THE CUCKOO 119 



paring information before an adequate history of the 

 instinct can be related. 



Our Cuckoo is said to be unable from its size to sit 

 upon the nests in which its eggs are commonly laid, 

 and therefore unable to lay in the usual fashion. 

 Several witnesses, apparently trustworthy, are quoted 

 as having seen the Cuckoo carry her egg in her bill. 

 One observer watched a Cuckoo through a telescope, 

 saw her lay her egg on a bank, and then carry it in 

 her bill to a Wagtail's nest. 1 Dr.. Rey quotes a 

 case of a Cuckoo's egg smeared with red earth 

 similar to that which covered the ground about the 

 nest. 



It has been repeatedly said that it is the female 

 Cuckoo or the Birds to whom the nest belongs, which 

 turn out the nestlings. 2 Jenner's narrative, which is 

 very explicit, has however been confirmed by sub- 

 sequent observers, and appears to be entitled to full 

 credit. Montagu saw a young Cuckoo repeatedly 

 throw out a young Swallow put into the nest for the 

 purpose of experiment. Blackwall saw a nestling 

 Cuckoo turn both young Birds and eggs out of the 

 nest in which he had placed them for the purpose. 

 Mrs. Blackburn made a clever drawing of a young 



1 This and other cases are given in Newton's Dictionary of 

 Birds, which contains much curious information respecting the 

 habits of the Cuckoo. 



2 It is strongly maintained by X. Raspail in a recent paper 

 (Mem. Soc. ZooL de France, 1895) that the hen Cuckoo watches 

 the process of hatching, and as soon as the chicks begin to free 

 themselves, destroys the eggs with her beak. She throws the 

 eggs or the young Birds out of the nest as soon as her own egg 

 is hatched. 



