9718 Birds, 



blackbacked gulls, hening gulls, &c., but amongst them I dis- 

 tinguished several adult great blackbacked gulls, also two black- 

 headed gulls ; these latter with the black head. 



W. Jeffery, Jun. 

 Ralham, Chichester, August 7, 1865. 



Ornithological Notes from the Isle of Wight. 

 By Capt. Henry Hadfield. 



(Continued from p. 9610.) 



May, 1865. 

 Cuckoo. — On the 13th of May, observing a cuckoo perched on one 

 of the topmost branches of an almost leafless ash, on the border of a 

 copse on the northern slope of the downs (one of their favourite haunts), 

 1 crept up, under cover of a clump of furze, till within sixty yards, 

 and there carried on my observations for some minutes, during which 

 the bird never changed its position, but continued preening its feathers, 

 the large fan-like tail being bent to one side, so that the quills might 

 be dressed. Then a wing would be raised, and the point brought for- 

 ward to be preened likewise ; but more frequently, with contracted 

 throat, the feathers about the neck and breast were carefully cleansed 

 and readjusted ; but occasionally the song would be resumed. As it 

 sat erect on the leafless bough, 1 was reminded of the passenger pigeon 

 of North America. Though but an occasional note is heard when 

 stationary, the cry of the cuckoo was incessant on first alighting, and 

 so timid was it that the passing of a cow near the tree caused it to fly 

 off", and it again took wing on a magpie flying by. On the wing it 

 resembled a hawk, but when perched its likeness to a pigeon was still 

 greater. It having suddenly disappeared among the under-wood, 

 I entered on a path winding through the coi)se, and having stooped 

 to uproot a white bluebell, I was surprised and almost startled on 

 hearing a rustling noise among the hazels, as of some animal or person 

 creeping through, soon followed by a kind of whirring and hissing 

 sound above me ; more astonished than ever, on looking up I saw a 

 magnificent cuckoo perched on a budding oak only a few yards from 

 me. Being screened by the foliage around, I observed that the 

 preening was resumed and carried on as before, and its note renewed, 

 which, being so near, had a pecuharly thrilling effect. I might have 

 listened and gazed and listened again, had I not ventured to put on 

 my hat, which at once scared it away. It appears that this careful 



