Observations on the Cuckoo. 451 
they stay here till they become nearly equal in 
size, and growth of plumage, to old ones, yet 
in this very state, the care of their foster 
parents is not withdrawn fromthem. If they 
did not go off in succession, it is probable 
that we should see them in large numbers by 
the middle of August; for as they are to be 
found in great plenty, when in a nestling 
- state, they must then appear very numerous, 
since all of them must have quitted the nest 
before that time; but this is not the case, for 
they are not more numerous at any season, 
than the parent birds are in the months of 
May and June. 
Such are the most important particulars 
which have resulted from Mr. Jenner’s well 
conducted inquiry, and to the accuracy of the 
greater part of them I can unite my testi- 
mony with that of others, though, in a few 
instances, our opinions do not entirely coin- 
cide. 
Mr. Jenner states, that cuckoos continue 
to lay regularly from the exclusion of the 
first egg to the time of their departure, and 
supposes that they are enabled to do so by 
intrusting the care of their progeny to stran- 
gers; being placed by this circumstance, he 
observes, in a similar situation to the bird 
whose nest is daily robbed of an egg. Now 
