[ 2 55 ] 



" The Rev. Mr. Stafford was walking in Bloflbp-dale p , and 

 " faw a cuckow rife from its nett, which was on the ftump of 

 " a tree that had been fome time felled, fo as to refemble the 

 " colour of the bird. In this neft were two young cuckows ; 

 " one of which he fattened to the ground by means of a peg and 

 " line ; and very frequently, for many days, beheld the old 

 " cuckow feed thefe her young ones." 



I have been alfo furnifhed with two other inttances of cue- 

 kow's nefts, and the proper parents feeding their young, within 

 four miles of London, and likewife on the S.. Weftern coaft of 

 Merionethfhire. 



I remember myfelf having been in Herefordfhire, not many 

 years ago, when a girl brought a young cuckow to the houfe 

 where I happened to be ; and on my alking what fort of bird it 

 was fed by, the girl anfwered, by fuch another, only fomewhat 

 larger. 



From thefe facts it mutt be allowed, that all cuckows at leaft 

 are not the unnatural parents they are commonly fnppofed to 

 be. 



I mutt however here repeat, that though I cannot but diftruft 

 the commonly received opinion from the time of Ariftotle to the 

 preferrt, that I by no means take upon myfelf peremptorily to 

 deny k, as I do not want to be convinced, that the general 

 rules and inftindt by which animals are actuated, may fometimes 

 be broken through, notwithftanding the reafon for fuch excep- 

 tion may not be very obvious. 



I mutt however defire thofe who may perhaps be rather afto- 

 nifhed that any one mould prefume to doubt what is fo generally 

 credited, to recollect what hath happened with regard to the 



p Der.Dyiiiire*. 



goat- 



