TEE CALL OF THE CUCKOO. [To Tux uorrea Or Trig
"srscrocroir."]
Slap—Until this summer the cuckoo has been to me" no bird,
but an invisible thing, a voice, a mystery still longed for, never seen" ; but while playing golf on the lately opened course of the " Loudoun Gowf Club," I along with others have seen it in considerable numbers. Some players have declared they saw fifty, others thirty, during the round. I can vouch to having seen eight in the course of four or five holes, and five at one glance. On one occasion, while addressing my ball at the fourteenth tee, a cuckoo flew past quite close to us, and lighted on the low bough of a large tree near at hand. I will not blame the unlucky and unholy bird, but my foozled drive Bent the ball under that bough. I approached within four Yards of the bird before it took flight, to be joined by its mate and another pair, all perching on the rails not far off. I was able to mark its size—much larger than I expected—slaty colour, the full tail, the low heavy flight as if it had too many feathers, and that "it sings as it flies." Since then I have seen many of them, and quite close at hand, apparently uldifferent to the presence of human beings. It will be Interesting to note next year whether they return in such numbers now their sanctuary is invaded. I must confess that, noteworthy as it is to see ono cuckoo, let alone so many, an illusion is destroyed which I would fain have kept. I know now it is a bird, and not "a wandering voice."—I am, Sir, &o.,
W. D. W.
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