LIFE AND BEHAVIOR OF THE CUCKOO 
FRANCIS H. HERRICK 
Professor of Biology, Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 
TWENTY-THREE FIGURES 
SEVEN PLATES 
CONTENTS 
1 Introduction 169 
2 Methods and objects of study 172 
3 The cuckoo of Europe 174 
4 Habits of Cuculus canorus and the black-billed cuckoo compared 186 
5 Cyclical instincts 188 
6 The nests and eggs of American cuckoos 193 
7 Behavior of brooding cuckoos 196 
8 Hatching of the black-billed cuckoo, and instincts of the young at birth : 
First stage 198 
A Initial reactions at birth 199 
B The food-reaction and its modification 200 
9 The quill stage 204 
10 The climbing stage 209 
11 Records of nest-life and behavior 211 
A Food of adult cuckoos 211 
B Food of young cuckoos 212 
C Method of feeding young 213 
D Inspection and cleaning in cuckoos 220 
E Rate of feeding young 221 
F Intermittent brooding and behavior of cuckoo in rain 222 
12 Why some birds do not brood, or origin of the ' parasitic habit' 226 
13 Conclusions 232 
1. INTRODUCTION 
When the "cuckoo" is mentioned without reservation the 
gowk or common grey cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, of Europe, 
is commonly referred to, and there is no bird in the world which 
