168 THE STORY OF BIKD-LIFE. 



of habits so extraordinary is a natural one. If 

 we take into consideration the habits of the adult, 

 the nature of its food, and the proportion of the 

 sexes, we shall have the first clue to the mystery. 



All these seem to combine in favour of a 

 degraded habit of life. They are the factors at 

 work in the making of our avian criminals. 

 The bird by disposition has been described as a 

 "discontented, ill-conditioned, passionate, in 

 short, decidedly unamiable bird," The note 

 itself, and the manner in which it is emitted, 

 are typical of the bird's habits and character. 

 Abruptness, insatiability, eagerness and rage, 

 are noticeable in its whole conduct. " These 

 birds verify in many ways the old myth that 

 they are sparrow-hawks in disguise. The 

 parasitic habit is consonant with their general 

 character." 



There is "too much hunger and gluttony," 

 write Messrs Geddes and Thompson, ^'for the 

 higher development of love." 



Our common cuckoo is not the only offender, 

 for one of the cuckoos of South Europe and 

 North Africa selects the nests of magpies and 

 crows to serve as nurseries for its young. The 

 eggs of this cuckoo are said to resemble those of 

 the crows and magpies so closely as to make it 

 difficult even for the expert egg-collector to dis- 

 tinguish between them. 



The cow-birds of North and South America 

 are parasitic in the same way. The habit is 

 probably due to the same causes. Innutritious 

 food and predominance of males, resulting in 

 polyandry. These birds have a habit of pecking 



