Cuckoos arrive in our country as a rule during the first 

 three weeks of April, and are shortly followed by the 

 females, the stronger sex always, however, largely 

 predominating in number. The Cuckoo cannot be 

 correctly called polygamous, but the females admit the 

 amorous advances of many males. 



The eggs are invariably placed in the nests of other 

 species (seventy-eight of which are enumerated at 

 p. 394 of the volume above alluded to) ; the nests 

 generally selected in the part of England with which I 

 am best acquainted are those of Reed- Warbler, Pied 

 Wagtail, Hedge-Sparrow, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree- 

 Pipit, and Redstart ; the old Cuckoos generally dis- 

 appear early in July, whilst the young birds occasionally 

 linger with us till the third week of September. It is 

 perhaps superfluous to add that the ancient myth of 

 the Cuckoo's sucking the eggs of other birds has no 

 foundation on fact, and probably originated from the 

 now well-ascertained habit of this species of carrying 

 its own egg in its beak to deposit it in nests where it 

 could hardly be laid in the natural manner. It is 

 difficult, but by no means impossible, to keep the 

 Cuckoo in confinement through the winter in this 

 country ; but it is not an attractive cage-bird, and, in ray 

 experience, becomes so restless at the seasons of migra- 

 tion that, however tame and quiet it may be at other 

 times, it invariably, when urged by the travelhng in- 

 stinct, ruins its plumage and appearance by breaking 

 the feathers of its wings and tail in attempting to 

 escape. The general demeanour of my captives of this 

 species has been sulky, greedy, and spiteful. 



