CUCULID.E. 135 



Bill long, thin, slightly arched and pointed. Erectile rich buff crest, 

 tipped with black ; the hind feathers of the crest with white before the 

 black tips. Tail black, of ten feathers, with broad white bar across the 

 lower part. Length 10-12 inches. 



CUCULIDJE. Tail of ten feathers ; two toes in front, 



two behind. 



164. Cuculus canorus, Linnaeus. The Common Cuckoo. 



Moorish. Takouk, Ukouk. Spanish. Cuco. 



" More abundant near Tangier than the Great Spotted Cuckoo ; 

 seen during passage, in pairs, which cross to Europe in April 

 and May, and return in August to winter, probably, in the inte- 

 rior of Africa. Some remain during summer, awaiting the return 

 of the autumnal migration." Favier. 



The Cuckoo is very plentiful near Gibraltar, especially in the 

 Cork-wood and on all hill-sides wherever there are any trees. I 

 saw a great many at the top of the mountains at the back of 

 Algeciraz at the end of May, but not beyond the line of trees. 

 First heard on the 7th of April in 1868, on the 22nd of March 

 in 1870, on the 31st of March in 1871, on the 29th of March in 

 1872, and on the 30th of the same month in 1874; on the llth 

 of March, 1879 (Verner); 24th of March, 1894. They remain 

 till the end of July. 



A female shot in the second week in May had then two eggs 

 remaining in the ovaries, nearly ready to lay. Verner found on 

 25th June, 1879, near Gibraltar, a Cuckoo's egg in a Wood- 

 Warbler's nest. 



Male. Above bluish grey ; chin and neck ash-grey ; below white, barred 

 with black. Tail greyish black, graduated, slightly spotted and tipped with 

 white ; iris, eyelids, legs, and feet yellow. 



Female. Like male, but usually with slight rufous tinge on breast. 

 Females much less numerous than males. 



Young. Upper surface and tail clove-brown, barred with pale brown, 

 feathers tipped with white ; white spot on nape ; iris brown. Length 

 14 inches. 



