NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Male cuckoos more abundant than females. 



enough to leave us at the usual time of migration, 

 and had therefore sought for shelter and warmth 

 in the places where they have been discovered. 

 Buflbn mentions several instances of young cuc- 

 koos having been kept in cages, which, perhaps 

 for want of proper nutriment, did not survive 

 the winter. 



According to the general supposition, male 

 cuckoos are more abundant than females : Mr. 

 Pennant observed that five male birds were 

 caught in a trap in one season ; and Dr. Latham 

 says, that out of at least half a dozen that he 

 attended to, chance never directed him to a fe- 

 male. The males alone being vocal may, how- 

 ever, be one cause why our specimens are chiefly 

 of this sex ; their note directing the gunner 

 to take aim, whilst silence is the female's se- 

 curity. 



It was once doubted whether the cuckoo was 

 carnivorous; but Reaumur was at the pains of 

 breeding up several, and found they would nei- 

 ther eat bread nor corn, but that flesh and insects 

 were their favourite food. The young cuckoos, 

 though helpless and foolish for a great length of 

 time, may be, and often are, brought up tame, 

 so as to become familiar. In this state they will 

 eat bread and milk, fruits, insects, eggs, and 

 flesh, either cooked or raw ; but in a state of na- 

 ture, they are supposed to live principally on ca- 

 terpillars. When fat, Dr. Latham assures us 

 they are as good eating as the land-raiL 



