276 Cuckoos. 



quentl}', too, on those solitary upright stones which 

 here and there stand in the midst of the fields. This 

 habit of theirs is quoted by some of the old folks as 

 an additional proof that the cuckoo is onl}' a hawk 

 changed for the time, and unable to forget his old 

 habits, — hawks (and owls) perching often on poles 

 or an^' thing upright and detached. 



The cuckoo flies so much like the hawk, and so 

 resembles it, as at the first glance to be barely dis- 

 tinguishable ; but on watching more closely it will be 

 seen that the cuckoo flies straight and level, with a 

 gentle fluttering of the wings, which never seem to 

 come forward, so that in outline he resembles a cres- 

 cent, the convex side in fronts His tail appears 

 longer in proportion, and more pointed ; his flight is 

 like that of a very large swallow flying straight. The 

 cuckoo's cry can perhaps be heard farther than the 

 call of any other bird. The heron's power of voice 

 comes nearest : he sails at a great height, and his 

 ' quaaack,' drawn out into a harsh screech, ma}' be 

 heard at a long distance. But then he has the ad- 

 vantage of elevation ; the cuckoo never rises above 

 the tops of the elms. 



Yellow-hammers have a habit of sitting on a rail 

 or bough with their shoulders humped, so that they 

 seem to have no neck. In that attitude they will 

 remain a long time, uttering their monotonous chant ; 

 most other birds stretch themselves and stand upright 

 to sing. The great docks that grow beside the ditches 

 are visited by tlie tomtits, who perch on them, — the 

 stalk of the dock is so strong it supports their light 

 weight easily. Sparrows may sometimes be seen iu 

 July, hawking in the air just above the sward by the 



