68 ON THE DATE AND ORIGIN 
enticed away from its foster-parents. One or two analogous cases, of 
which I had been informed previously, I was disposed to consider 
as fabulous. 
When taken from the nest and caged, this bird displays the ut- 
most unwillingness to pick up its food, even for months after it 
would have been necessitated to shift for itself in a state of nature. 
In this it further resembles the Moth-hunter; and I may remark 
that that species, also, collects no sort of nest, although it incubates 
its own progeny. The Cuckoo is with difficulty kept through the 
first winter, generally sickening about February, if not before ; but 
is more likely to do well after it has moulted. ‘Several persons of 
my acquaintance,” remarks Montbeillard, “have reared and tamed 
them. They feed them on minced meat, either dressed or raw, in- 
sects, eggs, soaked bread, and fruit. One of these tamed Cuckoos 
knew its master, came at his call, followed him to the chace, even 
perched on his gun, and if it found a cherry-tree in its way it would 
fly to it, and not return till it had eaten plentifully ; sometimes it 
would not return to its master for a whole day, but followed him at 
a distance, flying from tree to tree.” It is very susceptible of cold, 
requiring particular care in winter ; and it evinces the migrative 
impulse very forcibly. In general, it is a voracious and savage bird 
in confinement, and not to be recommended to those who are fond 
of pets: it will be a curiosity rather than a favourite. It is a trou- 
blesome species to supply with proper nourishment, and one which 
the naturalist only can observe with interest. 
ON THE DATE AND ORIGIN OF THE PHONETIC 
ALPHABET. 
By G. M. Mason, M.A. 
Our knowledge of remote antiquity is derived from two sources, 
tradition and letters. The credit due to tradition is encumbered 
with the difficulty’ of communicating facts correctly from one man 
1 A magistrate who daily observes the conffjcting evidence of eye wit- 
nesses to the same and most simple facts, where neither passion or interest is 
concerned, will appreciate the force of this remark: where testimony is in- 
