FEEDING 
219 
Feeding 
An interesting fact, which will be apparent 
from our daily observations, is that certainly, on 
the days upon which she lays, from about midday 
until she has deposited her egg, the female Cuckoo 
does not concern herself at all about feeding. 
Despite the immense number of hours during 
which, for long consecutive periods in 1920, we 
had Cuckoos under observation, on no occasion 
did we see a mature Cuckoo feeding. But in 1921, 
on the second common, we did see them drop 
down, Stonechat fashion, and apparently pick up 
something. 
The manner in which males and females would 
suddenly leave the common, flying right away, and 
then as suddenly reappear, would point to the 
conclusion that Cuckoos have their definite feeding- 
times and places, and unlike so many birds, 
especially of the smaller species, are not constantly 
foraging throughout the day. 
That the female Cuckoo habitually goes for 
many consecutive hours without thought of food 
is very evident from our experiences. And the 
manner in which she will call up her mates and 
then fly away, as a rule with one of them, would 
