116 THE COMMON CUCKOO. 



tery, that we are sometimes half inclined to disbelieve in its ex- 

 istence altogether, and to ask with the poet, 

 " 0, Cuckoo, shall I call thee bird, 

 Or but a wand'ring voice ?" 



The REV. F. O. MOERIS, in his History of British Birds, has 

 brought together more evidence on these conflicting points of the 

 Cuckoo's history., than will probably be found in any other work. 

 Quoting from this authority, we may state that "the bird is 

 found throughout the whole of the European continent : in the 

 north, in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Lapland, and Siberia ; and 

 in the south, in Greece and its archipelago, and Italy. In Asia 

 it is found in Japan, Java, Kamtshatka, Asia Minor, India, and 

 many other parts. In Africa also, in Egypt, and, according to 

 TEMMINCK, in the south of that continent. 



" In our own country it occurs in every county of England, Ire- 

 land, Wales, and Scotland; and in the Orkney islands the 

 Cuckoo is freo-uently heard. A few breed every year in the re- 

 tired parts of Hoy and Waas. 



"The general appearance of the Cuckoo is strikingly like that of 

 the female Sparrow-hawk. It frequents localities of the most 

 opposite description the dreary fen, the wild heath of the open 

 treeless moor, as well as those in which brush-wood abounds, and 

 the well wooded hedge-rows of the best cultivated districts." 



The Cuckoo generally arrives in this country about the middle 

 of April, the males being a day or two in advance ; the usual 

 time of departure is about the end of July, or beginning of August, 

 although almost every year specimens have been taken much 

 later. GRAVES, in his British Ornithology, says he has known 

 them as late as the 16th of October. 



Much might be said, were this the place for it, respecting the 

 popular sayings and superstitions which relate to this bird, which 

 in Scotland is called " the Gowk," whose curious cry is every- 

 where hailed as the harbinger of spring. The colliers in Shrop- 

 shire, we are told, when they first hear it, leave off work, and have 

 a holiday. Under certain circumstances, however, this note has 

 been considered as one of evil augury. CHAUCER tells us : 

 " How among men it was a common tale 

 That it was good to hear the Nightingale 

 Ere the vile Cuckoo's note were uttered." 



All readers of SHAKSPEARE will bear in mind the reproach con- 

 veyed in 



" Cuckoo, Cuckoo, that word of fear ;" 



and although they may not go back to ARISTOTLE, and give cre- 

 dence to his vile slanders, that the young Cuckoo eats firpt the 

 fledgelings which share the nest with it, and then the Titling 



