30 FAMILIAR WILL BIRDS. 



greater number are found in Asia., and in the northern and 

 southern parts of Africa. 



The stay of the Cuckoo in this country is very brief; 

 it usually arrives about the beginning of April, and de- 

 parts either in July or August, very few remaining until 

 September. Almost every locality in the country has its 

 poetical reference to the visit of the Cuckoo, of which the 

 following is perhaps the commonest : 



" In April, come he will, 

 In May, he sings all day, 

 In June, he change his tune, 

 In July, away he fly." 



One of the most distinctive peculiarities of the Cuckoo 

 is its manner of propagating its species. It makes no 

 nest for itself, but deposits its eggs in the nest of some 

 smaller bird, and leaves the duties of hatching and feeding 

 its young entirely to the care of foster-parents. The 

 Cuckoo usually selects for this purpose the nests of the 

 Robin, Hedge-accentor, Chiffchaff, Reed, and Grasshopper 

 warblers, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Yellow Bunting, 

 or Whitethroat, and always displays considerable sagacity 

 in choosing the time most appropriate for hatching. The 

 egg of the Cuckoo is about the size of that of a skylark, 

 and is generally either of a pale reddish-grey or greenish- 

 grey colour. Only one is deposited in a nest, the size of 

 the bird being altogether out of proportion to the egg which 

 it produces. In cases where two have been found together, 

 the difference in size and colour would generally seem to 

 show that they had been deposited by different birds. 



As soon as the young Cuckoo is hatched it endeavours 

 to eject its companions and obtain sole possession of the 

 nest. So entirely do the foster-parents of the young Cuckoo 



