TOLERATION IN A CUCKOO 193 



An allied but less brilliant species, one of the 

 Bronze Cuckoos (C. cupreus), also African, is parasitic 

 on such different small birds as Sun-birds and 

 Finches ; a similar species, the Shining Cuckoo 

 (C. lucidus) of New Zealand, generally lays its egg 

 in the nest of the small Grey Warbler (Gerygone 

 flaviventris), which makes a pensile nest with side 

 entrance. This same little bird is parasitized by 

 the other New Zealand Cuckoo (Urodynamis 

 taitensis), which is larger than our Cuckoo, while 

 the Shining Cuckoo is much smaller. 



This large New Zealand Cuckoo, however, has 

 also been found in the nest of the Wood-Robin 

 (Miro albifrons), and it was particularly noted that 

 although it throve well, and ultimately sat on top 

 of the young Robins, these also lived, and when 

 the young Cuckoo and a young Robin were removed 

 and caged, the old Robins fed both of them. When 

 a nest of the Grey Warbler containing a young 

 Shining Cuckoo was watched in the same country, 

 however, it was noticed that the young Warblers, 

 although not immediately at all events ejected by 

 their bedfellow, nevertheless died off one by one, 

 and some were found outside. 



The large New Zealand Cuckoo is extending its 

 parasitism to the introduced British birds, and also 

 preys on their young, as it did on those of the 

 native birds, and their eggs, when first studied ; 

 these predatory habits make it less surprising that 

 our Cuckoo should be credited with eating some 

 of the eggs of the foster-parents in whose nests 

 13 



