Cuckoos and Swallows. 19 



own ? How do they find mates ? 

 Why do they doom their own off- 

 spring to the fate that must at best 

 be sad and cheerless ? 



These questionings come from 

 our point of view, of course. I 

 don't suppose the Cuckoo is really 

 less happy than are other birds; 

 but we cannot help judging by our 

 own standards, and must always 

 patch human ideas on to the crea- 

 tures' experiences. 



We love the Swallows for their 

 friendly trust, for their care of their 

 young ones, for their love for 

 their old home. And we cannot 

 withhold a righteous disapproval of 

 some of the Cuckoo's ugly ways. 

 [For we call them ugly being too 

 ignorant, even the wisest of us, to 

 understand the needs-be and the 

 reason in the puzzles of the world.] 



As the dear old sound of the 

 Cuckoo-call comes down the fresh 

 and fragrant air, as the bright wings 



