woodpeckers, and Wrynecks. Everybody's atten- 

 tion is drawn to the first, whether he will or no. For as 

 soon as the winter is well over, and " April showers prepare 

 the way for May flowers," we hear the Cuckoo's note. It 

 would be difficult to say whether we should call them solitary 

 birds or not. Usually indeed one only is seen ; but not 

 unfrequently three, four, or even more, will assemble upon a 

 tree, and make the air resound with their well-known notes, 

 uttered sometimes as they remain perched, at others as they 

 quiver through the air with an odd sort of wild fluttering 

 flight. It appears, however, from good evidence, that they 



