Birds of Britain 



maturity and finally departed in peace to spend the winter 

 in Southern Europe or Africa. 



The nest is placed in a hole in some tree, and the eggs, 

 seven in numher, are of a uniform pale greenish blue. 



General colour of the head, mantle, and under parts pale 

 cinnamon ; wings and tail black, broadly barred with white. 

 Lower back broadly barred with black, white, and buff. 

 The sexes and young resemble each other in plumage. 

 Length 12*2 in. ; bill 2*5 in. ; wing 6 in. 



THE CUCKOO 



Cuculus canorus, Linnreus 



The arrival of the Cuckoo, as heralded by his well-known 

 note, is eagerly awaited by every one who lives in the country, 

 ornithologist or otherwise, and so anxious are some to record 

 his arrival, that they persuade themselves that they have 

 heard him before the March winds have abated. There 

 is little doubt, however, that this species rarely, if ever, 

 arrives in March, and not before mid-April can his pleasing 

 note be generally heard. Throughout the whole of our 

 islands this bird is common and well known, inhabiting 

 equally the wild open country, the enclosed arable land, 

 or thickly-wooded estates. It feeds entirely on insects, 

 especially caterpillars, those of the common Tiger-moth 

 being an especially favourite delicacy. Its flight is direct 

 and fairly rapid, the short wings and long tail giving it very 

 much the appearance of a Sparrow- Hawk, for which it is 



186 



