326 Observations on the Cuckoo. 



pean cuckoo itself, which in this part of the world is every 

 where sufficiently abundant, and which, for so many ages, 

 has been universally known always to confide its offspring to 

 the care of strangers, should still continue to be involved in 

 so much doubt and obscurity ; and this although, perhaps, 

 every person at all interested in the pursuit of natural history 

 has at least devoted some little passing attention to the subject. 

 I am, therefore, very glad that, in the last Number [p. 283. 

 to 301.], an endeavour was made to collect into one general 

 focus a great number of scattered remarks, and of well authen- 

 ticated observed facts, relative to the history of this curious 

 and highly interesting bird ; and the more so, as I had my- 

 self purposed to attempt something of the kind : not that I 

 have much that is new to offer upon the subject, for my own 

 observations are, for the most part, merely parallel to much 

 that appeared in the last Number, and corroborative only of 

 what has been already ascertained; but I certainly can establish 

 some facts which at present are not generally known, and fancy 

 that I can do something towards subverting certain theories ; 

 propounded, too, by persons whose great experience in matters 

 of natural history entitles their opinions to be regarded with 

 much deference and respect. I wish, also, that, by penning a 

 few words on the subject, I could anyhow induce those who 

 may have opportunities and sufficient leisure for the under- 

 taking, to attempt further the elucidation of one or two par- 

 ticulars which I shall have occasion to point out as I proceed, 

 and upon which at present our information is incomplete. 



It would seem, in the first place, not to be so absolutely 

 necessary as is generally supposed for the cuckoo to deposit 

 its egg in the nest of an insectivorous species; although, 

 without a doubt, the egg almost invariably is found in the 

 nest of an insect-eating bird. A highly interesting fact, 

 bearing on this, is related in the Field Naturalist's Maga- 

 zine for January, 1834 : "a cuckoo was found, just feathered, 

 in the nest of a hedge chanter. It was immediately taken 

 from thence, and placed in a cage containing a hen canary. 

 The birds agreed perfectly well ; but, what is most singular, 

 when the proper food for the cuckoo (small caterpillars, &c.) 

 was placed in the cage, the canary fed its young charge with 

 that, although she herself kept to the hempseed, &c, to which 

 she had been accustomed." A case also is mentioned in this 

 Magazine, VIII. 287., of a green grosbeak, and another, in 

 288., of a linnet (without doubt Linaria Linota, if a linnet at 

 all, and not a hedge chanter, which it is possible a common 

 observer might have mistaken for a linnet), bringing up young 

 cuckoos in a state of nature. Now, it must be borne in mind, 



