HONEY-DEW.—TERNS. 
421 
late, and to pass frequently from the spot it had 
chosen to an adjoining piece of meadow, as if in the 
act of pouncing; having shot the bird on the ground, 
he found in the stomach a field mouse. This ex¬ 
plains why such a similarity exists between the 
bill and claws of theCuckow and Kestrel, and shews 
though the chief diet of the former may be insects, 
and such like, yet that it still is furnished with the 
means of being in some degree “ rapacious ” or 
carnivorous. Is it because of their short stay with 
us, namely about three months, that Cuckows en¬ 
trust the nurture of their young to one of our stati¬ 
onary species of birds ? 
The Cuckow usually arrives in the end of April, 
but its note is seldom heard till May 1st or 2nd, on 
account of cold or inclement weather. I have heard 
it as early as April 12th near London. In the be¬ 
ginning of June the male birds attend small flocks 
of the females, which seem to be more numerous 
than the former sex, these amours however lasting 
but a few days. The note of the male at this period, 
is not much unlike that of the Kestrel. 
Honey-dew .—I never remember seeing honey- 
dew but once in Devon, and that was many years 
ago, during a hot summer, when it was collected in 
profusion on the leaves of the underwood that over¬ 
hangs one part of the River Yealm. 
Terns .—Towards September, we frequently re¬ 
ceive visits from flocks of Terns, being I presume 
migrating parties of birds passing from cold coun¬ 
tries to more genial situations for the winter.— 
Though greatly disturbed in our harbours by the 
sportsman, and on dissection shewing by their 
condition that they had undergone great privations 
through hunger, they yet stay with us, and pass the 
occasionally fine month of September in recruiting 
their strengths in our creeks, and at the mouths of 
our rivers ; in these spots it is amusing to watch 
