A BUZZARD NURSE. 359 



which it was nailed, and which projected about 

 eight inches above the rail. The red-warbler 

 soon returned with more food, and alighted close 

 to the cuckoo, but on the rail beneath him. She 

 then began to stretch herself to the utmost to 

 give him the food, but was unable to reach the 

 cuckoo's mouth, who like a simpleton threw his 

 head back, with his mouth wide open as before. 

 The red-warbler, by no means at a loss, perched 

 upon the cuckoo's broad back, who, still holding- 

 back his head, received in this singular way the 

 morsel brought him." * 



It cannot be doubted, that to the foster-parent 

 her strange charge is as dear as if it were in 

 reality her own; neither may we question the 

 fact, that the task of supplying it with food is as 

 pleasant to the parent as to the young fosterling. 

 Mr. Yarrell relates a remarkable account of the 

 common buzzard, which admirably illustrates these 

 facts. A few years ago a female buzzard, kept in 

 the garden of the Chequers Inn at Uxbridge, 

 showed an inclination to sit, by collecting and 

 bending all the loose sticks she could obtain 

 possession of. Her owner, noticing her actions, 

 * Zoologist, vol. i. p. 99. 



