CUCULIDJE. 265 



COMMON CUCKOO, Ciiculus canorus. We all know 

 that the Common Cuckoo is a summer migrant 

 arriving here about the middle of April and 

 departing in August or September; the old 

 song limits its stay to August. 



" In April, 

 Come he will ; 

 In May, 



He sings all day ; 

 In June, 



He alters his tune ; 

 In July, 



He prepares to fly ; 

 Come August, 

 Go he must." 



This bird has so many peculiarities, both of voice 

 and habits, that it has attracted more attention than 

 any other bird. The times of migration and changes 

 in voice are tolerably accurately pointed out in the 

 old verses I have quoted ; but its very peculiar habit 

 of placing its eggs in the nest of another bird, whose 

 own young are invariably sacrificed to the rapacity 

 of the young Cuckoo, has attracted much observation 

 and given rise to many wild theories, amongst which 

 I must place the theory of Dr. Baldamus (which gave 

 rise to considerable discussion in the ' Zoologist,' in 

 which useful periodical his paper on the subject 

 was translated), that the Cuckoo has the power of 

 colouring her egg to assimilate with that of the bird 

 in whose nest it is placed : indeed the fact, which is 



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