94* (ECONOMf 
The cuckow lays its eggs in the heft of 
other fmall birds, generally the wagtail , d or* 
hedge- fp arrowy and leaves the incubation* and 
prefervation of the young to them. But that 
thefe young, when grown tip, degenerate in- 
to hawks, and become fo ungratefull, that 
they deftroy their nurfes, is a mere vulgar er- 
ror, for it is contrary to their nature to eat 
ftefh. 
Amphibious animals , fijhes and infers , which 
cannot come under the care of their pa-* 
rents, yet owe this to them, that they are put 
in places, where they eafily find nourifhment, 
as we have obferved* 
d This cuftom of the cuckow is fo extraordinary, and out 
of the common courfe of nature, that it would not be cre- 
dible, were it not for the teftimony of the moft knowing 
and curious natural hiftorians, fuch as Ray, Willughby, 
Gefner, Aldrovandus, Ariftotle, &c. 
Much has been faid by the writers on birds about the fate 
of the young birds, in whofe neft the cuckow is hatched, 
but as i find nothing but mere conje&ure, it would not be 
worth while tranfcribing. 
c Hedge fparrow. Linnams feems to have taken the 
white-throat for the hedge-fparrow. 
