232 OUR SUMMER MIGRANTS. 



it to its origin. It was known to the ancients 

 that the Cuckoo leaves its eggs to be hatched by 

 other birds, but they mingled fact with fable, 

 believing, or at all events asserting, that the 

 young Cuckoo devoured not only its foster 

 brothers and sisters, but ultimately its foster 

 parents. Hence the expression which Shake- 

 speare put into the mouth of the Earl of Wor- 

 cester to the effect that the youngster 



" Grew by our feeding to so great a bulk 



That even our love durst not come near his sight 



For fear of swallowing." — Henry IV. act v. sc. i. 



But though SO time-worn is the tale as to be 

 very generally believed, it is singular how few 

 writers have attempted to show a foundation for 

 it from their own observations. So scattered, 

 indeed, is the evidence on the subject, that many 

 naturalists of the present day still hesitate to 

 believe the story, pronouncing the alleged fea^t 

 of strength on the part of the young Cuckoo to 

 be " a physical impossibility." 



Although my present purpose is to direct 

 attention to the latest observations upon this 

 vexed question which have come to us with 



