THE CUCKOO. 101 



Coming to us after a sojourn in another land, we only hear 

 its glad notes when the earth has attired herself in her brightest 

 dress, and her flowers have perfumed the nooks and dells 

 which the cuckoo delights to visit. Then, chanting those 

 glad notes which make boyhood gleeful, and age thoughtful, 

 her simple harmony seems a universal epithalamium of na- 

 ture, as she herself is one of those harbingers of summer which 

 had been employed by the Great Giver from the commence- 

 ment, speaking a common tongue, intelligible in all countries 

 and to all men, to the savage as to the civilized. Not only 

 prized by the community, who delight in the associations re- 

 called by its music, it offers more attractions to the student 

 of nature in its habits than any bird we know of. Shy and 

 vigilant, it is ever watchful ; and, seldom remaining in one lo- 

 cality for any length of time, there is considerable difficulty in 

 observing its peculiarities. Nature has formed the cuckoo for 

 a true wanderer ; and, to do so more effectually, has deprived 

 it of the entire of that parental instinct which all birds more 

 or less bestow upon their young. To this is owing its strange 

 habit of dropping its egg into the nest of other birds, and 

 where, in most cases, the duped foster-mother bestows the 

 same care upon it as on her own more natural offspring. In 

 time, as the young bird increases in size and strength, it sum- 

 marily ejects the weaker and less fortunate occupants of the 

 nest, and succeeds at last in becoming the sole tenant of its 

 unjustly obtained property. The nest chiefly selected for this 

 purpose is that of the titlark ( Ant hus prat ensis), and this is 

 the species we generally observe foUowing the cuckoo, in 

 order to see it well off its own possessions. 



The cuckoo generally makes its appearance with us about 

 the end of April, or, in the words of the country doggrel, to 

 follow its appearance and departure : 



" In April 

 Come he will ; 

 In May 



He sings all day ; 

 In June 



He alters his tune ; 

 In July 



He prepares to fly ; 

 In August 

 Go he must." 



Either in the plumage of the adult or young, the cuckoo is an 

 eminently handsome species, and few birds can claim a more 

 elegant perfection of form. 



