CUCKOO. 
445 
tary, are susceptible of a sort of education, and M. 
BufFon tells us that many of his acquaintance reared 
and tamed them ; they were fed with minced meat, 
either raw or cooked, with insects, eggs, fruits, & c. 
“ One of the cuckoos thus bred,” says the count, 
“ knew its master, answered his call, followed him to 
the sport, perched on his fowling-piece; and if it 
found a black cherry tree on the road, it flew to it, and 
returned not till satiated with the fruit; sometimes it 
did not join its master again the whole day, but 
followed him at a distance, shifting from tree to 
tree. When at home, it was permitted to run 
about, and to roost at night.” 
Many think it probable, that some of these birds 
continue with us all the year, and during the winter 
remain concealed and torpid in the hollow trees. 
Willughby relates a story, which, if it be true, 
tends strongly to confirm this opinion. It is proper to 
remark that he delivers it upon the credit of another. 
te The servants of a gentleman in the country, hav- 
ing stocked up, in one of their meadows, some old 
dry rotten willows, thought proper on a certain oc- 
casion to carry them home. In heating a stove, 
two logs of this timber were put into the furnace 
beneath, and fire applied as usual. But soon, to the 
great surprise of the family, was heard the voice of 
a cuckoo, singing three times from under the stove; 
Wondering at so extraordinary a cry in winter-time, 
the servants ran and drew the willow logs from the 
furnace, and in the midst of one of them saw some- 
thing move ; wherefore, taking an axe, they opened 
