170 THRUSH AND CUCKOO. 



the Cuckoo, its companion, was obliged to be fed with a quill ; 

 in a short time, however, the Thrush took upon itself the task 

 of feeding its fellow-prisoner, and continued so to do with the 

 utmost care, bestowing every possible attention, and mani- 

 festing the greatest anxiety to satisfy its continual craving 

 for food.* 



The following is a still more extraordinary instance, corro- 

 borating the above, and for the truth of which we can vouch 

 in every particular. A young Thrush, just able to feed itself, 

 had been placed in a cage ; a short time afterwards a young 

 Cuckoo, which could not feed itself, was introduced into the 

 same cage, a large wicker one, and for some time it was with 

 much difficulty fed ; at length, however, it was observed that 

 the young Thrush was employed in feeding it, the Cuckoo 

 opening its mouth and sitting on the upper perch, and making 

 the Thrush hop down to fetch food up. One day, when it 

 was thus expecting its food in this way, the Thrush seeing a 

 worm put into the cage could not resist the temptation of 

 eating it, upon which the Cuckoo immediately descended from 

 its perch, and attacking the Thrush, literally tore one of its 

 eyes quite out, and then hopped back : the poor Thrush felt 

 itself obliged to take up some food in the lacerated state it 

 was in. The eye healed in course of time, and the Thrush con- 

 tinued its occupation as before, till the Cuckoo was full grown. 



The Fly-catchers form the third genus of the notch-billed 

 birds, and are very closely allied to the Shrikes. We have but 

 two species in our country ; and one of these, the Pied Fly- 

 catcher, is so rare as to be seldom seen, being only of local 

 distribution ; the other, however, known by the name of the 

 Beam-bird or spotted Fly-catcher, is common enough, building 

 very frequently upon the ends of beams, or rafters in garden- 

 houses, from whence it probably takes its name. They act 



* In dissecting a young Cuckoo, killed August 20, 1833, about twenty 

 full-grown caterpillars, of the peacock butterfly {Pap. lo), were found 

 undigested. The stomachs of these birds are remarkable for having a 

 coating of hair, which, when dried and turned inside out, looks very 

 similar, in colour, size, and form, to a mouse's head. 



