CUCKOO, Cuculus, a genus of birds of the order of climbers (q.v.); the type of a family, eueulidee, which contains a large number of species, mostly confined to the warmer regions of the globe, although some of them are summer visitants of cold climates. The beak is compressed and slightly arched, and the tail long and rounded, the wings rather long, the tarsi short, two toes directed forwards, and two backwards, the outer hind toe capable of being brought half round to the front. The feet are thus adapted for grasping and moving about upon branches, rather than for climbing, and the long tail is much used by many of the species for balancing the body, as they hop from branch to branch iu the thick tropical woods which they frequent. The name C. is derived from the note of the male of the common C. (cueulu8 canorus), which, although monoto nous, is always heard with pleasure, being associated with all that is delightful in returning spring. A similar name is given to the bird in many languages. The C. is a very widely diffused bird; it is found in India and in Africa, and migrates northwards in summer, even to Lapland and Kamtchatka. It appears in Britain in April, and all except the young birds arc believed to migrate southwards again before the middle of August. It frequents both cultivated districts and moors. There is no pairing or con tinued attachment of the male and female, and the female, after having laid an egg on the ground, deposits it, with her beak, in the nest of some other smaller bird, leaving the egg to be hatched and the young one to be fed by the proper owners of the nest. The egg of the C. is very small for so large a bird, being not larger than the skylark's, and the number she will lay is uncertain; but the young one soon acquires size and strength enough to eject from the nest any eggs which may remain in it, or unfortunate young birds, the true offspring of its foster-parents, and it seems restless and uneasy till this is accomplished. It works itself under them, and then jerks them out by a motion of its rump. Its back at this early age exhibits a peculiar depression between the shoulders, so that an egg or a young bird can easily be got to lie upon it; but this depression soon disappears, and along with it the singular instinct with which it is sup posed to be connected. The hedge-sparrow, the yellow-hammer, the pied wagtail, and the meadow pipit, are among the birds most frequently selected by the C. as its substi tutes in incubation and the care of its young. A pair of meadow pipits usually accom
pany the C. wherever it goes. The reason of this curious fellowship has not been aseer tained.—Among the cueutides of North America, one of the most interesting is the yellow billed American C., sometimes called from its note the Cole-Come or (coecyzus Americanus). It is among the rarest of British birds. It does not lay its eggs in the nests of other birds, but builds and hatches for itself—exhibiting, however, a remark able peculiarity in laying its eggs at such long intervals, that a very evident difference of age appears among the young in the same nest.
CirCUMBER, Cueumis, a genus of plants of the natural order eueurbitaeetr. The common C. (C. satires), distinguished by heart-shaped, acuminately pentangular leaves, which are rough -with hairs approaching to bristles, and oblong fruit, is a native of the middle and s. of Asia, and has been cultivated from the earliest times. Its fruit forms an important article of food in its native regions, the s. of Europe, etc., and an esteemed delicacy in colder countries. where it is produced by the aid of artificial heat. Many varieties are in cultivation, with fruit from 4 in. to 2 ft. long, rough, smooth, etc. Young cucumbers are much used for pickling, and are called II/tent.-ins. The C. is culti vated in fields even in the s. or England, for the supply of the London market; but iu the northern parts of Britain, the aid of a hot-bed is required even to produce fruit fit for pickling. The C. requires a sunny situation, and a free rich soil.—To this genus belong other species valued for their edible fruit. C. anguria is a West Indian species, with fruit about as large as a pullet's egg, much esteemed as an ingredient in soups. The SNAKE C. (C. ,fleXUOSUS) grows to a great length, and is similar in quality to the com mon cucumber. C. serotinus rs cultivated in 'Turkey. C. maerocarpus in Brazil; the CONOMON (C. common) is much cultivated in Japan. The melon (C. mdo), water-melon (C. eitrulles), chate (C. chute), and kaukoor (C. utilissimus), are noticed in the article MELON; the species yielding colocyntli, in the article COLOCYN•IL—The DUDA111 (C. dudaim) is very generally cultivated in gardens in the east for the fragrance of its fruit, which, however, is almost tasteless. It is supposed that this plant is sometimes meant in the Old Testament, where the English version has mandrake.—The SPIRTING C., Squfterixo C., or WILD C., which yields the drug called claterium (q.v.), belongs to an allied genus.