334 THE LIFE OF A BIRD. 



ing it firmly by the side of my bed on the evening 

 of the same day on which it was procured, very 

 early on the morning of the 1st of July, when all 

 was still, I carefully introduced into it eggs of 

 different kinds in the first instance, and afterwards 

 young birds previously selected for the purpose, 

 and had the satisfaction of contemplating at leisure 

 the entire process of their ejection, so minutely and 

 accurately described by Dr. Jenner. These asto- 

 nishing feats, it will be perceived, were accomplished 

 by the nestling cuckoo when it was only three 

 days old, and consequently before it had the use 

 of its eyes. It died soon after, and, to me, who 

 witnessed its exploits, it is an object of much 

 interest, being preserved in spirits of wine to 

 the present time." This bad conduct on the part 

 of the cuckoo toward its feeble little fellow- 

 nestlings can 'only be justified on the plea of 

 instinct. The blind bird has probably no animo- 

 sity in the world against the poor young ones 

 which it mercilessly turns out of their home to 

 perish at the foot of the nest. The American 

 cow pen- bird, when young, does not appear to have 

 the same impulse, and has already been noticed as 

 being brought up in amity with the little birds 



