BRITISH BIRDS. 1 07 



occurs in small numbers nearly every year in south of 

 Ireland, but is a rare straggler to Scotland. 



Family Cuculidae. 



GENUS LXXII. CUCULUS, Linnasus (1766). 

 Bill somewhat short, moderately wide at base, com- 

 pressed towards point, upper mandible decurved at tip 

 and with an apparent notch, lower straight. Wings and 

 tail rather long, latter a little graduated. Tarsus short, 

 feathered on upper part ; two toes in front and two behind. 



145. Cueulus eanorus, Linn. CUCKOO. 



Hab. Whole Palasarctic region. In winter migrating 

 to South Africa and India. 



Male : above rather dark grey, throat paler lower 

 breast and under parts white, with transverse blackish 

 bars ; tail tipped and slightly spotted with white ; bill 

 dusky, yellowish at base ; iris, feet and claws yellow. 

 Length 12*50. Female similar. Young have the grey 

 tint replaced by dark brown with darker markings ; iris 

 brown ; feet pale yellow. The variety of a pale rufous 

 tint with darker bars (formerly considered a distinct 

 species) occurs in both sexes, but chiefly or wholly as 

 their second season's plumage. 



Common from Mid-April to August or September 

 throughout whole of British Isles. Male announces his 

 arrival by his well-known powerful and musical note 

 which he delivers frequently on the wing as well as 

 when perched ; when in the act of settling on a tree 

 he also often utters a low harsh rattling note. The 

 female lays her eggs in the nests of other birds, and 

 undoubtedly always deposits them in the selected nest 

 by means of her bill, the small size of the egg rendering 



