Instinct in the Flycatcher. 259 



to are too small for incubation by a cuckoo. It is not till after 

 the brood are advanced in growth that the nests are pressed 

 out beyond their original shape, and the rightful brood smothered 

 and cast out. Much has been said of the manner in which this 

 is effected, but it appears to be merely done from that instinct 

 to keep their nests clean which is common to all nestling birds, 

 and their brood are obliged to give way to the law of the strongest. 

 Some suppose that the cuckoo cannot build a nest ; others, that 

 its formation or habits are not suitable for incubation. The 

 Bishop of Norwich says on this subject : " Is it because, alone 

 of all the feathered race, it is without those affections in every 

 other species ?" Here is a small mistake, for Mr. James Wilson 

 mentions the cow-bunting of America, that leaves the care of 

 its eggs to other birds. 



Connected with this subject, Mr. Mudie observes : " The 

 cuckoos have, in common with many other birds that feed and 

 nidify in trees, a habit of jerking a twig of a neighbouring tree, 

 while of that which they hover on or enter not a leaf stirs." 

 What can this mean ? Does the bird get hold of a branch of 

 another tree that may happen to reach in among those of the 

 tree on which it enters ? If so, it is curious indeed. 



The time is come for the cuckoo's arrival among us ; and I 

 shall be glad if these remarks lead others to make further en- 

 quiry into its habits. 



Cossey Gardens, April 27. 1842. 



Art. VI. Remarkable Instance of Instinct in the Flycatcher. By 

 John Dunlop. 



In the month of August, 1841, the following remarkable in- 

 stance of the natural instinct, or reason, possessed by birds, 

 came under my observation. I had for some days observed a 

 pair of flycatchers feeding their young, which were generally 

 perched upon the dead bough of a Crataegus Oxyacantha. 

 Their attachment to this branch induced me to examine it, 

 when, to my astonishment, I found upwards of a dozen of 

 Bombus terrestris thrust upon the spines as securely as if done 

 by the hand of man. Some were living, others were dead and 

 partly devoured, which solved the mystery. I carefully removed 

 the bees, on purpose to watch the process of the birds in 

 placing them there, and I soon had the satisfaction of seeing them 

 catch them upon the wing, carry them direct to the branch, 

 and thrust them upon the spines in the manner described. 

 What was still more singular is, that the spines were forced 

 through the most vital part, as you will see by the specimens I 

 have sent you. The shyness of the birds put it out of my power 



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