78 



COMMON CUCKOW. 



bird, it is not nearly so much pressed upon, for 

 the breast in that case fills up the cavity of the 

 nest; for which purpose, from its natural con- 

 vexity, it is admirably well fitted. These ob- 

 servations sufficiently show that the Cuckow is not 

 rendered incapable of sitting through any pecu- 

 liarity either in the situation or formation of the 

 stomach. 



In considering the causes of these singularities, 

 Dr. Jenner suggests the following as the most 

 plausible : " The short residence this bird is al- 

 lowed to make in the country where it is destined 

 to propagate its species ; and the call that nature 

 has upon it, during that short residence, to pro- 

 duce a numerous progeny :" which may be as 

 good a reason as any that have been given ; for 

 the Cuckow generally makes its appearance here 

 about the middle of April, and the egg is not 

 ready for incubation till some weeks after its 

 arrival, seldom before the middle of May. A 

 fortnight is taken up by the sitting-bird in hatch- 

 ing the egg. The young bird generally continues 

 three weeks in the nest before it flies, and the 

 foster-parents feed it more than five weeks after 

 this period ; so that if a Cuckow should be ready 

 with an egg much sooner than the time pointed 

 out, not a single nestling, even one of the earliest, 

 would be fit to provide for itself before its parent 

 would be instinctively directed to seek a new re- 

 sidence, and be thus compelled to abandon its 

 young one ; for the old Cuckows take their final 

 leave of this country the first week in July. 



