70 OBSERVATIONS ON THE CUCKOO. 
breeds in the neighbourhood of Glossop, and it might 
easily be mistaken for a Cuckoo by a person not very 
familiar with birds who had only an opportunity of 
observing it at a distance. If this gentleman had 
been a skilful ornithologist, would he not have en- 
deavoured to remove every possibility of doubt in a 
matter which it is evident greatly excited his interest, 
by examining and describing the structure of the feet 
and bill of these young birds ? 
Male Cuckoos, a short time before they retire, 
entirely lose their cry, and this loss is generally pre- 
ceded by stammering and a difficulty of utterance. 
Now as most of our Singing Birds become mute in 
autumn, solely from inability to continue their songs, 
as is manifest from their unavailing efforts to prolong 
them, whatever occasions their silence most probably 
occasions that of the Cuckoo also; and I conceive 
that an efficient cause will be found in the propaga- 
tion of their species and in the decrease of their food, 
which, by relaxing the vocal organs, renders them 
incapable of obeying the dictates of the will. The 
well-known cry of the male Cuckoo is frequently 
heard in the night. 
Various are the modes of accounting for the pecu- 
harities of the Cuckoo adopted by different writers on 
the subject. Some, who have turned their attention 
particularly to the anatomy of this bird, think they 
have discovered a satisfactory reason for its not 
hatching its own eggs in the largeness and _protu- 
