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The Cuckow. Cuculus. 

 Numb. VIII. 



ITS Length from the Tip of the Bill to the End of the Tail was 12 Inches; Breadth 

 when the Wings were expanded, 24 Inches ; Weight 2 Ounces, i Dram. The upper 

 Chap of the Bill fomewhat hooked, and longer than the lower, for the mod part of a 

 blackifti Colour ; the nether of a palifh yellow. The infide of the Mouth and the 

 Tongue arc of a deep yellow or Saffron-colour ; the Tip of the Tongue hard and pel- 

 lucid ; the Irides of the Eyes yellow ; the Noftrils round, wide, extant above the Surface 

 of the Bill, wherein it differs from all other Birds ; the loweJr Eye-Hd is the greateft j 

 the Edges of the Eye-lids are yellow ; the Throat, Breafl and Belly are white, with tranf- 

 verfe dark femicircular Lines, which are intire and not interrupted ; the Feathers of the 

 Head are of a dark Afh-colour inclining to brown with light Edges ; the Feathers on 

 the middle of the Neck and Back alfo are brown with a Tindure of red, having their 

 Edges whitifh ; the Rump afh-coloured. 



The beam Feathers of the Wings are 1 9 in Number, the greater whereof are the 



■darkefl; all from the fecond have their exterior Vanes fpotted with oblong whitifh 



Spots ; the interior Vanes of the outmofl have long, tranfverfe, white Spots j the Tips 



of all are white ; the covert Feathers of the Wings are of the fame Colour with thofc 



of the Back. 



The Tail was made up of 10 Feathers, diflinguifhcd on both fides the Shaft, with 

 Marks fomewhat refembling the Figure of a Hart about an Inch diflant from each 

 other ; the Edges of the inner Sides of all but the 2 middlemofl, and the Tops of all 

 were adorned with white Spots, like thofe in the Wing. 



The Feet and Claws are yellowifh, inclining to a Flefh-colour ; in the Stomach of one 

 I fhot in the beginning of September, I found a great Number of the plad Caterpillar, 

 which are defcribed in my Book of Infeds, p. 23. The Cuckow builds no Nefl, but 

 deflroying the Eggs of other Birds, viz. ( Hedge-fparmvs, Ring-doves, Water-wag-tails, 

 Larks, Finches, and others ) lays her Egg, leaving it to be hatch'd and brought up by 

 them till it can fhift for itfelf, which is fomewhat extraordinary in Nature, and differing 

 from all the volatile Kind. 



There are many Stories of their being found in hollovt^ Trees in the Winter, but I 

 am inclined to believe them to be a Bird of PafTage, and go into the hot Countries, 

 where there is Plenty of Infefts for their Subfiflence ; as the Swallow, Nightingale, ^c. 

 which feed altogether o^i^feds. 





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