74 



COMMON CUCKOW. 



troverted by the Hon. Daines Barrington, and 

 disbelieved by others *. For these, however, as 

 it would exceed our limits, we refer to the original 

 paper. 



The mode by which the young Cuckow con- 

 trives to eject the native possessor of the nest is 

 highly curious. The little animal, with the as- 

 sistance of its rump and wings, contrives to get 

 the young sparrow (or other bird) upon its back, 

 and making a lodgment for the burden, by ele- 

 vating its elbows, clambers backwards with it up 

 the side of the nest till it reaches the top, where, 

 resting a moment, it throws off its burden with a 

 jerk, and quite disengages it from the nest ; it 

 then remains for a little time in that situation, 

 and feels about with the extremities of its wings, 

 to be convinced that the business is properly exe- 

 cuted, after which it drops into the nest again. 



* Barrington in his memoir informs us, that while the Rev. 

 W. Stafford was one day walking in Blossopdale, Derbyshire, 

 he saw a Cuckow rise from its nest, which was on the stump of 

 an old tree that had been felled some time, and nearly resem- 

 bling the colour of the tree; in this nest were two young Cuc- 

 kows, one of which he fastened to the ground by means of a 

 peg and line, and for a few days very frequently beheld the old 

 Cuckows feed them. He also mentions two other instances of 

 a similar nature, one within four miles of London, the other on 

 the south-west coast of Merionethshire. 



Darwin in his Zoonomia also mentions an instance of a 

 Cuckow taking care of its young, communicated to him by Mr. 

 Wilmot, of Morley, in Derbyshire, who observed a Cuckow for 

 some time on its nest, before and after its eggs were hatched, 

 and also bringing food to the young ones, to whom it shewed 

 more attachment than most birds. 



