BIRDS 113 



slate-grey ; tail dark bluish, spotted with white ; the breast with black bars. 

 The toes are very characteristic, two being pointed forward and two back. 

 The hen is smaller, and has a ruddy tinge on neck and upper breast. 



The hen places her eggs in the nests of other birds Hedge Sparrow, 

 Wagtail, Pipit, etc. The eggs vary a great deal ; usually larger than the foster- 

 bird's own eggs ; whitish with markings of various shades. They sometimes 

 resemble the other eggs in the nest, especially on the Continent. 



A summer visitor " in April come he will." The food consists of insects, 

 especially hairy caterpillars " woolly bears," which few other birds will touch. 

 The remaining brief notes must suffice on this unique bird. Frequenting open 

 woodland, each Cuckoo has its own " beat " or district. The hen is polyandrous. 

 It is not true that " in June he changes his tune " the " Cuck-cuck-oo " 

 referred to being heard in May. There are other notes as well, particularly 

 a hoarse cry, like half a cough and half a laugh " Kwow-wow-wow." 



The hen sometimes lays her egg directly in the nest, but frequently lays it 

 on the ground and carries it to the nest in her beak. In so doing, she often 

 removes one or more of the original owner's ; but these ejected eggs are seldom, 

 if ever, eaten by the bird. The young Cuckoo, when hatched, proceeds to eject 

 the other eggs or young from the nest. This it does by getting its victim on to 

 its back (where there is a strange hollow), then, climbing up the side backwards, 

 it jerks its burden off. But after three or four days the desire to eject its 

 neighbours ceases in fact, the hollow in the young bird's back itself disappears.* 



Curlew, Stone often called "NORFOLK PLOVER," "THICK-KNEE," etc. 

 Is the sole member of the family (Edicnemidce, which is included in the sub-order 

 of Limicolce, and so is related to that of the Snipes, Sandpipers, Plovers, etc. 

 The bird is distinguished by its very large yellow eye and long yellow legs. 

 Otherwise it is sandy-buff above, with dark brown streaks ; under parts whitish, 

 with pale brown tinges on the upper breast and flanks. Some white on the 

 face, two white bars on wing ; a touch of white on tips of the outside wing 

 quills, which just shows when bird is on ground. Yellow beak with black tip. 

 Chiefly a summer visitor in the South and East of England, and breeds locally 

 and sparingly in Dorset, Hants, and other counties ; but chiefly in Norfolk and 

 Suffolk. Nests in a hollow in ground on commons and waste land covered with 

 stones hence " Stone " Curlew. Very often rabbit droppings are found in the 

 nest, but little or no other lining. The eggs (two) are buff or stone colour, 

 blotched and spotted with darker brown and grey ; often carelessly deposited, 

 a little distance apart good examples of " protective coloration." 



The food consists chiefly of insects (especially beetles) ; also small mammals 

 for example, field mice. 



* Since the above was written, I have had a young cuckoo under observation, and have seen 

 what has never been remarked before namely, that the female Cuckoo visited the young bird 

 regularly every morning and evening. The egg was placed in a Wagtail's nest, built in a cold 

 frame, and continually passed by gardeners at work, so that there can be no mistake about the 

 facts. The mother bird, usually but not invariably accompanied by the Wagtail, came down to 

 the nest in the early morning and late evening, disappearing during the rest of the day. 



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