122 JOTTINGS ABOUT BIRDS. 



nean ; a fortnight later they arrive in the southern 

 portions of the British Islands, and thence gradu- 

 ally spread northwards. The males precede the 

 females by a few days, and in autumn the bulk of 

 the old birds appear to migrate south before the 

 young, which is contrary to the usual rule of flight. 

 The Cuckoo is an early autumn migrant, passing 

 south in August, the young following a few weeks 

 later. I have remarked a certain amount of gre- 

 gariousness during migration, especially in spring. 

 As is well known, the Great Spotted Cuckoo (Coc- 

 cystes glandarius) habitually migrates in flocks. 

 In the British Archipelago the Cuckoo may be met 

 with in almost every variety of haunt, in well- 

 wooded localities, on bare open downs, in the fields, 

 on the moors, and even near the summits of our 

 mountains. Few birds seem less confined to any 

 particular class of country than the Cuckoo. Prob- 

 ably its food is readily obtained in any district. A 

 few days after their arrival the males begin to call, 

 and continue in song for a period of about two 

 months. It is quite unnecessary to describe the 

 full, rich double-note of the Cuckoo, but it may be 

 remarked, that the song becomes much less clear, 

 and is often prolonged into three syllables, as the 

 period of its cessation draws near. The Cuckoo is 



