40 -WILD LII-K IN CHINA. 



the dark. Then again, the migratory mxstery arises. The 

 parent birds have gone in July. The young remain till late 

 in August, or September. I shot one once in this province 

 in October. How do they know that they have to go south? 

 Who informs them. How do they know which way to go? 

 The answer usually lies in that blessed word "Instinct." 

 which in this case is synonymous with "Human Ignorance." 

 Once more, we cannot tell. Once again, we have to acknow- 

 ledge ourselves in the presence of a mystery. It stimulates 

 our interest immensely, and perhaps by and by there will be 

 no mystery at all. Nature will havegiven up the secret she has 

 so jealously guarded allthistime, but till she does this man's 

 interest in the cuckoo will continue. He may be the most im- 

 moral, the most unfeeling and in man>- wa>s the most un- 

 worthy of our respect, but till we have unravelled his secret 

 he is sure of our regard. 



