206 CUCULIM. 



I have seen the specimen, which is the property of Mr. 

 Creighton, of Clifden. As it is the first noticed occurrence 

 of this bird in the British Islands, you will oblige me by 

 making it known through the medium of the Annals of 

 Natural History. Yours very truly, R. BALL." Such is 

 the notice of the occurrence of this bird published in the 

 summer of 1843, and Mr. Ball was kind enough to 

 ascertain and send me the particulars which follow. The 

 Cuckoo was taken by two persons walking on the island of 

 Omagh, where, pursued by Hawks, it flew for refuge into 

 a hole in a stone fence, or wall, was taken alive, and lived 

 for four days (attempts being made to feed it on potatoes). 

 The inhabitants had never seen any bird like it before. It 

 was taken about Christmas, 1842. The bird when chased 

 by the Hawks appeared fatigued, weak, and emaciated, as 

 if after a long flight, such as Woodcocks on their first 

 arrival. The specimen has been presented to Trinity Col- 

 lege, Dublin, and is now in the Museum. 



Another specimen, taken at Llawrenny, is now in the 

 collection of R. I. Auckland, Esq., of Boulston, near 

 Haverfordwest. Zoologist, 1851, p. 3046. 



This species inhabits Senegal and North Africa. Our 

 countryman Edwards, in his notice of the subject of his 

 57th Plate, says, " I suppose this bird to be an alternate 

 inhabitant of the southern parts of Europe and the north- 

 ern parts of Africa, since it was shot on its supposed 

 passage, on the rock of Gibraltar, in Spain, by an English 

 officer there, who sent it to his brother, Mr. Mark Catesby, 

 of London, who obliged me with it, to make what use I 

 thought proper." 



M. Malherbe, when noticing this species in his Ornitho- 

 logical Fauna of Sicily, says, he has frequently received it 

 from Spain, and Brisson calls it Cuculus Andalusia. It is 

 included among the birds of Provence by Polydore Roux ; 



