The Early Life of the Young Cuckoo. 9 



struggle was witnessed. Sometimes the birds put 

 their bills and heads against the opposite side of 

 the nest when commencing to climb, to get more 

 pressure. Several times the top bird tumbled over 

 the head of the other, like a rider falling over the 

 head of a horse. The birds, being somewhat ex- 

 hausted, had a short rest, but they soon became ex- 

 tremely restless and again commenced the struggle. 

 It was unfortunate that although snap-shots were 

 taken of these avine battles they all proved useless. 

 The following day, (June 10), one of the Cuckoos 

 was again found outside the nest. It was placed 

 back again, when the Cuckoo in possession of the 

 nest began to hoist the other on its back and climb- 

 ed up the side of the nest backwards and threw it 

 out of the nest, which it had little difficulty in do- 

 ing as the one found outside the nest had become 

 weak through want of food. After this the weak 

 bird was placed in the nest to give it a chance to 

 recover, and the stronger one was taken away for 

 about an hour. On returning, the bird was put 

 back into the nest again, whereupon the weak bird 

 made several attempts to eject its stronger compan- 

 ion, but without effect, as it was far too weak. It 



