VOICE AND FOOD OF THE CUCKOO . 
433 
correspondents records a large assembly of Cuckoos seen by herself in the month of August, 
and another relates a curious anecdote of a number of Cuckoos, which he saw on the wing, 
playing over and near a large gray stone. It seems that these birds are very partial to promi- 
nent objects, such as bushes, tree-stumps, large stones, etc., and that they are fond of con- 
gregating in their vicinity. 
The peculiar note of the Cuckoo is so well known as to need no particular description, but 
the public is not quite so familiar with the fact that the note changes according to the time of 
year. When the bird first begins to sing, the notes are full and clear ; but towards the end of 
the season, they become hesitating, hoarse, and broken, like the breaking voice of a young iad. 
This peculiarity was noticed long ago by observant persons, and many are the country rhymes 
which bear allusion to the voice and the sojourn of the Cuckoo. For example : — 
“ In April 
Come lie will. 
In May 
He sings all day. 
In June 
He alters liis tune. 
In July 
He prepares to fly. 
In August 
Go lie must ” 
This rhyme is often slightly varied, as : — 
“ In April Cuckoo sings her lay ; 
In May she sings both night and day ; 
In June she loses her sweet strain ; 
In July she is off again.” 
An old writer, John Haywood, who “ flourished,” according to Mangnall, about 1580, has the 
following quaint and very graphic rhyme upon the voice of the Cuckoo at different periods of 
the year : — 
“ In April the Coocoo can sing her song by rote. 
In June oft time she cannot sing a note. 
At first, koo, koo ; koo, koo ; sings till can she do. 
At last, kooke, kooke, kooke ; six kookes to one koo.” 
The voice of the female bird is quite distinct from that of the male, and has been compared 
to the sound made by pouring water out of a narrow-necked bottle, and to the quacking 
clutter of the dabchick. 
Sometimes the Cuckoo has been known to sing at night, having been seen to perch in a 
tree and then to commence its song. Many such instances are recorded, as also of the Cuckoo’s 
song heard very early in the season ; but in all such instances where the bird was not actually 
seen, great caution must be used in accepting evidence. For the note of the Cuckoo is so 
peculiar, and so easily imitated, that boys are often in the habit of hiding in the copses and 
behind hedges for the purpose of deluding people into the idea that the Cuckoo has arrived. 
There have even been instances where such delinquents have confessed their bad practices 
when they attained to mature years, and wrote on natural history themselves. 
When the stomach of the Cuckoo is opened, it is found to be lined with brown hairs, 
which on investigation with the microscope have been found to be those of the long-haired 
caterpillars, such as the “woolly-bear,” i. e. the larva of the tiger moth (Arctia caja\ on 
which the Cuckoo loves to feed. 
In captivity it feeds on many substances, always preferring caterpillars and raw beef 
chopped fine. It also likes worms, hard-boiled eggs, flies, wasp-grubs, and similar food. 
According to some persons, the young Cuckoo is a very easy bird to rear ; while according 
to others it gives the greatest trouble. One writer goes so far as to say that he would sooner 
rear a baby single-handed than a Cuckoo. However this may be, the first winter is always a 
trying season to the young bird, and there are very few which get well through it. 
Vol. n.— 55. 
