250 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



stances where they or their friends have observed two 

 male Cuckoos following and chasing a female ; but this 

 proves little or nothing. I, a few weeks before the vernal 

 equinox, see two male Stormcocks fighting over and 

 chasing a female ; but am I therefore to believe that 

 these birds are polygamous ? I strongly suspect that the 

 peculiar manner in which the Cuckoo propagates its 

 species is in some measure responsible for this belief. 

 When we reflect how prolific all polygamous birds are, as 

 a rule, and then note the comparative scarcity of the 

 Cuckoo, it will at once be seen that polygamy, if prac- 

 tised in this species, is attended with results quite at 

 variance with those usually attending it. Upon their 

 arrival I always see the Cuckoo solitary ; and when 

 they have spent a few weeks in their summer home, I 

 either see them in pairs or alone. At the time of writing 

 this, two Cuckoos, a male and female, have frequented 

 one locality for the last three weeks. Thus I infer that 

 the Cuckoo does pair, even though it be for a very short 

 season, and that the birds remain in company until the 

 full complement of eggs is deposited. 



Reader, we will suppose polygamy to be their forte, 

 and a male Cuckoo after fighting for a female gains her 

 attentions. In due course a fertile egg is deposited, and 

 the male departs to seek out and win more females, for 

 be it known Cuckoos are not at all gregarious. Now if 

 the female Cuckoo cannot obtain another partner, the 

 remaining number of eggs by her deposited will prove 

 infertile. But this is not the case, for we rarely find an 

 addled egg of this species. Again, I for one have never 

 seen Cuckoos displaying hostile motions, and if they are 

 of so pugnacious a disposition, we must also bear in mind 

 that all birds which pair annually are more or less pug- 

 nacious in the mating season. Further, in polygamous 



