'*'* HISTORY OF 



enemy, and revenge the cause of their kind hy their repeated in- 

 sults. They pursue it wherever it flies, and oblige it to take 

 shelter in the thickest branches of some neighbouring tree. All 

 the smaller birds form the train of its pursuers ; but the wry- 

 neck, in particular, is found the most active in the chase ; and 

 from thence it has been called by many, the cuckoo's attendant 

 and provider. But it is very far from following with a friendly 

 intention ; it only pursues as an insulter, or a spy, to warn all 

 its little companions of the cuckoo's depredations. 



Such are the manners of this bird while it continues to reside, 

 or to be seen amongst us. But early, at the approach of win 

 ter, it totally disappears, and its passage can be traced to no 

 other country. Some suppose that it lies hid in hollow trees ; 

 and others that it passes into warmer climates. Which of these 

 opinions is true is very uncertain, as there are no facts related on 

 either side that can be totally relied on. To support the opinion 

 that they remain torpid during the winter at home, Willoughby in- 

 troduces the following story, which he delivers upon the credit of 

 another. " The servants of a gentleman, in the country, having 

 stocked up in one of their meadows some old, dry, rotten willows, 

 thought proper, on a certain occasion, to carry them home. In 

 heating a stove, two logs of this timber were put into the fur- 

 nace beneath, and fire applied as usual. But soon, to the great 

 surprise of the family, was heard the voice of a cuckoo, singing 

 three times from under the stove. Wondering at so extraordi. 

 nary a cry in the winter time, the servants ran and drew the wil- 

 low logs from the furnace, and in the midst of one of them saw 

 something move; wherefore, taking an axe, they opened the 

 hole, and thrusting in their hands, first they plucked out nothing 

 but feathers ; afterwards they got hold of a living animal ; and 

 this was the cuckoo that had waked so very opportunely for its 

 own safety. It was indeed," continues our historian, " brisk 

 and lively, but wholly naked and bare of feathers, and without 

 any winter provision in its hole. This cuckoo the boys kept 

 two years afterwards alive in the stove j but whether it repaid 

 them with a second song, the author of the tale has not thought 

 fit to inform us. 



" Tlie cuckoo makes its appearance with u» in the month of April, an<J 

 departs again about the latter part of June, or the beginning- of July. But 



