382 
NOTES TO THE 
The Yellowhammer, p. 93.— This is one of our most common 
birds, and does not migrate. Mr. Davy never knew of flocks 
coming to this country. They are not, as a rule, kept as 
cage-birds, the song not being thought anything of The song of 
the yellowhammer is very simple — "WiddJe, widdle, widdle, 
cee, cee, cha." In some part of the country the bird is said to 
sing thus : " A little bit of bread and no c-h-e— e-s-e." 
They have no song during the winter months. They breed 
late on the ground in banks, and have three nests a year, from 
April to the end of August. 
Titlark or Tree Pipit, p. 94. — This bird, a very common one, 
arrives at the beginning of April, and begins to migrate in the 
middle of August. It is very much sought after for its song 
and for improving the song of nestling linnets. The linnets thus 
educated have a mixed song, and are used for "call-birds." 
Tlieir song reads thus : Heep, heep, heep, tollyke, eke, pipe, 
chow, wheet, wheet, fear, lug, orcher, wheet." This is a mixed 
song of the native linnet improved by the titlark. The words 
introduced by the titlark into the linnet's song are " fearing " 
and " chowing." Titlarks are easily kept, and sing well in 
captivity. They will sing when perched and also when on the 
wing.i 
Cuckoo, p. 95. — I have had several young cuckoos sent me 
from time to time. The cry is very peculiar. On one occasion, Mr. 
Bartlett chanced to come into my room, where I had a young 
cuckoo he could not see. I asked him what that cry was ; he said 
" the cry of the young of some soft- billed bird ; " this plaintive 
cry is a wonderful provision to attract soft-billed birds to feed 
the helpless cuckoo in its foster-mother's nest. The cuckoo 
almost always picks out the dead l)ranch of a tree from which to 
call. It may be attracted by calling and imitating its cry. Mr. 
Edon reports that when he has decoyed the cuckoo in this way, 
he finds that, after being deceived and nut finding what it ex- 
pected (say in three visits to the same spot), the bird will 
not come near again, but will stay at a distance and keep on 
answering. 
Cuckoos are very partial to hedge sparrows' nests. One pair of 
hedge sparrows could not feed such a glutton as a young cuckoo. 
Its peculiar cry attracts other soft meat birds to help to feed it. 
A young cuckoo when well fledged could be easily mistaken 
for a nightjar when on the wing in the open. 
Cuckoos feed upon caterpillars on high trees. They arrive 
here in April and depart about the end of August. 
^ See also page 351. 
