76 
THE CUCKOO. 
the eggs or young, one or other of which I was certain 
must be near. After a long search, to my mortification, I 
could find neither; and was just going to abandon the spot, 
when I perceived somewhat like a slight mouldiness among 
the withered leaves, and, on stooping down, discovered it 
to be a young Whip-poor-will, seemingly asleep, as its eye- 
lids were nearly closed ; or perhaps this might only be to 
protect its tender eyes from the glare of day. I sat down 
by it on the leaves, and drew it as it then appeared. It 
was probably not a week old. All the while I was thus 
engaged, it neither moved its body, nor opened its eyes 
more than half ; and I left it as I found it. After I had 
walked about a quarter of a mile from the spot, recollecting 
that I had left a pencil behind, I returned and found my 
pencil, but the young bird was gone. 
THE CUCKOO. ( Cuculus canorus.') 
The third order of birds, Scansores , or Climbers, includes 
some species which are very interesting. Of these we will 
first notice the English Cuckoo. She is twelve inches in 
length from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail ; yel- 
low breast, with transverse lines; head, wings, and body 
marked with black and tawny stripes, legs short and covered 
