CUCKOO. 
105 
some time before. The wagtails were quite as diligent in their attentions as 
they had been to their own young, and it was a pleasure to watch them daily. 
In a few days the strange bird was fledged and hopped away with the help of 
its wings to one of the neighbouring bushes, when we lost it for some time, 
until the movements of the wagtails again revealed it. 
( 2 ). 
“ It was then that the thought occurred of putting it into a cage, so that 
we might watch the sequel. The wagtails seemed at first disconcerted, but an 
opening being made by taking out a wire large enough to admit one of them, 
they soon renewed their assiduities. Here it was quite interesting and even 
amusing to watch their proceedings. Incessantly flying in and out, both 
wagtails kept bringing midges and flies to the wide open beak of the big 
bird so awkwardly perched above them that, as the best way of getting at 
him, they frequently lighted on his back and dropped their supplies overhead 
into his maw. And all this it must be remembered happened in a place 
where a hundred patients were walking round and round two hours twice a 
day — a fact which speaks alike for the conduct of the patients and the con- 
fidence of the birds. 
( 3 ) . 
“ A curious circumstance now occurred. The hen wagtail took leave of her 
charge for some days — from August 0 to August IJ, according to my friend 
]Mr. Taylor’s Diary — for I have no note of these dates, though I remember 
the circumstance well— and her mate officiated alone. We thought at first 
there must be a new nest in the neighbourhood, but she returned too soon 
for that, and her absence remained unaccounted for. Both wagtails then 
continued the same course of unremitting and unwearied devotion. There 
were several attempts at photographing the cuckoo with no very good success. 
On one of these occasions when Dr. Finch took the bird in his hand and 
was trying to make it perch on a finger, it escaped and flew to the top of the 
wall, then over the top of the round house, and right over the next wall into 
one of the elm trees outside. A ladder was fetched, and the stupid creature 
instead of escaping outright kept its perch on a stout branch as if fascinated, 
and so was easily laid hold of. 
( 4 ) . 
“ The cuckoo most likely lost strength during the absence of his foster- 
mother, but all they could do together with all their wonderful activity was 
insufficient. Nor was thb help of flies, worms, bread and pieces of meat of 
much use. One morning we found it dead on the floor of the cage, and the 
wagtails fluttering about in piteous agitation. The hen bird then took her 
station on the walk in front, while her mate kept watch on the wall, and when 
