OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOTE OF THE CUCKOO. 337 



an observer this bird certainly seems to be merely a " wandering 

 voice." 



Considerable variations in the interval were recorded, and at 

 all times throughout the season. It is, however, quite clear that 

 on the whole the interval tends to increase with the progress of 

 time, and that about the middle of June the voice cracks. Per- 

 sonally, I have never heard a greater interval than a fifth. Mr. 

 Witchell, however, whose researches in the songs of birds are 

 well known, informs me that on the 10th June last he heard 

 a Cuckoo "in the interval of a sixth," but he adds that he " never 

 before heard a Cuckoo sing any interval beyond a major fifth." 



Not infrequently the bird utters three notes. At Haileybury, 

 on June 7th, Mr. F. W. Headley and I heard one sing E flat, D, C, 

 two or three times, then it omitted the middle note, singing a 

 minor third. These three notes were beautifully full and clear, 

 and as perfectly in tune as if the bird's voice had been relegated 

 to the few notes of our scale, whereas the intervals very rarely 

 correspond exactly with those which we have become accustomed 

 to recognise. A friend, writing from Hampshire on June 15th, 

 says, "As I write one is singing F, F, C," and another sang 

 F, Dflat, C. 



Some of the feathered species, when engaged in the per- 

 formance of their love songs or antics, are oblivious of everything 

 else ; on such occasions certain game-birds are quite deaf ; but 

 the Cuckoo always seems to take an intelligent interest in neigh- 

 bouring sounds. On June 6th I heard two birds at the same 

 time. The first commenced singing E and C ; the second sang 

 F and C sharp, but, apparently horrified by the discordant result 

 of his efforts, he at once altered the notes to E and C, and sang 

 in unison with his rival. It was obvious that the change was 

 purposely effected. Another bird was reported to me who was 

 " evidently much put out by the crowing of a cock, for it sang 

 its E, and then waited till the cock had finished crowing before 

 singing its C sharp." 



Now with regard to the pitch. This, like the interval, is 

 subject to variation, but only within certain fairly narrow limits. 

 Out of hundreds of recorded calls during the period when the 

 bird was in good voice, the upper note in nineteen cases out of 

 twenty is from F to E flat (both inclusive), and the lower note 

 from D toB. And this brings me to a most curious point 



ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL, XX. — SEPT. 1896. 2 D 



