BRITISH BIRD&e 
ao8 
ingout its companion entirely ceafes. The fmall- 
nefs of the Cuckoo’s egg, which, in general, is lefs 
than that of the Houfe-fparrow,* is another circum- 
fiance to be attended to in this furprizing tranfac- 
tion, and feems to account for the parent Cuckoo’s 
depofiting it in the nefls of luch fmall birds only as 
have been mentioned. If fhe were to do this in 
the neil of a bird which produced a larger egg, and 
confequently a larger neflling, its defign would pro- 
bably be fruftrated ; the young Cuckoo would be 
unequal to the tafk of becoming foie poffelfor of 
the neft, and might fall a facrifice to the fuperior 
flrength of its partners. 
Mr Jenner obferves, that it fometimes happens 
that two Cuckoos’ eggs are depofited in the fame 
neft, and gives the following inftance of one which 
fell under his obfervation. Two Cuckoos and a 
Hedge-fparrow were hatched in the fame neft, one 
Hedge- fparrow’s egg remaining unhatched : In a 
few hours a conteft began between the Cuckoos 
for poffeffion of the neft, which continued undeter- 
mined till the afternoon of the following day, when 
one of them, which was fomewhat fuperior in fize, 
turned out the other, together with the young 
Hedge-fparrow and the unhatched egg. This con- 
teft, he adds, was very remarkable : The combat- 
ants alternately appeared to have the advantage, as 
* The Cuckoo eggs which have come under our obfervation 
were nearly of the fize of thofe of the Thrufh. 
