l86 Darwin and Romanes dealt witli. 



would not be worth a moment's attention — not to say 

 analysis and counter-argument. We said at the out- 

 set of this section that Mr. Darwin found the cuckoo 

 one of the most difficult creatures he had to tackle ; 

 and we think we have proved it, and deserve the 

 prize Mr. Darwin and Mr. Romanes were prepared 

 to give to the man that would present a case where 

 the instinct of one species is unquestionably proved 

 to be of exclusive use to a species other than the one 

 presenting it. But sometimes people are not grateful 

 for having their demands supplied. We look for no 

 reward, beyond the gratification of having done the 

 work. Most assuredly this instinct is not in favour 

 of the hedge-sparrow, wagtail, meadow-pipit, etc., 

 etc., while it is as certainly in favour of the cuckoo. 

 Mr. Romanes refers to cases " w^here a structure or 

 an instinct is of primary benefit to its possessor, and 

 then becomes of secondary benefit to some other 

 species, on account of the latter being able in some 

 way or other to utilise its action." But this most 

 certainly cannot apply to the cuckoo and her victims 

 — the primary and secondary benefit as well is all the 

 cuckoo's, and benefit is ;/// for the victimised little 

 birds, in the sense of use or benefit Mr. Darwin and 

 Mr. Romanes can intend or imply ; and I shall look 

 most eagerly for the explanations and glosses their 

 friends, followers, apologists, and defenders will be 

 able to put on this fact. I do trust they will be more 

 scientific than poor Mr. Romanes' effort — wonderful 

 effort of ingenuity — to account for no counter-instinct 

 being implanted by Nature in the little birds, as 

 against the cuckoo, because the deposition of a 

 cuckoo's egg was " comparatively so exceedingly rare 



