92 THE SPECIES. 



nest of some other bird. As a rule, the nest chosen is that of a Meadow Pipit or a Pied Wag- 

 tail ; but Hedge Sparrows, Warblers. Wrens, Redstarts, Magpies, Jays, Shrikes, Finches, 

 Buntings, Pigeons, and even Little Grebes, have been made to do duty as foster parents of 

 the Cuckoo. The eggs are laid at intervals of a week or more, and there are several of them ; 

 they vary much in colour, but not so much as those of the Guillemot. They are often some- 

 what of the colour of the eggs among which they are placed ; the Cuckoo does not, however, 

 colour her egg to suit the nest, but wanders about with it until she finds a suitable clutch ; 

 and she would seem to be easily satisfied, for the egg is in nine cases out of ten unmistakable, 

 and can be instantly distinguished from the rest by its colour, as well as by its shape and size. 



Cursorius. Plate xxvi. CHARADRIIDM, 



393. gailicus, 10 in. Cream-colouked Courser, Sandy buff, spotted 



and edged with black ; black streak from eye to 

 nape ; primaries black ; outer web of secondaries 

 buff ; axillaries black ; bill black ; tail not forked ; 

 legs grey ; tarsus scutellate. 

 The Cream-coloured Courser— Dimensions, Ip ; Eggs, Ih— is a Mediterranean species now 

 and then straying here during the last three months of the year, 



Cyanecula. Plat? \i. TURDINM (Passeridae), 



19. wolfi, si in. White Spotted Blue-Throat. Blue throat, 



white centre. 



20. suecica, s\ ^^i. Red Spotted Blue-Throat, Blue throat, red 



centre. 

 The Blue-Throats— Dimensions, Cc and Cd ; Eggs, Bm— only differ from each other in the 

 colour of the spot. They are not often seen in this country ; in fact, there is a doubt as to 

 whether the white one comes here at all. The flight is a short, dipping one, and the bird 

 sings as he flies, and as he alights with outspread wings. The song is said to be recognisable 

 by Its always ending with " ting-yng." 



ANA TIDM. 



Bewick's Swan. Bill, as far as nostrils, yellow ; 

 the rest black. 



American Swan. Orange patches at base of bilL 

 Polish Swan. Bill red, with small black tubercle. 

 Hooper Swan. Bill, to below nostrils, yellow ; 

 the rest black ; remiges 34. 

 Trumpeter Swan. Bill black. 

 Mute Swan. Bill all reddish yellow, with large 

 black tubercle ; remiges 31. 

 Bewick's Swan— Dimensions, Tl ; Eggs, Sp — is an occasional visitor to this country from 

 iti breeding haunts in Siberia. Its note is " tong," or " a-kloong." 



The American Swan — Dimensions, Tm — owes its place on the list from its having been 

 found in a poulterer's shop at Edinburgh. 



The Polish Swan— Dimensions, To -is generally considered to be merely a variety of the 

 Mute Swan. It owes its specific nAme to the fact of the cygnets being white; although called 

 Polish it is unknown in Poland, aud, in fact, has only been found once outside the British 

 Islands, and that was in the case of a solitary specimen from Haarlem, in 1840. 



The Hooper Swan— Dimensions, Tq ; Eggs, Sq— was at one time one of our residents, but 

 is now only a winter visitor. It was formerly called the Whistling Swan, from its call of 

 " hoop," Hke the base note of a trombone. 



The Trumpeter Swan — Dimensions, Tp — is an American, claimed as British on the strength 

 of four birds shot at AJdeburgh, in 1866. 



The Mute Swan — Dimensions, Tr ; Eggs, Sr— is the Swan, the largest and handsomest of 

 British birds, said by some to have been brought here from Cyprus over seven hundred years 

 ago. No bird dare attack the swan when on the wing. He flies high and fearlessly, with 

 his neck out at full stretch, and his wings audibly swishing in a flap somewhat like a heron's. 

 Swans journey in files or £n ecfielon, the birds taking it in turns to lead, and falling to the rear 

 as they tire. The Swan is only mute by name. He hisses like a goose, gives a low trumpet- 

 like "maul," and according to some people, even *' sings '* at other times than just before his 

 death. The Swan's nest is usually on a small island, and it is a large mass of reeds and 

 other water plants. There are from five to eight eggs. The female has a smaller tubercle 

 than the male, and swims much lower in the water. The young arc grey, with bluish beaks 

 uiii legs. 



