NATURAL HISTORY. 
136 
fcnfiblc of the Inpci'iority of thefe birds, call 
them, by vray of pre-eminence God’s bij-ds. 
They migrate with their king (which is 
fupcrior both in file and plumage) about 
Augufl, when the ftormy feafon begins, and 
return when it is over. 
There are two other birds of Paradife ; ofie 
of which is found in the Ifland of Ceylon, but 
has never yet been defcribed ; the other is 
called the pied bird of Paradife, has a blackilli 
bill, like a duck, and a tail nearly as long as a 
magpie. 
rhe C U C K O O. 
T H E note of this bird is^ known to all 
the world ; but its hiftory and nature remain 
yet undifeovered. Some naturalifls have af- 
ferted, that it devours its parent, changing 
its nature with the fea/bn, when it becomes 
a fparrow-hawk. But thefe fables are now 
fufficicntly refuted. It however, flill remains 
a fecret where it refides, and how' it fubfifts 
in winter. 
The claws and bill of the cuckoo arc much 
■veakcr than thole of other rapacious birds. 
It i.s diftinguilhed from all others, by its note, 
and the round prominent nollrils on the fur- 
face of tlie bill. The head, the upper part of 
the body, and the wing.s, arc beautiful- 
