OF SELBORNE 225 



cnckoo hatched in the nest of a tit-lark : 

 it was become vastly too big for its nest, 

 appearing 



■ in texiui re 



Majores pennas nido extendisse 



and was very fierce and pugnacious, pur- 

 suing my finger, as I teased it, for many 

 feet from the nest, and sparring and bufiet- 

 ting with its wings like a game-cock. The 

 dupe of a dam appeared at a distance, 

 hovering about with meat in its mouth, and 

 expressing the greatest solicitude. 



In July I saw several cuckoos skimming 

 over a large pond ; and found, after some 

 observation, that they were feeding on the 

 libellulfB, or dragon-Jiies ; some of which 

 they caught as they settled on the weeds, 

 and some as they were on the wing. Not- 

 withstanding what LinncBus says, I canno t 

 be induced to believe that they are birds of 

 prey. 



This district affords some birds that are 

 hardly ever heard of at Selborne, In the 

 first place considerable flocks of crossheaks 



VOL. I. Q 



