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'The hedge-fpar row's nefb muft be found with the proper ego;s 

 in it, which mould be deftroyed by the cuckow, at the time fhe 

 introduces her fingle egg ? . Ariftotle afferti this to be the fad ; 

 but Pliny fays, all the eggs are hatched. 



The neft mould then he examined, at a proper diftance, from 

 day to day, during the hedge-fparrow' s incubation, as alfo the 

 motions of the fofter-parent attended to, particularly in feeding 

 the young cuckow, till it is able to (liift for itfelf h . 



As I have little doubt that the laft-mentioned circumftanee will 

 appear decifive to many, without the others which I have required, 

 it may be proper to ftate my reafons, why I cannot confider it alone 

 as fufficient ; though Willoughby gives it as his chief argument 

 for believing the popular notion. 



There is fomething in the cry of a neftling for food, which af- 

 fects all kinds of birds, almoit as much as that of an infant, for 

 the fame purpofe, excites the compaffion of every human 

 hearer. 



I have taken four young ones from a hen (kylark, and placed in 

 their room five nefiling nightingales, as well as five wrens, the ' 

 greater part of which were reared by the fofter parent '. 



s I could alfo wifh that the following experiment was tried. When a 

 hedge-fparrow hath laid all her eggs, a fingle one of any other bird, as 

 large as a cuckow, might be introduced, after which if either the neft 

 was deferred, or the egg too large to be hatched, it would afford a ftrong 

 prefumption againft this general opinion : and would alfo mew whether 

 the cuckow throws out the five eggs of the hedge-fparrow, and whether 

 the fingle cuckow egg is depofited upon removing the firft or all of them ? 



b A notion prevails in many parts, that the hedge-fparrow is at laft 

 fwallowed by the cuckow. 



' l I am perfuaded that a cuckow is oftener an orphan than any other 

 nefiling, becaufe, from the curiofity which prevails with regard to this 

 .birdj the parents are eternally fhot. 



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