208 
THRUSH AND CUCKOO. 
The following is a still more extraordinary in- 
stance, corroborating the above, and for the truth of 
which we can vouch in every particular. A young 
Thrush, just able to feed itself, had been placed in 
a cage ; a short time afterwards a young Cuckoo, 
which could not feed itself, was introduced into the 
same cage, a large wicker one, and for some time it 
was with much difficulty fed ; at length however it 
was observed that the young Thrush was employed 
in feeding it, the Cuckoo opening its mouth and 
sitting on the upper perch, and making the Thrush 
hop down to fetch food up. One day, when it was 
thus expecting its food in this way, the Thrush see- 
ing a worm put into the cage could not resist the 
temptation of eating it, upon which the Cuckoo im- 
mediately descended from its perch, and attacking 
the Thrush, literally tore one of its eyes quite out, 
and then hopped back: the poor Thrush felt itself 
obliged to take up some food in the lacerated state 
it was in. The eye healed in course of time, and 
the Thrush continued its occupation as before, till 
the Cuckoo was full grown. 
The Fly-Catchers form the third genus of the 
notched-billed birds : we have but two sorts in our 
country; and one of these the Pied Fly-catcher 
( Muscicapa atricapilla) is so rare as to be seldom 
seen; the other, however, known by the name of 
the Beam -bird, is common enough, building very 
frequently upon the ends of beams, or rafters in 
garden-houses, from whence it probably takes its 
name. They act the part of Hawks amongst flies, 
feeding on them alone, and always on the look out. 
In summer time, it is very interesting to watch a 
