But its coloration and general appearance are well shown in 

 the coloured illustration. 



The other species of owls we may reckon as fairly common 

 residents with us. They are the long and the short-eared 

 owls. But they are very rarely to be seen on the wing in 

 daylight. Each has the habit, when excited, of bringing the 

 wings together smartly over the back, so as to produce a 

 sound Ukened by some to the word " bock." 



Few birds have figured so largely in our Hterature, per- 

 haps, as the cuckoo. Though heard by aU, he is seen by 

 few : and this because so many people fail to recognize the 

 charming wastrel when they see him. In general appearance 

 he recalls the sparrow-hawk. I have known even game- 

 keepers confuse the two. But the cuckoo is much paler on 

 the back; and the bars of the breast are finer. On the wing 

 he is much slower than the sparrow-hawk ; his wings are 

 shorter, and his tail is tipped with white. Immature birds 

 may be recognized by their clove-brown coloration, and a 

 large white patch at the nape of the neck. 



One of the most brilliantly coloured of all our native birds 

 is the kingfisher. Small streams and quiet pools are its 

 favourite haunts. A glance will suffice to identify it at close 

 quarters, but even if one catches sight of its fleeting form at 

 too great a distance to see its wonderful coloration, it can be 

 distinguished by its extremely rapid arid direct flight, and 



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