95 
contained in it, the belter to deceive the 
mother; that the mother nurses the voun^ 
Cuckow, and sacrifices her own brood to 
it, because they are not so handsome; that 
like a true step-mother, she neglects or 
kills them, and directs the intruder to eat 
them. Numerous other absurdities might 
have been selected, but we think the 
above quite sufficient. 
It will be seen from the portraits given 
with this article, as well as in instances 
before noticed in the work, that the colour 
of the irides of birds are not at (ill times a 
sufficient ground for specific distinction, 
as some authors have maintained, for ia 
the immature bird they will be found to be 
of an hazel colour, (in some they are 
greyish) whereas in the adult they are 
yellow. 
