42 
on top of it. What struck me most was this: the Cuckoo was 
perfectly naked, without a vestige of a feather, or hint of future 
feathers ; its eyes were not yet opened, and its neck seemed too 
weak to support the weight of its head. The Titlarks had well 
developed quills on the wings and back, and had bright eyes 
partially open ; yet they seemed quite helpless under the manipu- 
lation of the Cuckoo, which looked a much less developed creature. 
The Cuckoo’s legs however, seemed very muscular, and it appeared 
to feel about with its wings, which were absolutely featherless, as 
with hands; the spurious wing, unusually large in proportion, 
looked like an outspread thumb. The most singular thing of all 
was the direct purpose with which the blind little monster made 
for the open side of the nest, the only part where it could throw its 
burden down the bank.” After the true nestlings are ejected, for 
weeks the powers of the foster parents are exercised to the utmost 
to feed the gaping and constantly complaining occupant. Even 
when the young Cuckoo has outgrown the. rest, and is strong 
enough to fly about, he is still attended by his foster parents. If 
a bird is put into the nest that is too large for it to eject, or if the 
nest is in a hollow it kills it by treading on it, or sometimes after a 
time of great uneasiness allows it to remain. But after the first 
few days of its life it does not mind an intruder. If two Cuckoos 
are hatched in the same nest, there is ‘‘ war to the knife’’ until the 
weaker one is ejected. The reverse side of all this murderous 
selfishness is seen in the love and attention of the foster parents 
for their unnatural adopted child. Wrens, Robins, and Titlarks 
devote thomselves to satisfy its enormous appetite. The Cuckoo 
makes its winter home at the Cape of Good Hope, travelling by 
the Nile valley and HK. African coast. 
I read a strange fact about some brilliantly coloured birds found 
in Africa—the Plaintain Eaters; their primaries are a beautiful 
red, and in a violent shower in the rainy season the whole of the 
brilliant red colour is washed out, and the quills become pinky white, 
but after two or three days the colour is renewed, and the wings 
resume their former beauty. 
I shall not say much about Woodpeckers, except to call your 
attention to these pictures, which, I believe, are fairly true, and to 
the fact that they are typical climbing birds, helped by their long 
toes, arranged two in front and two behind, and by their stiffened 
tails. Ihave already called attention to their tongue, which has 
minute barbs at the end, and is covered with a sticky fluid ; but the 
mechanism by which it is suddenly thrown out and drawn back is a 
wonderful instance of special development for a special purpose, 
though rather too technical for this paper to-night. 
The Kingfisher is the most brilliantly coloured bird perhaps in 
