IYNX. CUCULUS. 117 



Caithness and the Orkney Islands, but occurs annually in 

 some numbers on Fair Isle, Shetlands ; it also occasionally 

 wanders to south-west Scotland, where it is reported to have 

 bred, and has occurred six times in Ireland. 



General Distribution. The Wryneck breeds throughout 

 Europe generally and western Asia, ranging north to about 

 64 N. latitude in Scandinavia and eastwards to west Siberia, 

 Turkestan, and Baluchistan. It is accidental in the Faeroes. 

 In winter it visits northern and tropical Africa and India. 

 Local races have been recognised in Algeria, Sardinia, ( Corsica, 

 Italy, and Dalmatia, as well as in eastern Siberia, central 

 Asia, north China, and Japan. 



Order COCCYGES. 



Suborder CUCULL 

 Family CUCULID^. 



Genus CUCULUS Linnceus, Syst. Nat. 1758, p. 110. 

 Type : C. canorus Linn. 



CculnsA Cuckoo, in classical Latin; the Greek KOKKV$ Probably 

 onomatopoeic. 



Cuculus canorus. CUCKOO. 



CUGUluS canorus Linnceus, Syst. Nat. 1758, p. 110 : 

 Sweden. 



Cuculus canorus Linn.; B. 0. U. List, 1st ed. 1883, p. 83; 



Shelley, Cat. Birds B. M. xix. 1891, p. 245; Saunders, 



Manual, 2nd ed. 1899, p. 287. 

 Canorus melodious, from cdno=I sing. 



Distribution in the British Islands. A regular Summer 

 Visitor from the last days of March and April until September 

 or October, individuals being occasionally met with in 

 November. Most adult birds depart in August. It is 

 universally distributed except in the Shetlands, where it is 

 said to be rare, but occurs regularly on passage. 



