Cuckoos arrive in our country as a rule during the first
three weeks of April, and are shortly followed by the
females, the stronger sex always, however, largely
predominating in number. The Cuckoo cannot be
correctly called polygamous, but the females admit the
amorous advances of many males.
The eggs are invariably placed in the nests of other
species (seventy-eight of which are enumerated at
p. 394 of the volume above alluded to); the nests
generally selected in the part of England with which I
am best acquainted are those of Reed-Warbler, Pied
Wagtail, Hedge-Sparrow, Spotted Plycatcher, Tree-
Pipit, and Redstart; the old Cuckoos generally disappear
early in July, whilst the young birds occasionally
linger with us till the third week of September. It is
perhaps superfluous to add that the ancient myth of
the Cuckoo’s sucking the eggs of other birds has no
foundation on fact, and probably originated from the
now well-ascertained habit of this species of carrying
its own egg in its beak to deposit it in nests where it
could hardly be laid in the natural manner. It is
difficult, but by no means impossible, to keep the
Cuckoo in confinement through the winter in this
country; but it is not an attractive cage-bird, and, in my
experience, becomes so restless at the seasons of migration
that, however tame and quiet it may be at other
times, it invariably, when urged by the travelling instinct,
ruins its plumage and appearance by breaking
the feathers of its wings and tail in attempting to
escape. The general demeanour of my captives of this
species has been sulky, greedy, and spiteful.