CUCKOO. — Ciiculus canona. 





" Two Cuckoos and a hedge-sparrow were hatched in the same nest this morning ; one 

 hedge-sparrow's egg remained unhatched. In a few hours after, a combat began between 

 the Cuckoos for the possession of the nest, which continued undetermined until the next 

 afternoon, when one of them, which was somewhat superior in size, turned out the other, 

 together with the young hedge-sparrow and the unhatched egg. This contest was very- 

 remarkable. The combatants alternately appeared to have the advantage, as each carried 

 the other several times nearly to the top of the nest, and then sank down again oppressed 

 by the weight of its burden, till at length, after various efforts, the strongest prevailed, 

 and was afterwards brought up by the hedge-sparrows." 



In order to enable the young Cuckoo to perform this curious feat, its back is very different 

 in shape from that of ordinary birds, being very broad from the shoulder downwards, leaving 

 a well-marked depression in the middle, on which the egg or young bird rests while it is 

 being carried to the edge of the nest. In about a fortnight this cavity is filled up, and the 

 yoimg bird has nothing extraordinary in its appearance. 



From its peculiar mode of foisting off its young upon other birds, its character would 

 seem to be of a solitary nature. Such, however, is not the case, for at some periods of 

 the year these birds may be seen in considerable numbers, playing with each other or 

 feeding in close proximity. Upwards of twenty have been observed in a single field, 

 feeding on the caterpillars of the burnet moth, and several communications have been 

 addressed to the Field and other journals in which the subject of natural history 

 is disciissed, relating similar occurrences. One of these correspondents records a large 

 assembly of Cuckoos seen by herself in the month of August, the locality being near 

 Leicester, and another relates a curious anecdote of a number of Cuckoos, which he saw 

 on the wing, playing over and near a large grey stone in Eskdale. It seems that these 

 birds are very partial to prominent objects, such as bushes, tree-stumps, large stones, &c., 

 and that they are fond of congregating in their vicinity. 



The peculiar note of the Cuckoo is so well known as to need no particular description, 

 but the public is not quite so familiar with the fact that the note changes according to the 

 time of year. When the bird first begins to sing, the notes are full and clear ; but towards 

 the end of the season, they become hesitating, hoarse, and broken, like the breaking voice 



