CUCKOO. 381 



It is very remarkable how the various species of small birds are attracted 

 by the note of the male Cuckoo. Dixon has the following note, amongst 

 several of a similar nature : — " I once saw a male Cuckoo alight in a tall 

 oak tree and commence calling. He had not been there long before 

 several Starlings that had been feeding in a neighbouring field flew into the 

 same tree. Soon after several Greenfinches arrived; and then a Willow- 

 Wren, flying over, suddenly altered its course and flew back for some 

 distance into the tree." 



The male Cuckoo, when once it has arrived in a suitable haunt, does not 

 seem to wander far away from it during the summer. It is rather a shy 

 wary bird, and appears to love retirement, keeping as much out of sight 

 as possible. It is more often heard than seen, and is usually observed 

 when flying from one tree to another. Notwithstanding its shyness, 

 gamekeepers often succeed in luring it within shot by imitating its cry. 

 When the Cuckoo alights, it very often depresses its head, spreads out 

 and elevates its tail, and droops its wings. Though clumsy on the ground, 

 it is quite at home amongst the branches, and hops about in search of 

 food, gliding from twig to twig, or sometimes fluttering upwards to take a 

 caterpillar or a fly. 



The food of the Cuckoo consists principally of beetles, butterflies, moths, 

 and other insects, with their larvse. It is extremely fond of caterpillars, 

 and especially those that are covered with hairs. Vegetable fibres and 

 blades of grass have been occasionally found in its stomach, which is often 

 packed full of the hairs from caterpillars and other insect-remains in a 

 globular mass or pellet, which is afterwards ejected from the mouth. The 

 Cuckoo is often accused of devouring birds' eggs. Gamekeepers say that 

 it sucks the eggs of Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse; but there is 

 no other evidence that such is the case, and there is not even proof that 

 the eggs of the smaller birds are ever eaten. The food of the young birds 

 is of a slightly more varied nature ; for the foster-parents are of many 

 difi'erent species, and consequently collect different substances to feed 

 their young. Insects, however, form the chief supply ; but often this fare 

 is varied by worms, grubs, berries, and seeds. The amount of injurious 

 insects and larvae which the Cuckoo destroys in a single season is almost 

 past belief; and the service this useful bird renders to the farmer, the 

 gardener, and the owner of trees and forests should secure it the greatest 

 protection. Few birds are more interesting, few are so popular or so gladly 

 welcomed in the spring. 



The most interesting part of the history of the Cuckoo is the curious 

 fact that it does not rear its own young, but lays its eggs on the 

 ground, and then deposits them with its bill in the nests of other birds, 

 leaving the foster-parents to undertake the task of hatching the &g'g and 

 feeding the nestling. This habit is not confined to one species, but prevails 



