374 
COMMON CUCKOO. 
economy are very few in numbers ; the True 
Cuckoos, confined to the Old World and 
Australia, and another form peculiar to America, 
being all that are now known to exercise this 
almost unnatural disposition. In both of these we 
see provisions predetermined to secure the rear- 
ing of the young, and the work of previous 
design in the whole economy, which should lead 
us to persevere in ascertaining the end for which 
they are intended. The Cuekoo in Britain 
arrives during April, earlier or later according to 
the season, and according to the part of the 
country ; like all our other summer birds, its note 
is immediately heard proclaiming its arrival to its 
mate. This is continued until the season of 
breeding has passed, gradually becoming hoarser 
and more indistinct as the season advances, and 
ultimately before their departure the birds become 
entirely mute. The old birds leave us very early, 
they are among the first of our visiters that travel, 
none remaining after July, so that their visit to 
this and other regions to which they migrate, 
seems confined entirely to the time necessary to 
search for a place and deposit a certain number 
of eggs. The young are attended to for a certain 
time by their foster parents, and afterwards are 
left to themselves ; they, however, remain much 
longer, and we have frequently shot them towards 
the end of August, at which time, when suddenly 
disturbed, they utter a note or whistle, very 
dissimilar to the “ Cuckoo” of the love season. 
The Cuckoo is very commonly and frequently 
