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The- hedge- fparrow’s neft mud be found with the 
proper eggs in it, which fhould be deflroyed by the 
cuckow, at the time fhe introduces her Tingle egg*. 
The neft fhould then be examined at a proper 
diftance from day to day, during the hedge- fparrow’s 
incubation, as alfo the motions of the foffer parent at- 
tended to, particularly in feeding the young cuckow, 
till it is. able to fhift for itfelf. 
As I have little doubt that the iafl mentioned cii> 
cumfiance will appear deciiive to many, without 
the. others which I have required, it may be pro- 
per to give my reafons, why I cannot confider it 
alone, as fufficient. 
There is fomething in the cry of a nefliing for food, 
which affedls all kinds of birds, almoft as much as 
that of an infant, ..for the fame purpofe, excites the 
ccmpaffion of every human hearer •f-. 
I have taken four young ones from a hen fkylark, 
and placed, in their room five nefliing nightingales, 
as well as five wrens, the greater part of which were 
reared by the fofler parent, 
Jt can hardly in this experiment be contended, that 
th.e fkylark miflook them for her own.neftlings, be-, 
* I could alfo wifh that the following experiment was tried. 
When a hedge-fparrow hath laid all her eggs, a Jingle one of 
any other bird, as large as a cuckow, might be introduced, af- 
ter which if either the neft was deferred, or the. egg too large 
to be hatched, it would afford a ftror-g prefumption againfs 
this prevailing opinion. I m.uft here alfo take notice, that Mr, 
Hunter, f'.R.S. who hath diftected hen cuckows, informs me 
that they are not incapacitated from hatching their eggs, as hath 
been fuppofed by fome.crnithologifts. 
f I am perfuaded that a cucko.w is oftener an .orphan, than 
any other ncftling, becaufe, from the curioftty which prevails 
with regard to this bird, the parents are eternally fhor. 
can fe 
