A72 Observations on the Cuckoo. 
proof, it follows, that the notion of the 
peculiarities of this extraordinary bird being 
acquired must be relinquished as quite un- 
tenable. 
T am unwilling to trespass further on the 
patience of the Society, or I might indulge 
in numerous interesting reflections that na- 
turally arise out of the subject before me. I 
must, however, be allowed to observe, in 
conclusion, that the history of the cuckoo, 
by the evident marks of design which it dis- 
plays in the admirable adaption of means to 
ends, affords a most convincing proof of the 
existence of a “ Great First Cause,”’ the mys- 
terious source of all that is good and beaa- 
tiful in nature. 
