COMMON CUCKOO. 195 



CUCULUS. Generic Characters. Beak of moderate length, shorter than 

 the head, slightly curved, the upper mandible with a small but almost ob- 

 solete notch near the tip ; the gape wide ; the under mandible following 

 the curve of the upper. Nostrils basal, circular, pierced in the centre of a 

 naked membrane. Wings rather long and pointed, the third quill-feather 

 the longest. Tail long and graduated. Tarsi stout, partly feathered ; toes 

 two in front, two behind ; the outer toe on each side reversible. 



THE Natural History of the Cuckoo has always been a 

 subject of great interest to the Ornithologist ; and although 

 its habits are now pretty well ascertained, the question 

 why this bird, of all our numerous summer visitors, many 

 of them coming from the same country, and existing on 

 similar food, should deposit its eggs in the nests of other 

 birds, and be apparently regardless of its offspring, has not 

 yet received a satisfactory answer, yet it may be said that 

 considerable advances have been made towards it. 



The male Cuckoo makes his appearance in this country 

 about the middle of April ; and in reference to the periods 

 which mark the various stages of his progress through 

 the season, I have somewhere met with the following 

 couplets: 



In April, 



Come he will. 



In May, 



He sings all day. 



In June, 



He alters his tune. 



In July, 



He prepares to fly. 



Come August, 



Go he must. 



The well-known notes of the male are listened to with 

 pleasure as the record of returning spring, with its bright 

 skies and gratifying associations ; the voice of the female is 

 different, and has been compared to that of the Dabchick 

 and the Gallinules. Unlike most other birds, Cuckoos do 

 not pair; but a female is occasionally seen on the wing, 



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