528 Rev. C. Wolley-Dod — Cuckoo and Swallow 



ejectment by the closeness of the iron roof to the top of the 

 nest, but when they were changed to the Blackbird's nest, 

 and it was placed farther away from the eaves, there was 

 plenty of head-room. However, from first to last the Cuckoo 

 showed no hostility to the little Swallow, though it several 

 times pecked at the parents whilst feeding their own baby. 



On the 3rd of July the Cuckoo left the- nest and sat in 

 the dark angle behind it. I could now watch the old birds feed 

 both the young ones, and they were beginning to be more 

 attentive to their own. The Cuckoo remained out all that 

 day — greatly, no doubt, to the relief of his companion — but the 

 next morning wa'^ in the nest again. He was now nearly full- 

 grown and full-fledged, and, fearing he would trample the 

 Swallow to death, I put it into the original nest, which I put 

 back to nearly its original place, so as to be safe from the 

 invasion of the Cuckoo. This time, so far from neglecting it, 

 the old birds found it and fed it at once ; it competed with 

 its companion for their attention, twittering whenever they 

 came with food, whilst the Cuckoo had for some days begun 

 his querulous little squeaking chirp, which was now almost 

 incessant. 



About 4 in the afternoon of July 5th the Cuckoo, which 

 had been in and out of the nest several times, stejaped upon 

 one of the props which I had put to support the nest and 

 overbalanced it. The prop fell to the ground with a great 

 rattle, but the Cuckoo, with much fluttering, recovered him- 

 self. The old birds, both of whom were present, at once 

 showed signs of the wildest alarm; they flew round and 

 round, in and out of the shed, screaming, and dashing at the 

 Cuckoo, whom, I believe they no longer recognized as the 

 nestling they had reared, but took for a Hawk which had 

 just made away with one of their young ones. Anyhow, 

 they fed him no more, but avoided him and approached 

 their own chick by a circuitous route. The Cuckoo now 

 flew from one part of the shed to another, continuing his 

 squeaking note, but the Swallows avoided him, or only made 

 threatening dashes at him. Next morning he was sitting 

 on a fruit-tree outside the shed ; but still the Swallows. 



