72 A YOUNG CUCKOO 



the theory of assimilation by Natural Selection it 

 will set a division between the discriminating powers 

 of one group of foster-parents and those of another 

 group which any field-naturalist, knowing the birds 

 themselves, will declare to be unproven. 



In order that it may be seen upon what ground I 

 to a large extent base my conclusions, I append 

 Tables of Analyses of the seventy-six examples 

 mentioned above. 



I visited the Cuckoo frequently, always to find the 

 Meadow-pipits in attendance with food, the male bird 

 varying his services by mounting to express his feel- 

 ings upon the situation in strangely inappropriate song. 



Upon going to the spot one morning, I found that 

 the bird had left the flattened nest, and taken refuge 

 from the heat of the sun in a cavity in the earth 

 beside it. I drew it forth, and setting its feet aright, 

 found that it perched docilely upon my finger. 

 Surprised at this manifestation of confidence, I 

 essayed further intimacy, to find that the demon in 

 the bird slumbered only, but had not departed out 

 of it. Upon the slightest movement on my part, it 

 gripped the finger upon which it was perched, 

 raised itself in the old laboursome manner, and with 

 feathers puffed out and parted bill, prepared to meet 

 attack. The movement subsiding, the bird also 

 subsided, sitting quietly upon my hand. Holding it 

 thus, and seeing the placid manner in which it 

 observed small things that offered no offence, I 

 could not but feel that this strange rage that lay 

 smouldering in it, ready to blaze out upon so slight 

 provocation, was as something separate from it an 

 infirmity laid upon a creature otherwise gentle and 



