THE Cuckoos, Etc. 155 
hard to imagine. Their peculiar call certainly has 
nothing to do with any change of weather. They 
reach the Middle States in April, but late in the 
month, and they remain until late in September. 
Their coming is promptly recognized if we are on 
the lookout for birds, for although they have a knack 
of gliding silently through the trees, they are com- 
pelled to chatter at intervals, and the £u-hu-ku-k-k-k- 
kuk-kuk-koo they utter is quite unmistakable. Au- 
thors have pointed out in considerable detail the 
differences in the general habits of these two birds, 
but they have never been very apparent to me. Both 
are common, although the yellow-billed species is 
always the most abundant. 
This cuckoo is said to be a more persistent nest- 
robber than the “ Black-bill,” but as a caterpillar- 
eater is much more prominent than as an egg-sucker. 
It is fond, too, of our wild red and white mulberries, 
and as this insipid fruit looks so much like a worm, I 
have often thought that perhaps the bird did not know 
the difference. Of course the robbing of birds’ nests 
is an ugly record, but there can be no doubt that 
the immense number of insects destroyed by these 
birds outweighs any objection that can be urged 
against them. 
A cuckoo’s nest is a slovenly affair, and may be 
found in a tree or bush, high or low, and that young 
bird is fortunate that does not tumble out of bed 
long before it can fly. The big greenish-blue eggs 
do not seem to be highly prized by their owners, 
and for want of sufficient attention sometimes fail to 
hatch, but when the young birds have really put in an 
