SINGING BIRDS. 145 



been related of a bird in the Brazils, or Peru, it 

 would never have merited our belief. But yet 

 should it further appear that this simple bird, when 

 divested of that natural oropy?) that seems to raise 

 the kind in general above themselves, and inspire 

 them with extraordinary degrees of cunning and 

 address, may be still endued with a more enlarged 

 faculty of discerning what species are suitable and 

 congenerous nursing-mothers for its disregarded 

 eggs and young, and may deposit them only under 

 their care, this would be adding wonder to wonder, 

 and instancing, in a fresh manner, that the methods 

 of Providence are not subjected to any mode or 

 rule, but astonish us in new lights, and in various 

 and changeable appearances. 



What was said by a very ancient and sublime 

 writer, concerning the defect of natural affection in 

 the ostrich, may be well applied to the bird we are 

 talking of : 



" She is hardened against her young ones, as 

 though they were not hers : 



" Because God hath deprived her of wisdom ; 

 neither hath he imparted to her understanding V 



Query. Does each female cuckoo lay but one 

 egg in a season, or does she drop several in 

 different nests, according as opportunity offers ? 



V. 



I HEARD many birds of several species sing last 

 year after Midsummer ; enough to prove that the 

 summer solstice is not the period that puts a stop 

 to the music of the woods. The yellow-hammer, 

 no doubt, persists with more steadiness than any 

 other ; but the woodlark, the wren, the red-breast, 



1 Job xxxix. 16, 17. 



L 



