Arrives abundantly about the 27th of April, remaining until about August, though young birds of the year have been found in October. However disregardful of its young, the cuckoo makes ample amends in its conjugal fidelity, for when one of either sex is seen, you may be quite sure that its mate is not far off. THE WRYNECK, OR CUCKOO'S MATE (_Yunx Torquilla_), ii., 61. Rare, coming mostly with the cuckoo, which it somewhat resembles. THE SWALLOW (_Hirundo rustica_), ii., 76. Common and familiar everywhere. Social, harmless, and useful, and perhaps as much beloved as the robin itself, if only because of its fondness for human habitations. THE HOUSE MARTIN (_Hirundo riparia_), ii., 79. Common and familiar, and, like the swallow, always welcome. This odd bird often takes for the foundation of its nest one constructed the previous year by the swallow. The swallow's nest is open at the top. The house-martin likes to have a roof or lid, so goes on with the one it adopts till finished to its own fancy, keeping only an aperture for ingress. THE SAND MARTIN (_Hirundo urbica_), ii., 78. Comes in spring from North Africa and Malta, then common everywhere in sand-banks, in which it excavates horizontal galleries. It never alights on the ground, but gathers the blades of green grass used for the nest while on the wing, and in the same way collects the feathers for lining it. THE DOTTEREL (_Charadrius morinellus_), iv., 187. This bird visits us in the beginning of May, arriving in large flocks. It is very tame, silly, and easily approached. If a fowler once gets among them, he may shoot the whole before they take alarm. It remains only for three or four days or a week, and then moves on to its breeding stations among the mountains in the north.--(On the Lancashire localities, see _Manchester Guardian_, Feb. 25, 1882.) THE SPOTTED FLY-CATCHER (_Muscicapa grisola_), i., 44. Common, making its appearance in the middle of May, building in gardens and woods, and generally choosing very odd situations for the nest. Remarkable for the constancy of its return to the same old dead tree or rail, or old and ivied wall. After its long aërial sail it seems well content also to stop there till the time for departure in autumn. "From morn till dewy eve" it keeps in its chosen place, though incessantly darting out to secure a fly. THE PIED FLY-CATCHER (_Muscicapa luctuosa_), i., 43. This bird has been seen frequently between Middleton and Oldham, where also it builds its nest, choosing old trees. THE COMMON SAND-PIPER (_Tringa hypoleucos_), iv., 217. Tolerably common on the banks of the Mersey at Northen, and thence down the river. THE LAND-RAIL, OR CORN-CRAKE (_Crex pratensis_), v., 242. Common everywhere in hay and corn-fields. The voice of the corn-crake has in it something so nearly akin to ventriloquism that the birds themselves are rarely where we seem to hear them, furnishing in summer much pleasant amusement.