CUCKOO 119 
The bird’s favourite victim in Man is the Meadow Pipit, 
and Mr. Kermode states that in June 1882 four young 
Cuckoos were taken from nests of that bird on the Brooghs 
at North Ramsey alone. 
Mr. Crellin (Y. Z. I, iii. 614) says that a young Cuckoo 
was observed for ten days or so in the neighbourhood 
of Orrisdale; ‘one morning it had disappeared, but on 
looking about the place its feathers, beak, and feet were 
found, and fluttering overhead in great agitation were a pair 
of Yellow Hammers, who would not leave the spot, but con- 
tinued flying around and crying as it were in lamentation.’ 
In the Manz Note-Book, No. 6, p. 94, Mr. W. J. Cain 
gives the following Manx rhyme about the Cuckoo :— 
‘Ta’n Cooag veg veen, 
As tee yeean veg feer bwaagh ; 
T’ee ry clashtyn sy keeyljyn 
As ayns theeaneeyn traagh ; 
T’ee cheet mysh laa boaldyn 
Son three meeaghyn dy rhaa 
Agh t’an chied sheeig dy hraagh 
Chur ersooyl ee, t’ad gra.’ 
‘The Cuckoo is a dear little (bird), 
And she is a very beautiful little bird ; 
She calls in the woods 
And in the meadows of hay ; 
She comes with May Day 
For three months’ time, 
But the first rick of hay 
Sends her away, they say.’ 
An interesting fragment of folk-song, with the air to 
which it was sung, is sent me by Miss S. Morrison :— 
CAR YN COOAG. 
‘“ Kook, kook, peep, peep,” dooyrt y Cooag veg veen! 
**Cren aght cadle oo choud er y tourey! wooin?”’ 
1 So given by Miss Morrison’s informant, but surely towrey (=summer) should 
here be gheurey (=winter). Never having been written down, such songs are 
liable to endless corruption and variation. 
