226 The World-Evidence. 



the Canadian Institute for 1890, Dr. C. K. Clarke, of 

 Kingston, Ontario, brings forward three cases of para- 

 sitism in the black-billed cuckoo, observed by himself, 

 of the correctness of which there can be no doubt. 

 The first birds Dr. Clarke observed being imposed 

 upon were a pair of chipping sparrows, who raised the 

 young cuckoo at the expense of the family. 



" Next came a pair of yellow warblers, whose 

 protege soon crowded out the legitimate occupants of 

 the nest. They were raised from the ground and 

 placed within reach, but the big boy required all the 

 attention of the foster-parents and the others died. 

 During the whole period the old cuckoo was always 

 to be found flitting about in a restless manner, as if 

 she had some doubt in regard to the ability of the 

 warblers to take care of her child. 



" The third case was another pair of chipping 

 sparrows, in whose nest the cuckoo was observed 

 sitting, and from which she did not move till the 

 observers almost touched her. The result was the 

 same as in the other cases. The young cuckoo threw 

 the sparrows out as soon as he had the strength to do 

 so.'"'' 



* Page 241. Birds of Ontario. 1894. This took place in 

 1890, Dr. Bowdler Sharpe's handbook was not issued till 1896. 

 There he speaks of the black-billed cuckoo and yellow-billed 

 cuckoos rearing their own young, and as being both " most affec- 

 tionate parents " (!) How close the analogies between men and 

 animals — even birds ! In opposition to the views of earlier 

 anthropologists, it is now found — inevitably found — that, with 

 savage races, the practices of infanticide and exposure, only inten- 

 sify the aftection of the parents for those that are kept alive, so it 

 may be, that the American cuckoos are the more "affectionate 

 parents " to those they rear in the ratio of the numbers they 

 have exposed — in other birds' nests. 



