103 [Vol. x\v. 



birds standing in various attitudes and in different 

 positions on the rim of the nest, and panting des- 

 perately for air on a very hot day. 



32. Summary of the history of this nest, showing that 



the first egg was laid on the 12th of July, and that 

 the young birds left the nest on the 6th of August. 

 Period, 26 days. 



33. Nest of Reed- Warbler in willow and containing a 



young Cuckoo about 8 days old. 

 34 & 35. The same, a week later ; the Cuckoo being much 



too big for the nest. 

 36 & 37. Young Cuckoo perched on a willow-branch after 



leaving the nest. 



38. Young Cuckoo on a willow-branch : Reed- Warbler 



approaching. 



39. Young Cuckoo about to fly from a branch in response 



to the calls of the foster-mother. 

 40 & 41 . Young Cuckoo on a twig near the top of a bush : 

 Reed- Warbler feeding it. 



42. Reed- Warbler with its head quite engulfed in the gape 



of the Cuckoo, and thrusting food down its throat. 



43. Reed-Warbler gazing at its nursling after having 



fed it. 



III. Stome-Curlew, or Thick-knee. (CEdicnemus oedicne- 



mus.) 



1. Nest with two eggs in a fallow-field overgrown with 



dandelions. 

 2 & 3. Bird approaching its nest. 



4. " A look of melting tenderness." (One chick hatched 



out.) 



5. Bird examining the contents of the nest before com- 



mencing to sit down. 



6. Bird beginning to settle down : under feathers 



erected. 



7. Bird shuffling the eggs underneath her. 

 S. Having settled down. 



