
103) ” ‘NATURAL HISTORY, 
There are two- other. birds of Paradife; one 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 blacki fh bill, like aduck, and a 
tail solani antong ah a Magpie, os 
Bae ie eae ie 
“CUCKOO. 
Ts note of this bird is known to all the chiiee ; 
but its hiftory and nature remain yet uadifcovered. 
done naturalifts have afferted, that it devours its pa- 
rent, changing its nature wi ith the feafon, when it be- 
comes a {parrow hawk. But thefe fables are now 
fuiliciently refuted, It, however, {till remains a fe- 
ret where it refides, and how it fubfifts in winter. 
‘The claws and bill of the cuckoo are much weaker 
_than thofe of other rapacious birds. It-is diftinguithed 
from all others, by its note, and the round prominent 
noitrils on the furface: of the bill. The head, the 
upper part of the body and the wings, are beau) fully 
ftriped with tawny colour and traniparent black ; the 
legs are.very thort, clothed with entered down to the 
feet ; and it has a lar ge separ os: the infide of which is 
yellowith. 
‘this bird is the harbinges of fpring, at which time 
it returns, to glad the hufbandman with his wonted 
note, asa fienal that nature now refumes her vernai 
beauties. The note, which. is a call to love, is uled 
only by: the male, | and continues no longer than the 
‘pairing feafon. 
‘The young are generally nurfed by @ water ‘wagtail 
or hedge fparrow, - their parent always unnaturally 
deferting them.* > * 
The note of the cuckoo i is pleafant though uniform; * 
‘and qwe$s its’ power of pleafing to’ thataffociation of 
adeas which frequently render things agreeable, that 
would, otherwile, not be'fo in themielves. Were we 

