lyS BEACH GRASS 



from a perch but from the wing as he slowly flies 

 about the darkness. First he clears his throat 

 mast vigorously; then he calls cow a number of 

 times at regular intervals but soon changes to 

 cow'Cow^ coW'Cow or cow-cow-cow. His doublets 

 and triplets distinguish him from his yellow- 

 billed cousin, whose cows are as woodeny as if 

 knocked out by a mallet. 



The cuckoo is called the "rain-crow" because 

 it is thought he sings before a rain. Many a 

 farmer has been cheered in a dry "spell" by hear- 

 ing the voice of this bird. I am afraid his song 

 is as of little value for meteorological predic- 

 tions as is the call of the bob-white, who is some- 

 times thought to say "more wet." The value of 

 the cuckoo to the farmer is based on more sub- 

 stantial foundation, however, for he is one of the 

 few birds fond of hairy caterpillars. The nests 

 of tent caterpillars may be seen full of punctures, 

 and cuckoos' stomachs are often fury with cater- 

 pillar hairs. 



The ''stake-driving" of the bittern may often 

 be heard from my cot in the darkness before 



