142 BIRDS OF THE PASTURE AND FOREST. 



it would seem that the last-laid eggs were hatched by 

 the involuntary brooding of the young which had not 

 left the nest. Dr. Brewer has "repeatedly found in a 

 nest three young and two eggs, one of the latter nearly 

 fresh, one with the embryo half developed, while of the 

 young birds, one would be just out of the shell, one half 

 fledged, and one just ready to fly. Subsequent obser- 

 vations in successive seasons led to the conviction that 

 both the Yellow-billed and the Black-billed Cuckoo share 

 in these peculiarities, and that it is a general but not 

 universal practice.'' 



Dr. Brewer mentions an interesting fact that evinces 

 the strong attachment of the Cuckoo to its offspring. 

 Speaking of the Black-billed Cuckoo, he says : " Both 

 parents are assiduous in the duties of incubation and in 

 supplying food to each other and their offspring. In one 

 instance where the female had been shot by a thoughtless 

 boy, as she flew from the nest, the male bird successfully 

 devoted himself to the solitary duty of rearing the brood 

 of five. At the time of the death of the female, the nest 

 contained two eggs and three young birds. The writer 

 was present when the bird was shot, and was unable to 

 interfere in season to prevent it. Returning to the spot 

 not long afterwards, he found the widowed male sitting 

 upon the nest, and so unwilling to leave it as almost to 

 permit himself to be captured by the hand. His fidelity 

 and his entreaties were not disregarded. This nest, eggs, 

 and young were left undisturbed ; and as they were visited 

 from time to time, the young nestlings were found to 

 thrive under his vigilant care. The eggs were hatched 

 out, and in time the whole five were reared in safety." 



The Cuckoo is an early visitor. His voice is often 

 heard before the first of May, proclaiming that " the spring 

 is coming in," like his congener in England, who has 

 always been regarded as the harbinger of that season. 



