MOTHERLY TACTICS. 199 



very low but strange baby cry in some thick 

 bushes. It was a constant repetition of one 

 note, a gentle "tut, tut, tut." 



We were naturally eager to see the youngster, 

 and we carefully approached the spot. As we 

 came near, a cuckoo flew up, scrambled through 

 a tree, and disappeared. Could it be a cuckoo 

 baby we had heard? In an instant the fugitive 

 seemed to think better of her intention to fly. 

 Perhaps she was conscience-smitten for desert- 

 ing the little one, for she returned in plain 

 sight, though at some distance* She began at 

 once calling and posturing, clearly for our bene- 

 fit. We, of course, understood her tactics. She 

 wished to draw us away from the neighborhood 

 of her infant, and as it was impossible to pene- 

 etrate the thicket, and we did not enjoy tortur- 

 ing an anxious mother, we decided to yield to 

 her wishes, and see what she would do. 



She cried every moment, "tut, tut, tut," in 

 a low tone, and ten or twelve times repeated. 

 At the same time she lifted her long tail, and 

 slowly let it fall, with a beautiful and graceful 

 motion. She crouched on the branch, and put 

 her head down to it, then suddenly rose and 

 threw up her head and tail, making herself as 

 conspicuous and as remarkable as she could. 

 We moved a little toward her. That encouraged 

 her to go on; and easily, in a sort of careless, 



