66 



at Oare, and its eggs have been taken in the Forest." It 

 is in the latter locality that I have generally seen it myself. 

 A specimen in my collection was shot amongst a flock of 

 sparrows, which, from its unsocial nature, seems to be 

 rather a peculiar companionship. 



As its nest has never been observed, it is doubtful 

 whether it breeds here. 



Cuculus canorns. 



Cuckoo. 



FIRST HEAED. FIEST SEEN. EGG OBSERVED. 



April 8th, 1865. April 12th, 1865. May 15th,' 1866. 



April 11th, 1866. April 8th, 1868. May 19th, 1867. 



April 18th, 1867. April 14th, 1869. May 8th, 1868. 



May 13th, 1869. 

 1870. 



Of all the many marvels which present themselves to the 

 ornithological student, the life history of the Cuckoo is 

 the most marvellous. Accordingly more has been written 

 about this bird than about any other, without having 

 cleared much of the mystery connected with it. In 

 Wiltshire the cuckoo is abundant, as indeed it is in most 

 parts of England, though it is a bird whose shy habits 

 cause it to be little known by sight. There is a very pre- 

 valent "Wiltshire superstition that the Cuckoo is really a 

 resident, only that it changes to a hawk in the winter. 



I am sorry to say no records have been kept of the diSerent 

 nests in which Cuckoo's eggs (or young birds) have been 

 found. The only ones I know from personal experience are, 



