GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO. 387 



the present species journeys in large flocks. Tristram writes : " They 

 travelled very leisurely, and while scattered along the whole length of the 

 valley which they were crossing, kept up ceaseless conversation, some few 

 jerking their tails on the edge of the cliffs, while the greater number pur- 

 sued their course among the bushes, searching for food as they descended 

 our side of the valley and climbed the opposite face. Their behaviour, but 

 for their noisy tongues, was very like that of a well-ordered flock of Rooks, 

 with their sentries on their feeding-ground. When they had reached the 

 north ridge of the valley they seemed to take stock of the situation, and 

 very soon rose in the air, perhaps stimulated by our ineffective shots, and 

 pursued their course till out of sight." 



The Great Spotted Cuckoo is a somewhat shy bird, and lives in well- 

 timbered districts. It may sometimes be seen on the ground, where its 

 long tail makes it conspicuous ; but it is perhaps most frequently observed 

 among the branches. Its flight is moderately rapid and undulating, some- 

 thing like that of the Magpie, and when alarmed it generally contrives to 

 slip out of that part of the tree furthest away from the observer. If 

 followed, it will fly from tree to tree or grove to grove, and is too wary to 

 allow the observer to approach it very close. The usual call-note of this 

 bird is described as somewhat resembling that of the Common Cuckoo, 

 and may be expressed by the words kee-ou, kee-ou. Its alarm-note is said 

 by Tristram to be intermediate between that of the Jay and the Roller, 

 and to resemble the word cark ; it also possesses a third note of wurree, 

 ivurree, from which it has doubtless derived its Arab name. The food of 

 the Great Spotted Cuckoo is composed of insects, especially caterpillars, 

 and this fare may be varied by an occasional egg stolen from the nests of 

 its dupes. It often sits on some favourite stump, whence it sallies forth 

 to catch a passing fly or to pounce down on a locust. 



Like the Common Cuckoo, the present bird is a parasite, and deposits 

 its eggs in the nests of other birds, and leaves its young to be hatched and 

 reared by other species. This interesting fact was not known with 

 absolute certainty until 1850, when Brehm observed it in Egypt. In the 

 1 Ibis ' for 1866 (p. 281) Tristram gives many details concerning its 

 habits during the breeding-season. The nests selected by this bird for its 

 purpose are the species of Crows ; and Tristram thinks sometimes the 

 Southern Little Owl. A Magpie's nest, either the common species or the 

 Azure-winged Magpie, is generally selected in Spain and Algeria; but in 

 Egypt that of the Hooded Crow is preferred, and in some parts of Pales- 

 tine that of the Black-headed Jay is probably chosen. This Cuckoo some- 

 times lays as many as four of her own eggs in the selected nest, but 

 usually not more than two. Opinion is still divided upon the point ; but 

 it is thought by some naturalists that the bird conveys its egg in its beak, 

 and deposits it in the nest without sitting on the nest to lay it. There is 



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