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NATURAL HISTORY. 



stretching its wings apart and backwards, it elbowed the Pipit fairly over the margin so far that its 

 struggles took it down the bank instead of back into the nest. After this the Cuckoo stood a minute 

 or two, feeling back with its wings, as if to make sure that the Pipit was fairly overboard, and 

 then subsided into the bottom of the nest. As it was getting late, and the Cuckoo did not imme- 

 diately set to work on the other nestling, I replaced the ejected one and went home. On returning 

 next day, both nestlings were found dead and cold out of the nest. I replaced one of them, but 

 the Cuckoo made no effort to get under it and eject it, but seated itself contentedly on the top of it. 

 All this I find accords accurately with Jenner's description of what he saw. But what struck me 

 most was this : the Cuckoo was perfectly naked, without the vestige of a feather, or even a 

 hint of fxiture feathers ; its eyes were not yet opened, and its neck seemed too weak to support 



COMMON CUCKOO. 



the weight of its head. The Pipits had well-developed quills on the wings and back, and had bright 

 eyes, partially open ; yet they seemed quite helpless under the manipulations of the Cuckoo, which 

 looked a much less developed creature. The Cuckoo's legs, however, seemed very muscular, and it 

 appeared to feel about with its wings, which were absolutely featherless, as with hands ; the spurious 

 wing (unusually large in proportion) looked like a spread-out thumb. The most singular thing of all 

 was the direct purpose with which the blind little monster made for the open side of the nest, the only 

 part where it could throw its burden down the bank. I think all the spectators felt the sort of horror 

 and awe at the apparent inadequacy of the creature's intelligence to its acts that one might have felt 

 at seeing a toothless hag raise a ghost by an incantation. It was horribly 'uncanny' and 

 ' gruesome ! ' ' 



The above account of Mrs. Blackburn's graphically describes the ejection of its foster-brothers 

 and sisters by the nestling Cuckoo ; and this brings us to the next part of the subject, viz., the breeding 

 habits of this curious bird. As is well known of the hen bird, it never makes its own nest, but it is 

 believed that during its stay in Europe it lays altogether about eight eggs, all of which are deposited 



