ORDER SCANSORES. 517 



rior part of the cavity of the belly, from the sternum to the 

 anus, extending at times five or six lines under the sternum, 

 and at other times leaving no part of the intestine uncovered. 

 But in the wild cuckows this viscus does not extend quite as 

 far as the sternum, and permits two circumvolutions of the 

 intestines to appear between its lower part and the anus, and 

 three in the right side of the abdomen. 



The males are in this species more numerous than the 

 females, for in twelve individuals not more than two of the 

 latter are reckoned. From this great disproportion, many 

 mistakes have resulted concerning the female. It has 

 been sometimes taken for the young, sometimes for a variety, 

 and sometimes for a distinct species. 



The cuckows arrive here and in France in the month of 

 April, and commence singing a few days after. They inhabit 

 the woods, delighting in those which are situated on hills and 

 mountains. They constantly return to the same district in 

 which they have chosen to pass the summer. They are 

 usually alone, and appear unquiet, changing place every 

 moment, and traversing a considerable extent of ground 

 every day, without taking long flights at a time. To this 

 they are forced, by seeking the aliment which suits them. 

 They roam in all directions ; sometimes they are seen on the 

 summit of trees, — sometimes they retire among the thickest 

 bushes. Everywhere they hunt insects, caterpillars, and 

 phalenae, which constitute the basis of their food. They also 

 eat the eggs of small birds, and discover the most concealed 

 nests with an astonishing facility. 



The cuckow is approached with difficulty ; and especially, 

 when found in the woods, it sometimes exercises the patience 

 of the hunter for a long time, flying from tree to tree, and 

 liever removing to any great distance. It certainly is one of 

 those birds which are best known from its name and song ; 

 but not equally so in all its habits and manners, for natu- 

 ralists are far from being in accordance on these points. 



