The Cuckoo. 



395 



sliglitly spotted with dingy black. The wings, like those of 

 Hawks, are long, extending to within an inch and a half 

 of the end of the tail. The first pen feather on each side 

 is nearly Sin. shorter than the remainder ; the whole are 

 dingy brown in colour, the inner web of each being marked 

 with an oval white spot. The tail is wedge-shaped ; the 

 two centre feathers are black, tipped with white, and the 

 rest dusky brown, marked alternately with oval white spots 

 on each side of the shaft. The legs are short, and are 

 yellow, or willow colour ; the feet have two toes in front 

 and two behind, formed for climbing. In young birds, the 

 legs, bill, and tail, resemble those of matured birds ; the 

 eyes are pale blae ; the throat, neck, breast, and belly, are 

 beautifully barred with brown stripes on a pale ground ; 

 the back is of a leaden hue, intermixed with brown, and 

 faintly lined with white ; the tail feathers are irregularly 

 marked with dingy black, pale brown, and white, and have 

 white tips. 



Habits and Beeeding. — The Cuckoo is a migratory bird, 

 usually arriving in our Island about the middle of April, 

 and leaving again about the latter end of September, or early 

 in October, after the period of moulting ; it is believed to 

 go to Africa, as it has been frequently seen at Malta, twice 

 in the year, on its passage to and fro. It is known throughout 

 Europe, and has been found in Japan, Asia Minor, India, and 

 Africa, though in some of these countries it varies considerably 

 in the colour and markings of its plumage, attributable to 

 climatic changes. The Cuckoo builds no nest, but, in the 

 month of May, when the hen is about to deposit her eggs, 

 the male bird accompanies her from place to place in search 

 of the nest of some suitable and approved birds to act as 

 foster parents to their offspring, and likewise to protect her 

 from the assault of small birds who frequently make an attack 

 upon her at this time, more particularly Robins and Green- 

 finches. 



The hen lays two eggs, but seldom both in the same nest, 

 dividing her favours on these occasions, and usually selecting 

 the nests of birds of peaceable and industrious habits, but vary- 

 ing considerably in species. The Hedge Sparrow generally comes 

 in for the greatest amount of favour, and next to it the Yellow- 

 hammer, the Wagtail, and the Titlark, all of these being 



