THE CUCKOO'S ACCUSERS. 133 



an action of which the bird has been found guilty, 

 so far as the destruction of the eggs is concerned, 

 by several careful observers. Another rhyme 

 about the cuckoo informs us of the precise object 

 which the bird has in sucking little birds' eggs ; 

 namely, to " make her voice clear." It should be 

 observed, however, that the male bird alone is the 

 ginger. 



" The cuckoo's a fine bird, 

 She sings as she flies ; 

 She brings us good tidings, 



She tells us no lies. 

 She sucks little birds' eggs 

 To make her voice clear, 

 And when she sings, " Cuckoo," 

 The summer is near." 



The young bird has been arraigned of devour- 

 ing its foster mother, and also its foster brethren 

 and sisters, should any have escaped its former 

 destructive propensities. Could these crimes be 

 proved, instead of calling the bird 



" The merry cuckoo, messenger of spring," 



we should be justified in denouncing it as the 

 murderous cuckoo, and as guilty of the blackest 

 ingratitude. Although much obscured by fable, 

 the cuckoo's history is now becoming more satis- 



