288 CUCKOO. 
the countries bordering the Mediterranean, as well as in North 
Africa ; but to the Canaries and Madeira the Cuckoo is only an 
irregular visitor. In Asia it breeds down to the Himalayas and 
perhaps further south; while in winter it reaches the Philippines, 
Celebes, Burma and Ceylon, as well as Natal in Africa. Allied 
species occur in both the above continents. 
The female, which resorts to the same locality year after year, 
deposits her egg on the ground, and then conveys it in her bill to 
the nest of some bird destined to act as foster-parent. In this 
country the latter is commonly the Meadow-Pipit, Pied Wagtail, 
Hedge-Sparrow, Sedge-Warbler and Reed-Warbler ; less frequently 
the Yellow- and Cirl-Bunting, with many others. In ‘The Ibis,’ 
1896, p. 397, is an interesting list of these, compiled by Mr. Bidwell. 
The egg, which averages about °85 by ‘75 in., varies considerably, 
and, though usually of a greenish- or reddish-grey, with darker 
cloudings and spots, it sometimes, but not always, resembles the eggs 
of the foster-bird. For instance, Cuckoo’s eggs placed in the nest of 
the Orphean Warbler, Garden Warbler, and Blackcap (supra, p. 46), 
are chiefly distinguishable by their size; while eggs of a pale blue 
have been found, though these have not invariably been located in 
nests of the Hedge-Sparrow or the Redstart. From 5-8 are 
produced by the female in the season ; and 12-13 days are required 
for incubation. There is a statement, made in Germany, that 
exceptionally the Cuckoo hatches its own eggs. When only thirty 
hours old, the intruder begins to eject the other nestlings by the aid of 
a cavity in its back, which fills up after the twelfth day ; and when two 
Cuckoos are in the same nest the struggle for existence is sometimes 
severe. The food consists of insects and their larva, especially hairy 
caterpillars ; the indigestible portions being thrown up in pellets. 
Up to June zoth the male calls on the wing, as well as when 
perched; the female utters a water-bubbling or whistling note. 
The superficial resemblance of the Cuckoo to a Hawk undoubtedly 
proves deceptive to other birds ; while ignorant persons frequently 
assert that ‘‘Cuckoos turn to Hawks in winter.” 
The adults of both sexes are greyish-ash above and on the throat, 
with small white spots on the darker grey tail, and dusky bars on the 
white under parts; irides, legs and feet, yellow. Length 13 in.; 
wing 8°5 in. The female sometimes shows a slight rufous tinge on 
the breast. The young has the upper parts clove-brown ; a white 
spot on the nape; irides brown. Birds of both sexes are sometimes 
found in spring of a rich chestnut-brown, like a female Kestrel, and 
this form has been distinguished as C. rufus. 
