GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO. 201 



I have seen the specimen, which is the property of Mr. 

 Creighton of Clifden. As it is the first noticed occurrence 

 of this bird in the British Islands, you will oblige me by 

 making it known through the medium of the Annals of 

 Natural History ; yours very truly, R. BALL." Such is the 

 notice of the occurrence of this bird published in the sum- 

 mer of 1843, and Mr. Ball has lately been kind enough 

 to ascertain and send me the particulars which follow. 

 The Cuckoo was taken by two persons walking on the 

 island of Oinagh, where, pursued by Hawks, it flew for 

 refuge into a hole in a stone fence, or wall, was taken 

 alive and lived for four days (attempt being made to 

 feed it on potatoes.) The inhabitants had never seen 

 any bird like it before. It was taken about Christmas, 

 1843. The bird when chased by the Hawks appeared 

 fatigued, weak, and emaciated, as if after a long flight, 

 such as Woodcocks on their first arrival. The specimen 

 has been presented to Trinity College, Dublin, and is now 

 in the Museum. 



This species inhabits Senegal and North Africa. Our 

 countryman Edwards, in his notice of the subject of his 

 57th Plate, says, " I suppose this bird to be an alternate 

 inhabitant of the southern parts of Europe, and the north- 

 ern parts of Africa ; since it was shot on its supposed pas- 

 sage, on the rock of Gibraltar, in Spain, by an English 

 officer there, who sent it to his brother, Mr. Mark Catesby, 

 of London, who obliged me with it, to make what use I 

 thought proper." 



M. Malherbe, when noticing this species in his Ornitho- 

 logical Fauna of Sicily, says, he has frequently received it 

 from Spain, and Brisson calls it Cuculus Andalusia. It is 

 included among the birds of Provence by Polydore Koux ; 

 M. Vieillot includes it also in his Fauna Franchise, and 



