THE YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO 



knew the others would go the following day. I arrived at 

 the lease at nine o'clock on the morning of the first of August, 

 1901, and made my first study of the series reproducing the evo- 

 lution of the Cuckoo. Not a shield had opened on the baby, but 

 on the elder a few were breaking across the back of the head and 

 over the breast. 



At three o'clock that afternoon only two or three shields 

 around each eye were left on the elder, while the baby was almost 

 feathered. Both of them were clambering around on the edge 

 of the nest, but settled down into it that night and were sheltered 

 by the mother. At nine o'clock on the morning of the second 

 not a shield was to be seen on the elder, and only a few small ones 

 around the eyes of the baby. 



At this point in their careers they climbed all over me and 

 the thorn -tree, ate the egg, and posed until I was out of plates. 

 They were the softest of plumage and the sweetest of disposition 

 of any young birds I ever had handled. They had no sense of 

 fear and made no effort to fly. They did not even stand up, lift 

 their wings and try them, as do so many young birds. Bob said : 

 "Well, aren't they 'most too good to be true?" And- they were. 

 I can not guarantee that they would be as good for everyone, but 

 if any natural-history devotee wishes to try, here is the receipt. 



Use plain common sense. Approach the nest slowly, and 

 when the young begin to cry, imitate them so that they will think 

 you a kindred thing. Always carry suitable food, and the in- 

 stant any baby opens his mouth, have ready your little paddle 

 well loaded with egg, quite moist, and drop the food carefully 

 into him. Then the others will follow suit. 



Feed them several times, with half an hour's wait between, 

 to get them accustomed to you. Take them first in the nest, 

 then if you want to scatter them a little, or to take a pair, hold 

 the food out of their reach and coax them to it. If they will not 



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