The Cuckoo (Cuculus) is a scansorial or climbing bird, the type of the family Cuculidae, now almost extinct in Britain. The note from which it derives its name is a love-call used only in the mating season. The greater number of species belonging to the genus are confined to hot countries, more especially India and Africa, though some are summer visitants of colder climates. In America no true cuckoos are found, the genus Coccyzus, to which the so-called American Cuckoo belongs, differing very essentially from them in its habits. The species best known in Europe, the Cuculus canorus, is a bird about the size of a small pigeon, though the length of the tail gives it at a little distance a strong resemblance to a hawk.
The adult bird is ashy-grey in colour, with a white breast barred across with narrow lines of grayish black; tail spotted and barred with white; bill black, touched at the gape with yellow; eyes and feet yellow. It appears in England about the middle of April, and in May begins to deposit its eggs in the nests of other species, giving the preference to those of the hedge-sparrow, meadow-pipit, or pied wagtail. The young Cuckoo ejects from the nest its young companions, and monopolizes the attentions of its foster-parents, which feed it for about five weeks after it is fledged. The young birds do not leave the country until the end of August or even September; but the adult birds commence their flight southward in July or at latest early in August. Their food consists largely of caterpillars (especially hairy ones), Cuckoos are one of only three species of birds that eat Cinnabar Moth caterpillars, with cockchafers, moths, dragon-flies, and other insects.
The female Cuckoo lays six or eight eggs, and each is placed in a different nest, by means of the bird's bill, as has been ascertained, being first deposited on the ground. Different strains of Cuckoo utilise different species of bird, each strain concentrating only on one species, and laying an egg which is identical in appearance to the eggs of the host species. Thus, one British strain of Cuckoo targets the nest of Reed Warblers only, and lays an egg identical in appearnce to that laid by the Reed Warbler, and it is possibly this factor which enables the Cuckoo chick to remain being cared for by its adoptive parents, even though the chick may grow many times larger than its parents. Research Cuckoo
Cuculidae is the Cuckoo family of birds of the order Scansores. They have a moderate bill, rather deeply cleft, both mandibles compressed, and more or less curved downwards. the nostrils are exposed and the wings for the most part are short, the tail lengthened. They have four toes, two pointing forwards and two backwards, but the outer hind toe of each foot can be placed at right angles with either the inner or outer toe. They are tropical birds, many of which migrate to the temperate regions in summer. They are not so decidedly climbers as the Woodpecker and Creepers, but have the power of clinging. Their flight is feeble, their food soft-bodied insects, varied in many cases with berries and other fruits, and some of the larger species occasionally prey on mice, reptiles and the eggs and young of birds. They lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. Research Cuculidae
The hedge-warbler (also known as the hedge-sparrow, Accentor modularis) is a bird of the family Sylvidae, common in Britain and the temperate parts of Europe. It feeds on insects, worms and seeds. It grows to about 14 centimetres long and has reddish-brown plumage streaked with dark-brown. Its nest is generally finished early in March. The eggs, four or five in number, are bluish-green. The cuckoo often deposits her egg in its nest. Research Hedge-warbler
The honey-guide is a South African cuckoo of the genusIndicator, which by its cries and motions directs people to the nests of wild honey bees. Research Honey-guide
Lady's smock or cuckoo-flower is a popular name for Cardamine pratensis, a common meadow plant bearing pale lilac cruciferous flowers in May. It has pinnate leaves, and the flowers are followed by long pods or siliquas, opening by two valves. Cardamine pratensis is abundant in Britain, and has received its name because generally in flower when the cuckoo returns. It possesses antiscorbutic properties. Four other species are natives of Britain. Research Lady's Smock
Rainbird is a name given to several birds, especially the black-billed cuckoo and the yellow-billed cuckoo. They get their name from the belief that they call frequently before a rainstorm. Research Rainbird
Cuckoo is a simple round card game which can be played by a large number of people. It dates back to the 17th century, maybe earlier. Other names for this game are Ranter Go Round and Chase the Ace. In the USA it is also known as 'Screw Your Neighbour'.
Cuckoo can be played with a standard 52 card pack. The direction of play differs in different countries - in what follows we assume clockwise. Each player starts with an equal number of lives, say 3. Deal one card to each player. The object is not to be left holding the lowest card. Suits are irrelevant and the cards rank K (high), Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, A (low). Each player has one turn, beginning with the player on dealer's left, continuing clockwise round the table and ending with the dealer. At your turn you may either keep your card or exchange it with your left hand neighbour, in the hope of getting a better one. Your neighbour must exchange unless she has a king, in which case she exposes it and you keep your card. The dealer, whose turn comes last, can try to exchange with a card cut from the undealt stock. After everyone has had a turn, the cards are exposed and whoever has the lowest card loses a life. If several players tie for lowest they all lose a life. Players who have lost all their lives are out of the game, and the last person left in wins. In various countries of Europe, special cards have been made for this game. These cards consist of a single suit with numbers from 1 to 10 or 12 and several picture cards ranking above and below the numbers; there are generally two copies of each card in the pack. When played with these cards, the basic cuckoo game is normally elaborated by giving several of the picture cards special properties when a player tried to exchange with them. Research Cuckoo
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Cuckoo
