174 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



was also missing ; probably it had been turned out of the nest by one 

 of the young Cuckoos and carried away by the parents. 



The two young Cuckoos appeared at first to be quite happy to- 

 gether, but a struggle of extraordinary violence was soon commenced 

 between the two birds. What was apparently the stronger bird of the 

 two got what was evidently the weakest on its back and strained every 

 muscle to hoist it to the top of the nest, while the other was holding 

 on to the nest with its claws for all it was worth. 



After a severe struggle they both became exhausted, and went to 

 the bottom of the nest, but after a short respite the battle was again 

 commenced time after time, each bird fighting for dear life. 



On visiting the nest the following day (June 9th one of the Cuckoos 

 was found outside the nest. Before putting it in again a young Pipit 

 was secured and put in the nest. The Cuckoo hoisted it again and 

 again on its back, and climbed up the side of the nest backwards with 

 it, but the Pipit always got jammed near the top. 



The other Cuckoo was then put in again, and a desperate struggle 

 was witnessed. Sometimes the birds put their bills and heads against 

 the opposite side of the nest when commencing to climb to get more 

 pressure. Several times the top bird tumbled over the head of the 

 other like a rider falling over the head of a horse. 



The birds being somewhat exhausted, had a short rest, but they 

 soon became extremely restless and again commenced the struggle. 



It was unfortunate that although snapshots were taken of these 

 avine battles they all proved useless. 



The following day (June 10th) one of the Cuckoos was again found 

 outside the nest. It was placed back again, when the Cuckoo in 

 possession of the nest began to hoist the other on its back and climbed 

 up the side of the nest backwards and threw it out of the nest, which 

 it had little difficulty in doing, as the one found outside the nest had 

 become so weak through want of food. 



After this the weak bird was placed in the nest to give it a chance 

 to recover, and the stronger one was taken away for about an hour. 

 On returning the bird was put back into the nest again, whereupon 

 the weak bird made several attempts to eject its stronger companion, 

 but without effect, as it was far too weak 



It then acted on the defensive by lying in a canted position 

 by keeping the side that was next its opponent downward, one of 



