Letters, Announcements, H^c. 469 



that is to say, in thirteen days. By the third day the young 

 Linnets^ three in number, were all expelled by the intruder ; 

 two were replaced whilst yet alive, but were again expelled, 

 and the young Cuckoo reigned alone. Its life, however, like 

 that of other usurpers, did not seem altogether a happy one ; 

 by the end of the week it had ceased to open its wide impa- 

 tient mouth, and appeared to die of starvation. The old 

 Linnets perched mournfully on a rail in front of the window, as 

 if perplexed by the miscarriage of their matrimonial arrange- 

 ments. In order to test the parental capabilities of the birds, 

 a young Greenfinch, of the same age as the former occupants 

 of the nest, was given to the Linnets ; this bird, living on 

 similar food as its foster-parents, was successfully reared, and 

 in time took its flight. As far as a single instance can prove 

 any thing, this experiment goes to show that the Linnet is 

 not capable of rearing the young Cuckoo : of course corro- 

 borative evidence would be required ; but, for my part, I 

 should have been surprised if it had been otherwise. The 

 internal construction of insectivorous and graminivorous 

 animals is so different (I mean of those which feed wholly 

 on one species of food or the other), that, but for the asser- 

 tions of distinguished naturalists, I should have conceived no 

 doubt on this subject could have existed. 

 I give my story for what it is worth. 



Yours &c., 



E. N. Harcourt. 



The Grove, Oldfield, Altrincham, 

 August llth, 1884. 



Sirs, — I wish to point out that the name Anthus pallescens, 

 Socage, Jorn. Lisb. 1874, p. 152, is preoccupied by Vig. & 

 Horsf. Tr. Linn. Soc. xv. p. 2.29^ and I therefore propose 

 that it should be changed to Anthus bocagii. 



This fact seems to have escaped the notice of Mr. 

 Sharpe in his new edition of ' Layard^s Birds of South 

 Africa.^ 



Yours &c., 



Francis Nicholson. 



ser. v. vol. ii. 2 m 



