﻿22 Birds 



of the Cuckoo have been found in the nests of both the Hedge 

 Sparrow and Eedstart, and those in Pied Wagtails' frequently are 

 remarkably similar to those of the Wagtail. 



The young Cuckoo ejects the young of the foster parent soon 

 after it is hatched, and if two young Cuckoos occur in the same 

 nest, the stronger bird quickly ejects the weaker. After the young 

 has left the nest, the foster parents are kept busy providing food 

 for its voracious appetite ; in feeding it they perch on the shoulders 

 of the youngster, when it turns back its head with gaping mouth 

 to receive its meal. 



The food of the Cuckoo consists entirely of insects and their 

 larvae, especially those of the very destructive Buff-tip moth 

 (Phalera bucephala), which are but rarely eaten by any other'bird ; 

 in this alone the Cuckoo is of great service by keeping in check 

 this most destructive species in country places, and it may be 

 looked upon as the natural enemy of this moth. Owing to the 

 absence of Cuckoos in suburban districts, whole avenues of trees 

 frequently have their branches completely denuded of leaves by 

 the larvas of the Buff-tip. 



The general resemblance of the Cuckoo to a hawk has led 

 to its destruction by gamekeepers and others ignorant of the 

 similarity ; and other birds are likewise deceived by its hawk-like 

 appearance when on the wing. 



The adult Cuckoo has the upper parts, throat and breast ash- 

 grey, wings darker, tail dark ash-grey, spotted with white and 

 with white tips ; under-parts white, barred with dusky-brown ; 

 irides, legs and feet yellow. The sexes are similar. The young are 

 brown above, and have a white patch on the nape, and the irides 

 are brown. 



Both sexes sometimes occur of a rich rufous-brown, resembling 

 a female kestrel ; this form is known as C. hepaticus. 



GEEEN WOODPECKEE, ok YAFFLE. 



Gecinus viridis. 



This handsome bird is the largest of the British woodpeckers. 

 It is a resident species, and is distributed over the southern half 

 of England and Wales in suitable wooded districts. In some 

 counties it is numerous, while in other districts it is local. It is 



