THECUCROO. T1 



with feathers. The curious part of this bird's history if 

 the fact that the female does not build a nest, but lays hei 

 eggs in that of another bird, generally the spaiTow. 



The American Cuckoo, or Cow-bird, is quite different 

 iu its habits from the European Cuckoo, as it builds a nesri 

 for its eggs, and hat<jhes its young itself, like other birds. 



On the 18th June, 1787, Dr. Jenner examined a nest of 

 a hedge-sparrow, which then contained a Cuckoo's and three 

 hedge-sparrow's eggs. On inspecting it the day following, 

 the bird had hatched ; but the nest then contained only a 

 young Cuckoo and one young hedge-sparrow. The nest 

 was placed so near the extremity of a hedge, that he could 

 distinctly see what was going forward in it; and, to his 

 great astonishment, he saw the young Cuckoo, though so 

 lately hatched, in the act of turning out the young hedgo- 

 sparrow. 



The mode of accomplishing this was curious : the little 

 animal, with the assistance of its rump and wings, contrived 

 to get the bird upon its back, and making a lodgment for 

 its burden by elevating its elbows, climbed backward with 

 it up the side of the nest, till it reached the top ; where, 

 resting for a moment, it threw off its load with a jerk, and 

 quite disengaged it ftom the nest. After remaining a short 

 time in this situation, and feeling about with the extremities 

 of its wings, as if to be convinced that the business was pro- 

 perly executed, it dropped into the nest again. 



D^. Jenner made several experiments in different nestSi 



