The dawn chorus was loud this morning as I opened my bedroom window at 6am . What a joyful sound !
I pulled on my boots and went for a walk up into the vegetable garden ... and there from somewhere across the misty meadow , I could hear the distinctive sound of the Cuckoo .
I have only managed to take one photo of a Cuckoo and I,m afraid it really wasn't very good .
So I have pulled down from my bookshelf a couple of my favourite old books dated 1896 .
Allen's Naturalist's Library
A Hand-Book to the Birds of Great Britain by R.Bowdler Sharpe,LLD.,
Zoological Department , British Museum vol.1 and vol.11 .
I love the illustrations , of which it says " plates which have been coloured from specimens in the British Museum and several pictures by Mr Keulemans have been added to illustrate certain representative species of British Birds" .
Each coloured plate has a sheet of tissue to protect it .
This coloured plate has fallen out . A cuckoo's egg is included in this picture .
The author goes into great detail about the Cuckoo , but for me these two snippets are all I need .
He actually says that , " a whole volume could be written on the life history of this curious and interesting bird ! "
One plate has fallen out and one of the covers is a little torn on the spine, but apart from that, the books are in quite good condition . No , they are not for sale , these two books are keepers for sure !
They have been well loved and I am not afraid to turn the pages and enjoy the contents .
Have you heard the Cuckoo yet ?
" a curious and interesting bird "
