Chap. 11.] 
THE CUCKOO. 
489 
woods, and in the day-time its sight is not good ; it wages war 
to the death with the eagle, and they are often to be found 
clasped in each other* s talons. 
CHAP. 11. (9.) THE ONLY BIRD THAT IS KILLED BY THOSE OP 
ITS OWlf KIND. A BIED THAT LAYS ONLY ONE EGG. 
The cuckoo seems to be but another form of the hawk,^^ 
which at a certain season of the year changes its shape ; it 
being the fact that during this period no other hawks are to be 
seen, except, perhaps, for a few duys only ; the cuckoo, too, 
itself is only seen for a short period in the summer, and does 
not make its appearance after. It is the only one among the 
hawks that has not hooked talons ; neither is it like the rest 
of them in the head, or, indeed, in any other respect, except 
the colour only, while in the beak it bears a stronger resem- 
blance to the pigeon. In addition to this, it is devoured by the 
hawk, if they chance at any time to meet ; this being the only 
one among the whole race of birds that is preyed upon by those 
of its own kind. It changes its voice also with its appearance, 
comes out in the spring, and goes into retirement at the rising 
of the Dog-star. It always lays its eggs in the nest of another 
bird, and that of the ring-dove more especially, — mostly a single 
egg, a thing that is the case with no other bird ; sometimes how- 
ever, but very rarely, it is known to lay two. It is supposed, 
that the reason for its thus substituting its young ones, is the 
fact that it is aware how greatly it is hated by all the other 
birds ; for even the very smallest of them will attack it. 
Hence it is, that it thinks its own race will stand no chance 
of being perpetuated unless it contrives to deceive them, and for 
this reason builds no nest of its own : and besides this, it is 
a very timid animal. In the meantime, the female bird, sitting 
on her nest, is rearing a supposititious and spurious progeny ; 
while the young cuckoo, which is naturally craving and greedy, 
snatches away all the food firom the other young ones, and by 
so doing grows plump and sleek, and quite gains the affections 
of his foster-mother ; who takes a great pleasure in his fine 
52 Cuvier says, that this notion is still entertained by the French, 
peasantry. 
53 This is not the case. It only lays in the nests of insectivorous birds. 
54 Cuvier remarks, that this is not a very good reason ; but we have not 
yet been able to find a better. 
