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The Animal-Lore of Shaksgeare’s Time . 
observations of ornithologists. Something of the same kind is related 
of the cuckoo and the titlark by Pliny, but Holland’s translation was 
not published before 1602. 4 The titling, therefore, that sitteth, being 
thus deceived, hatcheth the egge, and bringeth up the chicke of another 
bird:—and this she doth so long, untill the young cuckow being once 
fledge and readie to flie abroad, is so bold as to seize upon the old titling, 
and eat up her that hatched her ’ (Pliny, Nat. Hist ., by Holland, b. x. 
ch. 9).” 
For the credit of bird nature, it is to be hoped that such 
highly reprehensible conduct on the part of the young 
cuckoo is of rare occurrence. 
The cuckoo was sometimes called “the Welch 
Ambassador. ” This name arose, perhaps, from the fact 
that Welsh labourers came into the neighbouring counties 
about spring time, in search of employment. In Middle¬ 
ton’s play, A Trick to catch an Old One , we read, “ Why, 
thou rogue of universality, do I not know thee ? Thy 
sound is like the cuckoo, the Welch Ambassador ” 
(iv. 5). 
The change in this bird’s note as summer advances is 
observed by Ben Jonson :— 
“ From a fiddle out of tune 
As the cuckow is in June.” 
(The Gipsies Metamorphosed.) 
Also by John Hey wood, 1587 : — 
“ 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.” 
(Epigrams.) 
Richard II. had, by too frequent appearance and by 
his unseemly familiarity with the common people, “ dis¬ 
graced his kingly glory: ”— 
“ So when he had occasion to be seen, 
He was but as the cuckoo is in June, 
Heard, not regarded.” 
(1 Henry IV. y iii. 2, 75.) 
